The Alameda County Board of Supervisors has declared April 20 through 27 Sexually Exploited Minors Awareness Week. A coalition of social workers, law enforcement agencies and government agencies hope to shed a light on the growing problem that some have said has reached an epidemic in Oakland — girls as young as 10 being recruited as prostitutes.

Learn more at a town hall meeting 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Youth Uprising Center, 8711 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland.

The forum, organized by the Alameda County Interagency Children's Policy Council and Sexually Exploited Minors Provider Network, includes a panel discussion with Oakland Tribune reporters Kamika Dunlap and Barbara Grady; T-K-A-S-H, a hip-hop recording artist and activist; Nola Brantley, co-founder of Motivating Inspiring Supporting Serving Sexually Exploited Youth; Julie Pasados-Guzman, co-founder of the Youth Justice Initiative; representatives from the Oakland Police Department Special Victims Unit; and youth advocates.

The forum will be broadcast live on KPFA Hard Knock Radio, 94.1 FM, an event co-sponsor.

For information, call 510-618-3458.

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