Prior Lake, Minn. – An all-youth cast will help raise awareness about the growing problem of sex trafficking in Minnesota through their free performance of the original play “bottom” on Sunday, November 23, at 2 p.m. at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake.

In 2013 the number of people in Minnesota convicted for soliciting, promoting prostitution, and sex trafficking was almost five times higher than in 2007, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Justice Programs report released in September. Sex trafficking affects people of all cultures and genders.

Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, located at 3611 North Berens Road in Prior Lake, will host the 50-minute play and feature a post-performance panel discussion with nonprofit leaders and experts on sex trafficking. Due to the serious subject matter of the performance, audience members should be 13 years of age or older.

Blank Slate Theatre’s original performance of “bottom” is funded by a grant from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and presented by the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition and Interfaith Children’s Advocacy Network.

About Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC)

JRLC is Minnesota’s largest and most inclusive interfaith public interest group, mobilizing faith communities to advocate on pressing social justice issues. Authorized and governed by its four sponsoring members – the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Islamic Center of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Council of Churches, it unites people of diverse faiths to bring vision and wisdom to the public realm for the wellbeing of all Minnesotans. JRLC has an extensive body of public policy statements and continues to influence Minnesota legislation in matters of human rights, economic justice, housing, criminal justice, welfare reform, tax policy, ethics in government, and many other issues through research, education, community organizing, and citizen lobbying.