Women’s Center-Youth and Family Services, the sole-provider of free, confidential shelter and services for homeless and runaway youth and victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in San Joaquin County, will welcome Ms. Kate Price to serve as the Keynote Speaker for the agency’s 37th Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, March 22.

Scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the luncheon serves as the Women’s Center-YFS annual fundraiser and will be held at the Stockton Civic Auditorium. The event will offer an introduction to the Women’s Center-YFS’s new CEO, a first-hand look into human trafficking, provide a learning opportunity for individuals and local businesses to make an impact, and additional discussion around other trauma-informed services.

Sponsorship and ticket opportunities are available by emailing Development Director Krista Fiser at kfiser@wcyfs.org or calling (209) 941-2611.

Kate Price is a survivor of commercial sexual exploitation as a child, and her life story exemplifies the power every community member has to change a life. In addition to being victimized by family members, she was overlooked by her community. Extended family, neighbors, friends and teachers all suspected she was being harmed, yet no one intervened. At 10 years old, after a decade of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, she found hope after visiting a friend whose mother was a professor at a local college.

“That one visit gave me a vision of what I knew my life could look like beyond those cycles, and I held on to that inspiration for dear life as I fought my way out,” said Price.

So, while some did nothing or didn’t know how to help, others helped by opening their arms and welcoming her into their home – giving her hope for a different life.

Today, Price is working on her Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she is researching how organizational and legislative discrimination towards Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) can re-traumatize child sex victims and survivors instead of providing necessary services and protection. While serving on the advisory boards of the anti-trafficking organizations Truckers Against Trafficking and ECPAT-USA, her story of grit and determination is a reminder that everyone has the power to change a life, even if they never know it.

Join in to learn more about human trafficking trends and services in San Joaquin County, the opportunities every individual and local business has to raise awareness and make impact, and to support Women’s Center-YFS.

Established in 1976, Women’s Center-YFS exists to build a stronger community by fostering the strengths in individuals and by acting as a catalyst to end violence and youth homeless. With 10 locations throughout San Joaquin County, including four homeless youth and domestic violence shelters, Women’s Center-YFS serves 20,000 individuals annually. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Women’s Center-YFS relies on donations from the local community to supplement programmatic contracts and grants in order to continue providing the highest quality of services to those in need.

For more information about the Women’s Center-YFS and its programs and services, visit www.womenscenteryfs.org.