Running head:

Oral Presentation/Oral Testimony

Tonita Baldridge
Marygrove College
Professor Diane McMillan
SW 314-51

ORAL PRESENTATION

2
Abstract

This paper is an oral presentation/oral testimony which addresses the city council about the
concerns of prostitution of minors in the Eight mile/Gratiot area on the eastside of Detroit .It asks
the city council to implement particular procedures to address what could be the issue of Human
Trafficking.

ORAL PRESENTATION

3
Oral Testimony

Good Afternoon, My name is Tonita Baldridge. I live in the Eight mile and Hayes area,
which is located on the eastside of Detroit. This area is considered District 1, and is over seen by
the House Representative Brian Banks and Bert Johnson of the state Senate. I have been a home
owner in this area for eighteen years. I come to you today as a lifelong resident of Detroit. I also
represent the Regent Park Community block club. I am here today to voice our concerns about
the growing presence of prostitution in our neighborhood. The area in which this activity is
taking place is on Gratiot Ave. between Eight mile and State Fair. It has also come to our
attention that many of these women appear to be under aged minors. I am concerned that this
might be an issue of children being exploited for human trafficking. After careful research, I
found out that several bills has been legislated concerning this issue, and it has been as recent as
this past October of 2014, that these same bills have been made into law. I come here today to
ask you Madam President and the Counsel that a stringent police presence be implemented in
this area. I also ask that an investigation be made as to whether or not these individuals are
minors that are being exploited. If it is found that these are minors, I ask that the new laws
concerning human trafficking be aggressively enforce. I would like Council to know that there
are four schools surrounding this area where this activity is taking place, so therefore my
concerns is not just for these individuals but the other children who live in the area that could fall
prey to the predators who promote and solicit these activities.

ORAL PRESENTATION

Conclusion

In my conclusion, I would like to thank you Madam President as well as the Counsel on
behave of the Regent Park Community block club and myself for listening to our concerns.
Again we ask for a strong police presents. We also ask that an investigation be conducted as to
whether or not these individuals are indeed minors that are being exploited and last, we ask that
the laws that has been recently passed concerning human trafficking be enforced.