Human trafficking is not just a problem “somewhere else.” It is a worldwide problem—maybe just around the corner, hiding in plain sight.
That was the message powerfully presented in an exhibit called “The Apathy Effect” in the Troesh Center at La Sierra University on January 14-15. Open to the public, it was brought to campus by iEmpathize and the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services, in collaboration with the university’s criminal justice and social work departments.
Not only did it include large panels with the stories of trafficking survivors in the U.S. and abroad—it also included small artifacts from their lives. Equally important, the exhibit helped visitors know what to look for as tell-tale signs of possible trafficking so that they are enabled to alert authorities and potentially save victims.
“As someone who was not very educated on the topic, it was very eye-opening,” said Angelica Mendoza, a junior social work major at La Sierra. “It hurt to hear, read, and see the artifacts of someone else’s reality. It was even more surprising to see that this issue is just as relevant here in our own neighborhood as it is in other countries. I enjoyed talking with the local organizations such as Operation Safe House who provided resources for anyone interested.”
Also in this issue
