Events

With 25 years of experience working with children, teens, and families in youth outreach, domestic and foreign missions, and as a Police Officer, Jessica brings firsthand information and experience to the issues of child and teen sexual exploitation, abuse, and sex trafficking. Jessica is an engaging, passionate speaker who will leave you not just informed of the facts of juvenile sex trafficking but inspired to take action by her message that “UNITED WE WIN.”

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Child Development with a minor study in Law, Criminology, and Deviance from the U of M Twin Cities. She received a Certificate in Law Enforcement from Normandale Community College in Bloomington, MN and Law Enforcement Skills at Metro State University, St. Paul MN. She also holds certificates of continued education and training in Homeland Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction, ATF Tax Evasion to Fund Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma Informed Care, Interdiction of Crimes Against Children, and Crimes Against Children in Indian Country.

In her U.S. and overseas missions work, she has led youth teams in disaster relief, community development projects, started children’s VBS programs and teen sports programs, and trained local staff to continue the work of community and youth engagement.

Jessica served 12 years in law enforcement as a Patrol Officer and as an Undercover Officer in human trafficking and narcotics investigations with a large Metro Area Police Department. She also held positions as a Field Training Officer, Community Engagement Liaison, and was active in several neighborhood crime prevention committees. As an Officer, Jessica received recognition for her work including letters of appreciation from community leaders, commendation from other law enforcement agencies, and from the Minneapolis City Attorneys’ office for her undercover work and missing child recovery. She is the recipient of several Department and National Law Enforcement awards including: The Chiefs Award of Merit, the Carolyn Bailey Mentorship Award from the Minnesota Association of Women Police, and Officer of the Year.

Jessica retired from law enforcement in 2014. In 2015, a phone call asking her to come back and train on juvenile sex training awakened a calling that launched A.C.T. United. Her mission is to take everything she knows about what leaves children and teens vulnerable to exploitation, the cultural and spiritual dynamics that fuel a dark market for child abuse and trafficking, and use it to educate and equip communities in prevention.

Adaolisa Mbe was born in Miami, Florida and lived there her entire life until she joined the Edina A Better Chance program. 

Adaolisa’s parents immigrated from Nigeria in the late 90's and early 2000's and have 4 children. Adaolisa has an older brother who's at the University of Florida, a younger sister who's a junior at EHS, and a younger brother who's a freshman at her hometown high school. 

She has been an Edina A Better Chance scholar for four years, but spent one year at home because of COVID. 

She will graduate from Edina High School this June and will begin her university career at Harvard this fall.

The Rotary Club of Edina invites you to join the 2023 International Service trip to Coban, Guatemala.  The purpose of the trip is to deliver 651 life-saving water purifiers to remote villages in the mountains surrounding Coban, in partnership with Resurrection Priory Monastery and the Rotary Club of Coban.  Fellowship and travel to new, exotic places is also part of the journey!

The standard 7-day service trip runs April 15-22, 2023. There is also an optional 9-day trip April 15-24 which adds a 2 day tour of Lake Atitlan volcanic lake and recreation area.  Here is the itinerary for this life-changing trip: 

Saturday, April 15: Arrive in Guatemala City; Stay at Hotel Las Americas; Group Dinner

Sunday, April 16: Social Justice Tour of Guatemala City; Departure for Coban (4-5 Hours); Stay Begins at Resurrection Priory Monastery Compound

Monday, April 17:  Water Purifier Assembly & Delivery to Village Cluster at Chitzujay

Tuesday, April 18:  Water Purifier Assembly & Delivery to Village Cluster at Caquipec;  Group Tour of Waterfalls/Caves, with Catered Lunch and Live Music

Wednesday, April 19:  Water Purifier Assembly & Delivery to Village Cluster at Ra Maicho; Celebration Dinner with Monks

Thursday, April 20: Travel to Antigua and Stay at Hotel Posada Don Rodrigo; Shopping and Group Dinner

Friday, April 21: Day Trip to Escuintla National Hospital, with Tour of Past Global Projects and Potential Future Projects

Saturday, April 22:  Travel to Guatemala City Airport for Flight Home (7-Day Trip); Travel to Lake Atitlan with Stay at Resort Posada Don Rodrigo (9-Day Trip)

Sunday, April 23: Tour of Lake Atitlan Regional; Travel Back to Guatemala City and Stay at Hotel Las Amerigas (9-Day Trip)

Monday, April 24: Travel to Guatemala City Airport and Home (9-Day Trip)

The 7-day trip fee (meals, lodging, tours, and transportation) is $825/person for single occupancy ($675/person for double occupancy).  The 9-day trip fee is $1,125 /person for single occupancy ($900/person for double occupancy).   Airfare is separate and will be paid for/booked by each person (approx. $700 round trip).

The 2023 Guatemala Service Trip is for a maximum of 30 people, and reservations are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis.    Reserve your spot nowby registering here and send payment by February 17, 2023 to Edina Rotary Foundation, PO Box 24481, Edina, MN 55424.  Please note: all reservations and payments are non-refundable after March 1, 2023!

Contact: Rotary Club of Edina, Past President Josh Sprague at 612-501-0252 for details and questions.

Volunteers will meet at 8:00 am at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis, 410 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis (near Loring Park) to assemble homeless relief kits containing supplies provided by Involve MN which meet the needs of those living outside or in shelters.  5 volunteers are needed.  Free parking is available in the Woman's Club lot.

Volunteers will meet at 10:30 am at the Minneapolis Woman's Club at 410 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis (near Loring Park). Under the direction of Involve MN staff, we will move with Involve MN's mobile cafeteria truck to a location adjacent to Loring Park where we will prepare and serve hot breakfast to members of the Loring Park homeless community.  Free parking is available in the Woman's Club lot.

JCS operates two safe residence homes for formerly trafficked women.  This is a joint service project with the Edina Federated Women's Club. Volunteers will seed and fertilize the yard, plant flowers, shrubs, and trees at one of the homes located at 5017 Washburn Ave N, Minneapolis 55430.  8-10 Rotary members are needed.