UnSilenced: Battle Creek Anti- Human Trafficking Coalition

12/28/2025

This Brinn’s porcelain doll was made to be cherished, but it ended up on a Goodwill shelf for $3.99—probably handled by many, kept by few. I didn’t just recognize her. I recognized myself before the world rewrote me.

Even though the world didn’t protect her gentleness, she was still intact. Still gentle. Still watching. Her hair is thinner in places. Some damage as evidence that time passed, that life pulled, and that softness endured anyway.

Honestly? It makes perfect sense that I found her—
because I’m the kind of woman who notices what others pass by and says, “You still matter.”

She now sits in the UnSilenced office, reminding us all that behind every training, every policy conversation, every late-night crisis call, there is a child who once needed safety and didn’t receive it.

Her presence says enough: We see you now. You were never disposable. You were never invisible.
You were always worth protecting.

Here, she belongs. Here, she is safe. Here, she reminds us why UnSilenced exists—not to fix people, but to honor them. Not to erase what happened, but to tell the truth with tenderness.

She sits here so no one forgets: This work has a face.
This mission has a heartbeat. And every voice—even the quiet ones—matters.

12/28/2025

Some people picture trafficking as a faraway problem.
But the truth is—it can live quietly in plain sight, in the places we pass every day.

UnSilenced is hosting Shine A Light: UnSilenced Community Awareness Day because awareness isn’t “extra.” It’s protection. It’s prevention. It’s how we stop missing what’s right in front of us.

This day is about:
• learning what trafficking can actually look like
• reducing stigma that keeps survivors silent
• connecting people to resources and support
• building safer pathways across Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, and beyond

We’re inviting panelists, volunteers, and community organizations to join us.

If you want to step into this with us, fill out the form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexXryt2oje_L30pfqL1v5ffjBO8fakwa9nMnAAy6suAMGNNw/viewform?usp=sharing

“Tag a helper” (sharing boost)

Prompt:
Tag one person or organization that should have a seat at the table—a church, clinic, school, shelter, recovery space, or frontline worker.

Why it works: expands reach and recruits partners.

Thank you for your interest in Shine A Light: UnSilenced Community Awareness Day at the Comstock Community C**t Center (2107 N 26th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49048) on January 31st, 2026, 10 am to 2 pm. This is a free, public event designed to move our community from “I’ve heard of trafficking” to “...

12/26/2025

I made bookmarks—simple, quiet, intentional. Paper, color, words, and a verse that has followed me for a long time: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Proverbs 31:8. I’ve carried that scripture in my body long before I ever put it on paper. Long before I understood that my voice—once taken, once silenced—would someday become something I’d lend to others.

When you read ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,’ what does that look like in your everyday life?

You don’t have to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes, simply being present is how a voice is lent.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from UnSilenced

As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded that this season is about light entering dark places, about hope being born where it is most needed, and about showing up for one another with compassion, courage, and love.

While many experience warmth, safety, and joy, others spend this season in fear, exploitation, and silence. Human trafficking does not pause for the holidays—but neither does love, and neither does God’s pursuit of His people.

Scripture tells us to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Proverbs 31:8). This Christmas, we invite our communities to live that out in tangible ways:

1. Be aware – notice the vulnerable and trust the nudges God places on your heart – trust your instincts and notice when something doesn’t feel right
2. Be courageous – speak when something doesn’t feel right – awareness saves lives
3. Be a safe place – share resources, extend grace, and walk alongside those in need – one number, one conversation, one act of care can change everything

If you suspect human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888

We are grateful beyond words for every partner, volunteer, survivor, and frontline worker who continues to answer this call with humility and faith. Your obedience, compassion, and willingness to stand in hard places reflect Christ’s love more than words ever could.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we remember that light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).

From all of us at UnSilenced—Merry Christmas. Keep the light on. Keep your eyes open. Keep loving boldly.

12/23/2025

A reminder for our UnSilenced community today 🩷

Some of the hardest work we do—whether as survivors, advocates, frontline workers, or neighbors who care—is waiting. Waiting for systems to change. Waiting for resources to open. Waiting for safety, healing, justice, or simply the next right step.

Today, we want to pause and remind you of four truths we come back to often:

✨ A way can be made, even when the path feels blocked.
✨ You are not fighting alone—seen and unseen battles matter.
✨ Provision doesn’t always look how we expect, but it does show up through people, partnerships, and persistence.
✨ Timing is not a punishment—it’s part of the process.

