Community Conversation on Online Safety Hosted at Black Walnut in The Woodlands
On Tuesday, January 20, Black Walnut in The Woodlands, Texas proudly hosted an important community conversation focused on online safety and protecting children in the digital age. The educational event was sponsored by Waste Connections and brought together local families, professionals, and advocates to learn more about the growing risks children face online—and the resources available to help keep them safe.
Event Panel & Speakers
The discussion featured expert insight from professionals working directly in online safety and child protection, including:
- Gayle Cheatham – Thrive Online.
A leading voice in youth online safety education, Gayle Cheatham shared critical insights on how children interact with technology and how families can proactively protect them. - ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force Representatives.
Attendees learned directly from ICAC professionals who work on the front lines investigating and prosecuting technology-facilitated crimes against children. - Sheriff Wesley Doolittle — Montgomery County Sheriff“s Department
- Markee Johnson — A21
- Michelle Sacks — Street Grace
- Chris Seufert — Montgomery County District Attorney Office
What Is ICAC?
ICAC stands for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, a national initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to the information shared during the event:
- ICAC is a network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing more than 5,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide.
- The program’s mission is to investigate and prosecute online crimes against children, including child exploitation, online grooming, and digital trafficking.
- ICAC teams conduct proactive undercover investigations and provide digital forensic support to local law enforcement agencies.
ICAC Montgomery County Statistics (2025)
The event also highlighted sobering local data from Montgomery County, underscoring the importance of community education:
- Total defendants charged (2025): 113
- Primary charge categories included:
- Child pornography possession: 33 cases (29.2%)
- Online solicitation: 31 cases (27.4%)
- Child pornography promotion: 26 cases (23.0%)
- Sexual performance of a child: 8 cases (7.1%)
- Sex assault of a child: 4 cases (3.5%)
- Trafficking: 4 cases (3.5%)
- Other charges: 7 cases (6.2%)
These statistics reinforced the urgency of awareness, education, and prevention efforts at the local level.
Resources Shared with Attendees
Guests were provided with practical tools and educational resources to continue learning and protecting their families:
- Thorn Report
Youth Perspectives on Online Safety 2024 — an annual report examining youth attitudes and online experiences. - National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
A collection of reports - “Stop Extortion” Educational Video
A resource focused on preventing online sextortion.
Community Partnerships That Matter
At Black Walnut, we believe our role extends beyond the table. Hosting educational events like this in our Private Dining and Banquet Rooms reflects our commitment to supporting families, schools, and organizations working to strengthen and protect our community.
