Anti-trafficking training in virtual reality crossing America

AUSTIN, Texas - Oct. 28, 2022 - PRLog -- When it comes to virtual reality, you have to see it to believe it. That's the goal of Radical Empathy's cross-America "In Her Shoes" tour, beginning at the JuST Conference in Fort Worth, Texas on Nov 1-3, 2022.

Billy Joe Cain, executive director of Radical Empathy, explains the goal of the tour. "Our virtual reality (VR) experience, TRAPPED: A VR Detective Story is a tool used by trainers to get people to understand how anyone could become a victim of human trafficking through psychological manipulation."

"In Her Shoes" references the story in the VR experience, where users "become" Lisa, a 14 year old girl who was trafficked by someone that pretended to love her after taking advantage of the vulnerabilities she broadcast through social media.

One of their licensees, Terri Markham, from Uprising Wyoming, explains the value of the VR experience.

"The incredible immersion in VR makes such an impression on you, because it's like you're really there," Markham says. "It requires a deeply personal connection to get people to take up the fight against trafficking, and this amazing VR experience makes that connection happen in 15 minutes."

This level of immersion is only possible through the use of the physical headsets, so Radical Empathy has decided to take the headsets to the groups that need them.

"We look forward to visiting with new licensees at JuST and across the center of the country, explains Cain. "The trek will take us from Texas to Illinois and as many states as we can hit both ways."

Cain hopes to license their VR software to experts and trainers from all over the world that are congregating in Texas for the JuST Conference by Shared Hope, which focuses on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST).

You can learn more about Radical Empathy at their website https://reefcares.org.

Radical Empathy's VR software is only available through a direct licensing agreement, and operates on affordable Oculus Quest VR headsets licensees purchase themselves. Active licensees receive 24 hour a day support and future software enhancements.

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ABOUT JuST CONFERENCE SERIES
The JuST Conference series, a sequence of events hosted by Shared Hope International, sheds light on juvenile sex trafficking. With speakers, thought leaders, and individuals passionate about activism, JuST events provide practical knowledge and actionable responses to raise awareness and ultimately end trafficking in local communities.

ABOUT RADICAL EMPATHY EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Radical Empathy is an Austin-based nonprofit dedicated to ending human trafficking. Their VR experience includes fully interactive, computer generated environments married with narrative, user-directed stories. https://www.reefcares.org/donate/