Human trafficking workshop hopes to raise local awareness
Realizing that education and awareness are strong weapons, the Crime Victims’ Center and Soroptimists of Fayette County are co-sponsoring a workshop called “Human Trafficking — It’s Closer Than You Think.”
The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at the Uniontown Holiday Inn.
“A lot of people have never heard of this term,” said Pat Mowen, prevention educator for the Crime Victims’ Center.
“Or they’ve heard of it but they don’t know what it means,” said Melody Filicky, vice president of the Soroptimists.
A brochure on the workshop explains that human trafficking is a modern form of slavery that includes forced labor and sexual exploitation.
The Soroptimists of Fayette County became aware of human trafficking after member Norma Snyder invited Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick of the Sisters of St. Basil at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown to speak on the issue at its December 2010 meeting. The sisters have worked with other religious organizations in the Pittsburgh area for several years to combat the global problem of human trafficking.
Lillian Cale, president of the Soroptimists, said, “Sister Barbara Jean has been on our committee from the beginning and has helped us with contacts and materials.”
Workshop speakers will include Krista Hoffman, criminal justice specialist, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape in Harrisburg; Denise V. Holtz, special agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pittsburgh Bureau; and Krista Dollman of Mechanicsburg, representative from Change Purse, Pennsylvania Affiliate, an organization that helps victims.
Jacquie Fritts, executive director of the Crime Victims’ Center, said, “I’m enthused about the collaboration between the Crime Victims’ Center and the Soroptimists in the effort to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking to our community.”
She referred to Jerry Davis, a Uniontown native who recently produced a film about human trafficking, called “The Shanghai Hotel,” noting he contacted the organization to say he was encouraged to learn this program was occurring in his hometown.
“I appreciate the partnership with the Crime Victims’ Center,” said Cale, pointing out that raising awareness of human trafficking is an initiative of Soroptimists International. “We are extremely happy with the speakers for that day. Hopefully, once the community is educated, there will be a lot more awareness.”
There is a small fee for workshop that hopes to attract people from business, social service agencies, schools and the clergy. It can be used for continuing education credits for social workers and Act 48 hours for educators. Registration deadline is Sept. 14. To register, call the Crime Victims’ Center at 724-438-1470.