You're invited to a fight, a confrontation between good and evil, a struggle for lives.

In the war against human trafficking, the North Star Initiative (NSI) event Welcome to the Battle is a preemptive strike. It is an attempt to deal the enemy a blow before he or she can mount an offensive.

"The battle is to end human trafficking in our community," said Melinda Clark, NSI's chief executive officer. "Our community doesn't want trafficking to happen here, and it does. The battle line is long, and everyone has a chance to step up and be a part of the battle. Part of the battle tactics is to know what it looks like and have everyone know what to do when they see it."

Welcome to the Battle is NSI's annual panel discussion that involves experts from all areas of the front lines providing facts, dispelling misconceptions and spreading information on the state of human trafficking in Lancaster County. This year's Welcome to the Battle will be conducted on Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lives Changed By Christ Church's Ephrata Campus, 5 Hahnstown Road.

Members of the panel will include Brad Ortenzi, coordinator of the Lancaster Human Trafficking Task Force and ZOE International East Coast; Meg McCallum, Berks County supervising attorney; Kevin Quinter, detective sergeant of the Wyomissing Police Department; Celeste Hutchinson, NSI's clinical director; and Jen Sensenig, NSI's founder.

The event, which is being presented as part of the United States Department of State's National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, is free to attend, and registration at www.northstarinitiative.org/events is encouraged. Light refreshments will be served, and a number of local human trafficking fighting agencies, including Lancaster YWCA, Sparrow Place, Hope Inspire Love, Greenlight Operation, ZOE International and She's Somebody's Daughter, will be there providing information on their services.

"There are people who don't even think human trafficking in Lancaster County happens," said Clark. "If you don't think it's happening, you're not going to be looking for it. That knowledge can protect someone else."

"So many people in the community have questions," added Clark. "Some people struggle attending an event like this. It is hard information. My intent is to have people walk away with hope and feeling empowered. The way we talk about it is true and honest and real, but it brings light, not darkness."

Last year, more than 250 people attended Welcome to the Battle.

"There are warning signs with human trafficking," said Clark. "Some of the things you might be looking for are somebody who lacks ID papers, a relationship in which the participants seem mismatched. It could look like an excessive dependence on a cellphone to a point of desperation. It could involve income that seems extravagant. Anything that looks off is off. It may not be trafficking, but it's a sign of vulnerability. It should be a concern. It should be a red flag."

Clark said that it is impossible to know exactly how much human trafficking is being perpetrated in Lancaster County.

"It is one of the most underreported and misidentified crimes," said Clark. "Exploitation can come before the actual trafficking. There are people in Lancaster County who are victimized, and there are people who are brought here to be trafficked. Buyers are creating demand. People are paying to abuse (victims) in Lancaster County. The way trafficking happens in Lancaster County is a result of exploiting substance abuse or grooming young people. Social media is the No. 1 source of trafficking."

Welcome to the Battle was originally established in 2018. Last year, NSI conducted more than 85 community presentations designed to raise the awareness of human trafficking, educate families and empower attendees through knowledge.

"The battle to end trafficking is winnable," said Clark. "Our intention is to replace myths and misconceptions with facts. When it comes to the facts, everyone should be saying the same things because the truth is the truth. There are different people and different groups doing work to make progress. Everybody has different approaches, different resources. We aren't competitors; we're colleagues. We all have a place on the battle line."

NSI is headquartered in Lititz. For additional information, go to http://www.northstarinitiative.org.