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LEHIGH VALLEY, PA— From the United Nations to the Lehigh Valley, human trafficking is a reality that everyone has a duty to stop. To drive this message home, the Lehigh Valley Anti-Trafficking (LVAT) Collaborative will host its second annual Valley-wide anti-trafficking week November 7 to 14.
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, controling and exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit. This exploitation transcends race, location, and socioeconomic classes as traffickers prey on the broken.
The LVAT Collaborative founding members include ASPIRE to Autonomy, Bethlehem Rotary, Bloom Bangor, Crime Victims Council, LVHN Street Medicine, Marsy’s Law, Truth For Women, and VAST (The Valley Against Sex Trafficking).This year Valley Youth House has joined the Collaborative against trafficking.
“Our mission is to abolish human trafficking in our community by building a united front to educate and equip our community to take action. In establishing a purposeful week of activities that include art, activism, compassion, and opportunity for understanding, we seek to cultivate a growing awareness to support those who are most vulnerable,” said Karen Hinkle of Crime Victims Council and Founding Board Member.
The LVAT Collaborative would like to thank this year’s sponsors.
Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, Bethlehem Rotary Club, Highmark, Just Born, Herron Funeral Home, Emedia Works, PennCap Properties, Valley Youth House, River Pointe Logistics Center
The week’s activities are wide-ranging and interactive.
LVAT Week Coffee Shop Conversations – Attend one of our virtual coffee shops to participate in a conversation about the anti-human trafficking work taking place in our area. The Lehigh Valley’s anti-trafficking organizations will provide knowledgeable representatives to help community members be aware of what is happening in the Lehigh Valley and how to help.
Red Sand Project -Red Sand Project is a participatory artwork that uses sidewalk interventions, earthwork installations, and convenings to create opportunities for people to question, connect and take action against vulnerabilities that can lead to human trafficking and exploitation. The Red Sand Project symbolizes victims of human trafficking who have “fallen through the cracks” and go unnoticed by the system and the community as a whole. The project was created by artist Molly Gochman and uses red sand that is placed in the cracks of sidewalks to raise awareness of “modern-day-slavery.” The grains of sand represent the millions of men, women, and children from around the world that are in slavery today. The project has engaged over 1.5 million people of diverse backgrounds – from students to educators, businesses to outreach organizations, concerned citizens to celebrities – and it’s continuing to grow daily.
Not for Sale -In this Live Streaming event, you will hear powerful stories and poetry about survival and resilience. The musical performances will help soften the harsh realities of living on the streets. This is a penetrating glimpse into the mind of trauma.
We hope this will inspire all of you to help spread awareness and combat human trafficking in your community.
NOT for SALE was originally planned as a live performance at TouchStone Theatre in Bethlehem, PA., however due to COVID it will be live streamed.
Screenings of Brain, Heart, World Documentary
Given the ever-growing body of research, it can no longer be denied that repeated porn exposure has a tangible effect on consumers, and is connected to declining relationship satisfaction as well as various forms of exploitation. This isn’t a moral argument, it’s simply something to consider given the facts.
Schedule of events. – For more information please visit https://www.facebook.com/LVantitraffickingweek
Saturday, November 7:
Virtual Coffee House Conversation, 10 to 11 a.m.
- Zoom link to be provided
Sunday, November 8:
Community Red Sand Projects
Monday, November 9:
Find the New Drug, virtual screening of Brain, Heart, World documentary and discussion, featuring The Brain, 6 to 7 p.m.
- The Brain dives into the scientific research that illustrates the physiological and neurological harms pornography has on individuals
- Zoom link to be provided
Tuesday, November 10:
Virtual Coffee House Conversation, 12 to 1 p.m.
- Zoom link to be provided
Wednesday, November 11:
Find the New Drug, virtual screening of Brain, Heart, World documentary and discussion, featuring The Heart, 6 to 7 p.m.
- The Heart explores pornography’s impacts on romantic relationships and on platonic relationships such as those with friends, family, and everyday interpersonal connections.
- Zoom link to be provided
Thursday, November 12:
Virtual Coffee House Conversation, 1 to 2 p.m.
- Zoom link to be provided
- Community Red Sand Projects
Friday, November 13:
Find the New Drug, virtual screening of Brain, Heart, World documentary and discussion, featuring The World, 6 to 7 p.m.
- The World highlights pornography’s impact on society, including porn’s inextricable connection to the global issue of sex trafficking.
- Zoom link to be provided
Saturday, November 14:
Not for Sale, 7 to 8 p.m., a Zoom webinar of readings and musical performances by survivors of human trafficking and their allies, a powerful experience about survival and resilience.
Information provided to TVL by:
Sarah Cattin
Aspire to Autonomy, Inc.
http://pathtoautonomy.org/