As UnSilenced, we walk alongside survivors in the in-between spaces—when answers are slow, systems are complicated, and hope feels fragile. We believe healing happens when people are met with dignity, patience, and trust, not pressure or judgment.

If today feels heavy, let this be your reminder: You don’t have to carry it all by yourself. Community matters. Showing up matters. Rest matters.

Thank you to everyone who continues to stand with survivors, speak up when it’s uncomfortable, and choose compassion over assumptions. We’re still here. And we’re not going anywhere.

UnSilenced: Awareness • Healing • Voice • Action

12/18/2025

Trauma-informed spaces matter. Survivors deserve rooms that feel safer, quieter, and more human when they are asked to tell the hardest parts of their story.

This room is a step forward for Calhoun County. And progress—real progress—is always worth naming.

12/17/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Calhoun County Man Sentenced Following Conviction on Child Sexually Abusive Material Charges

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office is announcing the sentencing of Kevin Theodore Wilson, who was convicted in October on multiple felony counts related to the possession and aggravated possession of child s*xually abusive material.

On December 15, 2025, in Calhoun County Circuit Court, Judge Hallacy sentenced Wilson to the Michigan Department of Corrections as follows:

Counts 1, 2, 3, and 5: 10–15 years, with 62 days of credit.
Count 4 (Using a Computer to Commit a Crime): 28 months to 15 years, to be served consecutively to Count, meaning this sentence must be served before the remaining sentences begin.
Counts 1 and 4 are ordered to run consecutively.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Hallacy described the case as "a unique and distinct, disturbing, deviant, and perverted case" that stands out in his 40 years on the bench.

The conviction concludes a multi-year investigation that began in September 2019, when Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a residence on 27 Mile Road in Sheridan Township for a reported domestic dispute. During that investigation, deputies developed information indicating that Wilson was in possession of child s*xually abusive material.

A search warrant was executed at the residence, resulting in the seizure of several electronic devices belonging to Wilson. A forensic examination conducted by the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit uncovered:

Approximately 215,000 flagged files of confirmed child s*xually abusive material, and
More than 300,000 additional images, consisting of diagrams and pictures indicative of potential CSAM.
Combined, the materials accounted for multiple terabytes of data. This is Wilson’s second conviction involving child s*xually abusive material.

This is Wilson’s second conviction involving child s*xually abusive material.

Following his arrest, Wilson mounted a series of legal challenges. In both 2021 and 2023, he contested the admissibility of digital evidence; however, the Michigan Court of Appeals and later the Michigan Supreme Court rejected his arguments, allowing the case to proceed to trial.

A two-day jury trial began on October 14, 2025. The jury deliberated for just 17 minutes before returning guilty verdicts on all counts. Wilson was convicted of:

Three counts of Possession of Child Sexually Abusive Material
One count of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime
One count of Aggravated Possession of Child Sexually Abusive Material
Habitual Offender, Second Offense Notice

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that crimes involving the exploitation of children remain among the agency’s highest priorities. Protecting children is a core mission of the Sheriff’s Office, and this case represents the persistence and dedication required to bring complex digital investigations to conclusion.

"This case shows the determination of our deputies, detectives, and partners who spent years ensuring the evidence was preserved and presented in court," stated Calhoun County Sheriff Steve Hinkley. "Child exploitation crimes leave lifelong scars, and we will continue to devote every resource necessary to hold offenders accountable and protect the most vulnerable members of our community."

The Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Office also recognized the scope and seriousness of the investigation. "The Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Office has attorneys specifically trained in child s*xually abusive material prosecutions as well as human trafficking, which, unfortunately, are many times inter-related." Stated Prosecuting Attorney David Gilbert. "The time and effort of the officers and detectives involved in this case made it possible for justice to be done."

The Sheriff’s Office also acknowledged the partnership of the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit, whose forensic expertise was critical in analyzing the substantial volume of digital evidence.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office remains firmly committed to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting individuals involved in the exploitation of children. The agency continues to encourage community members to report suspicious activity and remain vigilant in protecting vulnerable individuals.

12/12/2025

We want to recognize and thank the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Police, and all partnering agencies involved in this proactive child exploitation investigation.

Earlier this week, while speaking with Chief Chris from the Tribe, he emphasized the importance of taking a proactive—not reactive—approach to trafficking: getting ahead of the harm, acknowledging the reality of exploitation, and advocating for real solutions rather than denying its existence. This is exactly what that looks like in action.

