Project: The Guardian Group
Bold Hub Member: Jeff Keith
Jeff Keith embarked on a remarkable journey with a profound mission: to combat human trafficking head-on. His path began with five years of dedicated research and establishing crucial partnerships with key stakeholders, including law enforcement, public service, ministry, and the military.
He soon recognized a critical gap in the fight against trafficking. While these authorities were tasked with solving the issue, they often lacked the essential resources and specialized knowledge needed to do so effectively.
The Guardian Group's pioneering approach was launched in 2022, and its impact has been extraordinary. In just the first quarter of 2023, it led to a remarkable 200% increase in victim identifications, a trend expected to grow exponentially by year-end.
Human traffickers can target anyone, but certain groups are more vulnerable, such as young individuals with high ACE scores (a measure of neglect and abuse in childhood), those experiencing homelessness, foster care youths, and those involved in the juvenile justice system.
Among the most disproportionately affected are minority populations, specifically Black, Latino, and Native American girls from underrepresented and underserved communities. Shockingly, victims are often openly advertised online, with approximately 150,000 new online advertisements selling women and children for sex in the U.S. each day. Law enforcement agencies were stretched thin, lacking the time, resources, and skills to locate, rescue, and support these victims.
It was clear that a fresh and courageous approach was needed to make a meaningful impact.
Jeff Keith firmly believes in the strength of community. His innovative solution was to unite the power of the community with the expertise, diligence, and experience of intelligence and law enforcement agencies. This combination created a force multiplier approach, empowering authorities with vital insights, data, and expertise.
The Guardian Group recruits, vets, and trains a dedicated team of volunteers who actively search for online advertisements to gather leads and information about victims. They call this Project 1951, named after the U.S. statute code that makes child trafficking a federal offense.
They assemble the necessary evidence and insights, which are then carefully passed on to the relevant authorities. This collaborative effort makes law enforcement more effective in apprehending the perpetrators.
Now, having developed a groundbreaking model for combating human trafficking, Jeff faces the challenge of scaling up to help even more victims. His personal motto is: Until All Are Free.
Jeff knows this endeavor will demand incredible mental agility and unwavering determination. Expanding will require fresh inspiration, innovative ideas, and support from unexpected sources.
The project is rooted in the belief that diverse thinking is the key to overcoming this challenge. This is precisely why Jeff has joined TIGNUM’s Bold Hub. He recognizes that the diverse collective and inspirational dialogues within it will uniquely empower him and the Guardian Group to have a lasting impact on people's lives.
There are various ways to support this project, as an individual and an organization:
For more information, contact
Jeff directly at:
jeff@guardiangroup.org
You can learn more about
the Guardian Group:
https://guardiangroup.org
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