See It: The Community being helped
It's sad but true: right here in this country, people are being bought, sold, and smuggled like modern-day slaves. They are trapped in lives of misery, often beaten, starved, and forced to work as prostitutes or to take grueling jobs with little or no pay.
It’s hard to believe slavery could still exist in the twenty-first century, but in fact that’s what human trafficking is, modern-day slavery. And it is now regarded as the third largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world, followed only by drugs and arms dealing.
After a study abroad experience to Russia in 2003, I witnessed human trafficking first hand, and upon returning home, was astonished to find out that it was happening right here in America, in our own backyards! I was also shocked at how little people in my community and state actually knew about the issue, especially when every time I turned on the news another young child, or young woman, was missing. Because of this, I sprung into action and was empowered to do whatever I could to raise human trafficking awareness and help victims.
As a graduate student at Central Michigan University, and with the support and guidance of Polaris Project (a human trafficking non-governmental organization in Washington, DC), I founded a unique student organization at my University to increase human trafficking awareness. The organization is called the Campus Coalition Against Human Trafficking (CCAHT).
The organization aims to give students opportunities to connect with students from CMU and other schools who are knowledgeable and/or interested in combating human trafficking. CCAHT also seeks to work for the actions to stop human trafficking, to raise awareness about human trafficking in our community and beyond, to help victims and direct them to victim services, and to serve as a public forum for those who are interested in the issue.
CCAHT is the first student organization of its kind in Michigan and has assisted three other universities in starting CCAHT chapters. In the near future we foresee many more chapters being formed at universities across the nation.
In the past year and a half we have hosted several events which you will see in the photo section of this page. Some of these events include a human trafficking awareness concert, a human trafficking open mic night, a regional conference (where our speakers included representatives from the FBI, Polaris Project, Ave Maria law school and a human trafficking survivor) as well a pre-release screening of the Lionsgate film “Trade”. We were also able to have a human trafficking survivor come tell her story to our students. This was an amazing experience and impacted the students tremendously. In addition to these events, I have spoken at several universities and service organizations about human trafficking and what we can do as activists. As a result of one of the presentations, an attendee was able to come in contact with a human trafficking survivor and help her escape her life as a modern day slave. That was one of the most satisfying moments of my life.
I also created and initiated a campaign in Michigan called "Keeping Our Kids Safe". This campaign enabled me to go into many different schools and talk to children about the importance of safety and stranger danger. It was amazing to hear what the children had to say and what they thought about keeping themselves safe.
It would be easy for many of us, as Americans, to go about our daily lives, and never realize modern day human slavery exists. Yet, if we are afraid to confront it, who will? And if not now, when? Education is vital, and until we start talking about human trafficking more innocent lives will be lost. With a problem as pervasive and sinister as human trafficking, the time has come for us pay attention. We must stand up and protect every human life.
I have joined the fight against modern day slavery. WILL YOU?
What YOU can do...
Collaborate with other groups and event organizers on your campus and in your local community
Perform a play or skit about human trafficking at a campus or local theater.
Write an article about human trafficking for your school newspaper or local newspaper.
Sign up to walk in a parade and wear a “Slavery Still Exists” t-shirt. Ask your friends to join you! Hand out informational materials about modern-day slavery and how people can get involved in fighting human trafficking.
Talk to service organizations in your community (Rotary Club, Red Cross, etc.). Many of them love guest speakers .
Contact an already existing organization. Most of them are more than willing to give you ideas and to partner with you in starting your own organization or student group.
Contact your state legislators and make sure your state has a law against human trafficking.
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