When local, tribal, state, and federal partners collaborate across jurisdictions, prevention strengthens, accountability increases, and children are safer. From a survivor-led organization, we see how early intervention and coordinated efforts disrupt exploitation before it escalates.

We are grateful to work alongside agencies who choose awareness, collaboration, and prevention—and who are willing to lead by example.

Awareness saves lives. Collaboration protects them.

— UnSilenced 💙

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Targeted Child Exploitation Investigation Leads to Arrest

A two-week, targeted investigation into child exploitation led by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the arrest of Jeremy Clark, 35, of Battle Creek, who attempted to engage in s*xual activity with a minor.

This proactive, multi-agency operation was conducted with support from the Albion Department of Public Safety; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Police; Michigan State Police – Southwest Enforcement Team; Marshall Police Department; Battle Creek Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Michigan Department of Corrections; and the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority.

Throughout the investigation, the individual made repeated attempts to solicit a 14-year-old female, including requests to purchase underwear and view intimate parts of the child. At the conclusion of the enforcement period, detectives took the suspect into custody. He has been formally charged with the following felony offenses:

• Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes
• Using a Computer or the Internet to Communicate with Another Person to Commit a Crime

“The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in our mission to protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Sheriff Steve Hinkley. “I think this is a good opportunity for some self-reflection. If you’re chatting and intending to solicit our children for s*x, you need to know this - you're next! This is an ongoing reminder to parents: social media can be a dangerous place. Monitor and discuss online risks; trust but verify; and keep lines of communication open. Awareness and education are key to protecting our youth from those who wish to do them harm.”

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact Detective Pignataro at the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office at 269-781-0880 or submit an anonymous tip through Silent Observer.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office is committed to maintaining a safe community for the citizens, especially the children, of Calhoun County, and will continue its efforts to identify, investigate, and hold accountable individuals who seek to exploit minors.

12/06/2025

I want to take a minute to brag on this powerhouse standing beside me in this picture while meeting me in the messy parts with Michigan State Police. 💜

This is Danielle—she pours her heart into Zero Su***de work, serves on the VSU Team and LOSS Team, and still somehow has enough left to encourage, challenge, and teach me every time we’re in the same room. The way she weaves together clinical knowledge, lived stories from the field, and compassion for every person in crisis is a gift to all of us.

In the human trafficking world, we talk a lot about trauma, but we don’t always name what sits underneath it: suicidal thoughts, despair, and the belief that there is no way out. For many survivors, trafficking and suicidality sit side-by-side—and too often, both get overlooked.

Just like people avoid talking about the darkness of trafficking, we see the same thing with su***de:
• It feels scary.
• It feels heavy.
• It feels easier to look away.

Danielle refuses to look away—as do I. I’m incredibly grateful and honored to partner with her as we work to bring both of these topics out of the shadows—because you can’t truly talk about freedom and safety for survivors if you aren’t also talking about the moments they don’t want to keep living.

Proud to stand beside you, friend. We’re bringing it all into the light, together. 🌟

12/06/2025

Beyond the Badge with the Michigan State Police – Kalamazoo Post

Yesterday, UnSilenced had the honor of leading a mandatory human trafficking training for troopers and leadership at the Michigan State Police post in Kalamazoo.

This is more than “another training.” MSP is intentionally building a culture where:
• Trafficking isn’t minimized or misunderstood.
• Troopers know what to look for on I-94, at rest areas, truck stops, and roadside encounters.
• Survivor voices are at the center of the conversation.

From today’s evaluations:
• Every participant said the training clearly explained human trafficking.
• Everyone rated it Extremely Valuable or Valuable.
• Troopers reported feeling more empathetic, more informed, and better able to connect what they learned to what they see on shift.
• One wrote: “Very motivating talking to someone who has experienced trafficking first hand.”
• Another said: “All of it was eye opening… I’ve never gone through training for this subject.”

For a survivor-led ministry that once ran from patrol cars and now stands beside them, this partnership matters deeply. MSP has already called UnSilenced to scenes to help support potential victims before the paperwork is even finished. That is what systemic change beginning to move looks like.

To the Michigan State Police:
Thank you for your humility, honesty, and willingness to learn from survivors. You are helping build a Michigan where fewer people stay hidden in plain sight.

If your department, agency, or community group would like to host a Beyond the Badge training, reach out at:
📧 connect@bcunsilenced.org | robin@bcunsilenced.org
🌐 www.bcunsilenced.org | www.kaahtc.org