The Perfect Storm Human Sex Trafficking in East Texas Segment 1 By Tammy Cromer-Campbell I joined Zonta because their focus was “Zonta says No to Human Sex Tracking”. I wanted to learn more about that topic. Zonta introduced me to Teresa Richenberger, a former sex worker. Richenberger is founder of Rahab’s Retreat and Ranch in Kilgore. and author of “Sold to the Highest Bidder”. She was freed of the trade because a Christian Professor came into the club she was stripping in and said “God told me to come and get you”. Long story short, she went with him. So now she is convinced she must save others in the sex trade through Jesus Christ. Richenberger purchased an old dilapidated 130 room nursing home for $160,000. She had talked him down from $1 million and is converting it to a safe house for the girls transitioning out of the sex trade. I filmed her telling her story and photographed her in the facility. I plan to go with her ministry to the strip clubs while they minister to the girls, letting them know there are other ways of life. Once I get to the clubs, I plan to interview and photograph the strippers, the owners and the patrons as well. Kristi Bryan, Longview Police Officer that is assigned to sex trafficking has agreed to help me how she can. She introduced to a couple of sex workers that let me interview them. I interviewed Bryan too I plan to work with ETATT East Texas Anti-Trafficking Team and all it’s agencies, including Rahab’s Retreat and Ranch, Refuge of Light, Women’s Center of East Texas, Partners in Prevention, Longview Police Department, Zonta Club of Longview, and others. Previously, I produced a book, Fruit of the Orchard | Environmental Justice in East Texas which addresses the sociological consequences of economic change, and examines the long-term effects of modern technology on the human condition. My involvement with the Winona Community heightened my sense of my own responsibility as a photographer to go beyond mere documentation and presentation, in order to embrace the more fundamental ethic of using my talents and skills to convey messages that need to be heard. Before it was a book Blue Earth Aliance awarded it with Blue Earth’s first ever cash grant to form Fruit of the Orchard as a traveling exhibit. I am proud to say the book won an international Green Dot Award in 2008 under entertainment and culture http://greendotawards.com/ In the end, I plan to produce a 60 - 120 minute video along with photographic exhibit on sex trafficking in East Texas. I will break it up in 10 minute segments for the funding. My goal is to promote awareness and to help these girls and boys realize they can create new lives with the help from these local agencies. The target audience for the film and photo exhibit is and not limited too pre-teenagers, adults and community organizers. Hold the photo exhibit on campuses and to distribute the video to schools. I will also submit to Sundance and other film festivals. Future Funding I plan to submit to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Hatchfund.org, the local ETATT, Zonta of Longview, Zonta International, local businesses interested in this topic such as Citizen’s National Bank, and I will be doing a crowdsourcing campaign with Indigogo. Photographing Human Sex Trafficking and Getting Out of the Life Schedule: July 2015 Continue to follow and photograph Teresa Richenberger and her advances with Rehab Retreat Home, Resale Shop, and Ranch. August 2015 Continue to film other sex workers and strippers. Record their stories and photograph them. Fall 2015 Film and photograph the opening of Rehab Retreat Home and get to know some of it’s residences. 2016 Continue following Teresa, follow ETATT. Maybe go with Kristi Bryan on a sting - if she lets me. Get into strip clubs and photograph the strippers, the customers, and owners. Interview each. 2017 Continue following Teresa and the home, ranch and resale shop. Show how it is helping these sex workers change their lives. Also follow other organizations that are working on the topic as well.