Media: Human Trafficking: Fighting For Freedom

Please direct all inquiries to: Keith Nix

[email protected] | (214) 802-4182
Saint Michael and All Angels| 8011 Douglas Ave, Dallas, TX
www.saintmichael.org

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: "FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM"
Texas Ranks 2nd Nationally in Incidents of This Crime

Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church announces a symposium, Fighting for Freedom - A Symposium on Human Trafficking Saturday October 20, 2018 to educate and broaden the base of support to eradicate human trafficking or modern day slavery in our community. This crime occurs when a person is controlled through violence, deception or coercion for commercial sex, forced labor or domestic servitude. Mark and Terry Demler chair the event.

Through this mission, "Project Moses", Saint Michael and All Angels is providing detailed, informative sessions on this growing purge on people of all races and ages, particularly minors and youth. This is the second such symposium. Local, state and national professionals will share diagnosis and paths to survivorship. Today, in Texas, approximately 79,000 minors and young people are involved in sex trafficking; approximately 234,000 workers (migrant farm workers, construction workers, kitchen staffs and landscaping services) have been lured into labor trafficking.* An estimated $6.6 billion is spent on the lifetime care to survivors of just the sex trafficking elements of this broad issue.

The symposium will provide insight into the human trafficking environment, elements within the community fighting this spreading crime and what is needed to extinguish these offences. On the agenda, experts will share how to recognize the signs of human trafficking and how to rescue and treat these at risk brothers and sisters; most challenging is creating a safe and trusting environment for those in recovery. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will present Texas' aggressive legislative and criminal justice support and report on the special unit dedicated to combating human trafficking, the Human Trafficking and Transitional Organized Crime (HTTOC) section. Also headlining the agenda is Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms, a CNN Hero in 2016 and a White House "Champion of Change".

The symposium will be in the sanctuary of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church located at 8011 Douglas, 8:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.. Lunch will be provided by In-N-Out Burger. Artifacts representing human trafficking will be on display. Agencies working on the human trafficking issue in our community will be on location to share their expertise. For more information/to reserve a place, please go to www.saintmichael.org/fff.

* 2016 Study by the Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work