Two important but often overlooked topics in today’s society will be in the spotlight during a special presentation hosted at Southwestern Michigan College later this month.

Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services will host a community forum from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Nov. 15, in the Dale A. Lyons Building theater on the Dowagiac campus of the local community college, 58900 Cherry Grove Road. The event will be free and open to the public.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and guests may enjoy some light refreshments before the presentations begin at 9 a.m. Sara Morley LaCroix, with the Kalamazoo Anti Human Trafficking Coalition, will kick things off with a talk about the forced sexual and labor human trade. Following her speech, DASAS representatives Deborah Hackworth, director of advocacy services, and therapist Elizabeth Alderson, will share how domestic and sexual abuse traumatizes victims, and how people can better understand and assist survivors on their road to recovery.

Following the talks, a panel comprised of the speakers, as well as representatives with the Dowagiac Police Department, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Cass County Prosecutor’s Office and Southwest Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force will answer questions from the audience.

The event is the first of its kind that DASAS, a nonprofit agency that supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Cass, Van Buren and St. Joseph counties, has hosted in the Dowagiac area. Leaders organized a community forum focused on sexual abuse last April, during which the topic of human trafficking was brought up.

The discussion drew such interest that organizers decided to host an event in Cass County focused on sharing more information about the problem, said DASAS Executive Director Kimberly Kramer.

According to statistics, an estimated 24.9 million people are trapped in modern day slavery operations across the globe, around 20 percent of whom are subjected to sexual abuse.

“[Human trafficking] is so prevalent, much more than people think, even in our small counties and towns,” Kramer said.

The other topic of discussion during the Nov. 15 forum will be focused on what Kramer describes as “the intersection of domestic violence, sexual abuse and trauma.” Hackworth and Alderson will discuss the effects that abuse has on victims, and how professionals, law enforcement and even ordinary citizens can change their mindsets when it comes to helping survivors, going from judging to believing, Kramer said.

“When you become armed with this type of information, people will feel safe talking with you,” she said. “That is what we want, to create an environment where survivors feel comfortable talking about their experiences and seeking out support services.”

Around 40 people have signed up to attend the forum so far, though Kramer said the organization is hoping around 100 will be able to come. Everyone in the community is invited to attend, whether professionals who specialize in domestic or sexual abuse cases, or just regular citizens wanting to know more about how to help.

“Everybody in some capacity, be it professionally or personally, has known someone who has dealt with domestic or sexual violence at some point in their lives,” she said.

To preregister, people may visit bit.ly/2h4tTBW. For more info, people may call Kramer at (269) 815-0265.