Life & Work with Jenn Amo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Amo, the founder of Warning Lights. She has shared her story of fighting human trafficking with us below:

In 2013, when Jenn first heard the U.S. trafficking statistics, a fire ignited within her that led her to start a nonprofit organization called Warning Lights, whose mission is to fight human trafficking. Jenn’s calling is to be a bold voice that creates protection through awareness and to reach into the darkness to meet those in the sex industry where they are. Jenn has created various Warning Lights programs that equip audiences of all ages with the knowledge and skills needed to fight human trafficking and its many dangers. She wants to be sure her audiences are informed and will be able to recognize the “Warning Lights” of human trafficking.

Jenn graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts. This degree fits her perfectly! You will notice that she connects with her varied audiences in a way that is not only easy to listen to but to the point! Her audiences experience a multimedia presentation that raises awareness, creates compassion for others and takes them on a journey that includes a variety of emotions.

Jenn is a glitter-loving, sparkle-spreading, passion-fueled, determined, and genuinely caring for others kind of person. Her infectious, loud laugh will bring a smile to your face. Her heart truly cares for the youth of this nation and is on a mission for prevention and protection.

She and her “hottie” husband, Matt, enjoy traveling, being in the sun, playing sports, watching movies, and laughing (a lot). They currently reside in West Michigan.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth road? Well, that made me smile. In 2013, when this passion for justice grew into something I could not ignore… there were a few options for adults to gain knowledge of the crime of human trafficking and absolutely nothing for kids, teens, or young adults. This crime is targeting our youth, and there was nothing out there to educate them about it, so I created our programs and curriculums from scratch with nothing to compare them to, literally.

It’s been a journey, to say the least… how do you get the word out about a crime that no one wants to talk about? How do you convince parents, teachers, and youth leaders to allow you to come in and talk to these young people about this intimidating and often fear-associated topic? How do you get donors to come on board when most of society doesn’t even know or chooses not to believe that this crime is happening here in the USA, the land of the free?

There are ups and downs, curves, and straightaways to any journey… mine, like many others, has had all of them to navigate. The roadblocks have been never-ending, so it feels sometimes, but the “view” of seeing the hearts and lives saved from what we do makes the bumpy road worth the ride.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
BE AWARE OR BEWARE! The statistics are absolutely alarming! About 50% of those lured into human trafficking are minors. The number of victims forced into the human trafficking industry are growing rapidly. As one of the fastest-growing organized crimes today, this issue must be brought out of the dark and into the light. The issue is here in our own country and cities! Prevention is the key.

Warning Lights gives insight into the lures, signs, and ways to respond to human trafficking. This program will give your audience of youth and young adults a stronger sense of how to protect themselves and others. The awareness gained by your audience can literally save a life. This program encourages open communication about some everyday ongoing social struggles and concerns (including peer pressure, oral sex, and pornography) faced by the nation’s youth on a daily basis. This program also gives insight into ways to help others avoid becoming victims by explaining how your actions, words, and choices affect others. This interactive session empowers individuals with the knowledge needed to recognize the lures and signs of this crime.

We want to share the reality of this issue with audiences of all ages. The various Warning Lights programs are age-appropriate for kids, teens, young adults, and adults. These programs are ideal for schools, churches, camps, social groups, businesses, conferences, and events.

** It’s been argued that we were the first in the nation to have these life-saving programs specifically for kids, teens, and young adults. I can’t prove it, but as mentioned earlier… there was nothing I could find back in 2013 when I started Warning Lights, so that could be true. I can say that we were one of the first (if not the first) in the nation that offers human trafficking awareness for youth. That sets us apart. We will educate and protect anyone, but our passion is to protect the youth of this nation.

**Our programs have been added to multiple school curriculums, which they have us in every semester to educate and help protect every student who comes through. This is such a gift for the youth, their families, and the community. The more educated eyes we have watching for this crime…, the more we can prevent it from taking victims in our hometowns.

** We often are liaisons for victims, at-risk youth, and their families who call us when they need help or suspect something. Should someone be targeted or victimized online or in person, we work to connect them with the proper resources, law enforcement, medical & or emotional health professionals, safe lodging or housing, etc. We are willing to step in and do whatever is needed to get them into a safe situation,

We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Well, it’s not surprising that I love glitter and everything sparkly. If you know me, you know this, but something people might not know about Warning Lights and me??? Hmmm…

I’d say… people are surprised to find out that Warning Lights is being utilized locally, nationally, and globally. I love to travel. We not only offer sessions here in Michigan, but we have also traveled the US, presenting and training at various schools, churches, businesses, conferences, and events in many other states. We have partnered with others to help prepare, identify and care for victims abroad in places such as Thailand, Uganda, and China as well. We are heading to Columbia in January 2023.

Oh! 2013-2023 We have been fighting for prevention and protection from Human Trafficking for 10 years now… and that number will be counting for many more to come!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.warninglights.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warninglights
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warninglightsorg
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarnLightsOrg