L-R: Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole, Mason County Detective Kyle Boyd, Forward Executive Director Sherry Motcheck, Ludington Police Detective Jake Miller, Ludington Police Chief Chris Jones, Ludington Police Captain Mike Haveman
Local Work
Our heart beat has always been to advance our fight here at home. We have asked ourselves, “How can we ensure that the children we go searching for across the country never come from our home town?” The answer? By making some noise, raising awareness, bringing in necessary programs and training, and help all of us move FORWARD in the advance of this fight in West Michigan.
With that in mind we have worked hard to raise funds to equip agencies and programs that are already in this fight. Since we started in 2021 have been able to get a lot done.
Our heart beat has always been to advance our fight here at home. We have asked ourselves, “How can we ensure that the children we go searching for across the country never come from our home town?” The answer? By making some noise, raising awareness, bringing in necessary programs and training, and help all of us move FORWARD in the advance of this fight in West Michigan.
With that in mind we have worked hard to raise funds to equip agencies and programs that are already in this fight. Since we started in 2021 have been able to get a lot done.
- Completed four rounds of targeted Human Trafficking training for our Law Enforcement in Mason, Oceana and Manistee Counties.
- Presented three rounds of training for Fire Fighters, First Responders and EMS
- Raised awareness and taught online safety to students through Say Something School Assemblies. We covered eight schools with ten assemblies in Mason and Oceana Counties. We had students from every school reach out to our team and school faculty after the assemblies to ask for help.
- Participated in 7th Grade Tech day in Mason County teaching students about online predators.
- Partnered with Ludington Police Department with a grant to enhance the digital lab which is currently being used by Law Enforcement in Mason, Manistee and Oceana Counties.
- Held two town hall meetings for concerned citizens in our community bringing awareness and ways to engage to help advance the fight.
- Equipped students with school supplies and safety resources in the Oceana County; Back To School Readiness fair.
Forward was able to offer all of this free of charge because of our amazing sponsors!
This is your win too! Thank you!
This is your win too! Thank you!
We aren't as far as we want to be, but we are farther than we were yesterday. Rest assured you have a team of folks that go to bed every night determined to get a little farther in the battle tomorrow and let predators know it's not happening here.
#NotInOurTown
photo credit; Oceana County Press
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photo credit; Ludington Police Department
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