Human trafficking has been a relatively silent epidemic in today’s world that has impacted communities across the globe. Across the world today, there are 49.6 million people in modern slavery worldwide that have been reported, and 12 million of those accounted for are children. In the United States, reports have concluded that sex trafficking is the most common type of trafficking, and that child sex trafficking has been reported in all 50 states. The most common types of human trafficking to date have included, but are not limited to: forced labor where victims and survivors are forced to work against their will, sex trafficking where individuals are required to engage in forced sexual exploitation, domestic servitude where forced labor occurs within a private household, forced marriage where victims and survivors are forced to marry another person without giving consent, and child soldiers where minors are used as fighters in acts of war.
Global initiatives have aimed to address this silent epidemic by bringing awareness to the issue and assistance for establishing a guiding principle in this fight against human trafficking. The U.S. Department of State engages foreign governments on human trafficking through utilizing the world’s most comprehensive resource of governmental anti-trafficking efforts, and through the United States’ Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons publishes a Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, annually.
How Can You Participate in the Red Sand Project?
So, what can you do to help in this fight? Awareness is key to being equipped and is the first line of defense against any type of crime. The Westmoreland Human Trafficking Task Force was developed by Blackburn Center and other community partners, organizations and members, with a mission to enhance education, identify victims and survivors, and increase awareness to decrease the number of lives impacted by human trafficking. To raise awareness on human trafficking in our community, Blackburn Center has participated in the Red Sand Project, a participatory art installation created by Molly Gochman, since 2017 when the Westmoreland Human Trafficking Task Force was established. For the Red Sand Project art installation, participants are asked to place red sand in the cracks of sidewalks. Each grain of sand it represents one of the millions of victims and survivors of human trafficking that have fallen through the cracks of society and have gone unnoticed. Blackburn Center will be participating by filling red sand in the grout of the sidewalks at different locations throughout Westmoreland County while posting signage along the way explaining the purpose and meaning behind this event.
This year’s Red Sand Project art installation will take place at various locations in Westmoreland County from September 5th – September 26th, and volunteers are welcome to join us and participate! If you would like to get involved in the fight to stop human trafficking and to help Blackburn Center raise awareness about human trafficking in our community, please join us for the red sand art installation at any of the following locations:
September 5: Independence Health Latrobe Hospital (9 am) and Independence Health Frick Hospital (4 pm)
September 6: St. Clair Park (9 am)
September 7: Westmoreland County Courthouse (9 am), Westmoreland Transit Authority (11 am), and Twin Lakes Extension (noon)
September 9: Greensburg-Hempfield Library (10 am)
September 10: New Florence Community Library (2 pm)
September 11: Jeannette Public Library (12 pm)
September 12: Mount Pleasant Public Library (10 am), Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital (12 pm), and Scottdale Public Library (2 pm)
September 17: Adams Memorial Library (10 am)
September 18: West Newton Public Library (12:30 pm)
September 26: Rostraver Public Library (11:30 am) and Monessen Public Library (2:30 pm)
Please see the Red Sand Project flyers for more details on the locations, dates and times to join us and participate.
Our agency remains committed to ending human trafficking in our community. Contact Blackburn Center for additional information if you would like to learn more about the Westmoreland Human Trafficking Task Force. Blackburn Center also offers trainings for community professionals as requested. If you suspect human trafficking, you can report it to the National Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
The Red Sand Project is a powerful way to engage the community in our fight to end human trafficking. We hope you can join us as we raise awareness on this important topic!
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