All Posts

Pietas Coalition, formed April 11th, 2026, is honored to share that we have been awarded our first grant  in the amount of $1,000 from the Sumter Junior Welfare League . This meaningful support represents more than funding but rather a shared commitment to protecting children, strengthening families, and promoting awareness throughout our community. This award will be applied toward the continued development of our Community Safety Seminar curriculum , expansion of public edu

By any honest measure, essential. In our April seminar, the children showed a level of awareness that was both encouraging and sobering. They grasped what it means to look out for one another. They recognized situations that felt right and those that raised concern. That kind of discernment does not happen by accident but rather when someone takes the time to guide it. This age group is paying attention more than many realize. Through social media, films, and games, they are

There is a certain kind of courage that does not shout but rather shows up under a modest tent, straightens a tablecloth, sets out sharpies , and quietly invites a community to make a decision. That was the spirit surrounding the Pietas Coalition booth during Art in the Park 2026  at Memorial Park; a space that, for a few hours, held more than art. That space held compassion. The invitation was simple. No speeches required. No credentials checked. Just a prompt: stand against

Note: We recognize that not every family is a two-parent household. Find a scenario that works for you and that will be conducive to open dialogue. The facts? Runaway youth are at significantly higher risk of trafficking and exploitation, particularly within the first several days of leaving home. Prevention begins before a child ever walks out the door. Disconnection Is a Risk Multiplier Youth are more likely to leave when they experience: Persistent conflict Public shaming

If you are already away from home, then this page is for you. No judgment! No lectures! Just safety information. First Priority: Stay Visible to Safe Systems Try to remain connected to: A trusted adult A verified shelter A known youth organization A public place with cameras and staff Isolation increases vulnerability. Connection increases safety. Watch for These Red Flags Be cautious if someone: Insists you keep your location secret Pressures you for photos Offers money, gif

If you’re thinking about running away, something probably feels overwhelming. Maybe you feel unheard. Maybe there’s conflict at home. Maybe you’ve felt dismissed in school, medical spaces, or your community. Maybe you’re tired of explaining yourself. Wanting relief does not make you dramatic. It means something hurts. But leaving without a stable plan can put you at serious risk, especially in the first 48 hours. Why the First Days Are Risky When a young person leaves home wi

Diverting Vicarious Trauma While Confronting Exploitation At Pietas Coalition, we confront difficult realities. We read/watch case reports, including the released Epstein documents. We examine trends. We listen to disclosures. We prepare prevention strategies grounded in evidence and lived experience. Yet even when exposure is indirect, the nervous system does not always distinguish between witnessing and withstanding. This is called vicarious trauma  or secondary traumatic

This past year was filled with such voracity that it's hard to imagine what God has in store for 2026. Pietas Coalition built an incredible team and raised the anti-trafficking awareness level in Sumter, South Carolina with collaborations that piqued national intrigue. We can only improve from here; more walk-a-thons, traveling art, seminars, community events, podcast interviews, social media PSA's, digital databases...the list goes on with creative iterations. Soon, we will

Ms. Eugene Tossany’s advocacy record spans more than a decade of confronting child exploitation in legislative, community, and law-enforcement spaces. She has communicated with U.S. state senators through the national organization Unchained at Last, urging the end of underage child marriage and providing supportive testimony in Senate hearings across Virginia, New York, Maine, South Carolina, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. She repeatedly emphasized th

On November 1st, Sumter, South Carolina took a powerful step forward. The city’s first Communities Against Trafficking  Walkathon, hosted by Pietas Coalition Corporation  at Patriot Park, drew residents, law enforcement, and advocates together in a single, resounding message: our children are not for sale. From WACH FOX 57  to The Sumter Item , CBS 42 , FOX 4 Kansas City , and NewsBreak , the buzz spread quickly: local deputies joined a 1/2-mile path with families, veterans,

Communities Against Trafficking : Sumter, South Carolina Hosted by Pietas Coalition Corporation On November 1st, from 12 to 5 p.m., Pietas Coalition will hold its first ever Communities Against Trafficking  walk-a-thon at Patriot Park in Sumter, South Carolina. Participants, families, and local leaders will proclaim Sumter’s united pledge to defend children from trafficking and unwanted predatory behavior. They will follow a half-mile stretch of serene wooded trails and ponds

When people imagine the fight against underage sex trafficking, they often picture courtroom victories, rescued children, and justice...

Sex trafficking is a pressing issue that affects communities across the United States, including South Carolina. This unsettling reality...