Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Alternative Spring Break goals and outcomes report
The Alternative Spring Break: Anti-Human Trafficking Immersion and Social Justice Education was an incredible experience for all involved. Seven students and two sponsors traveled to Houston for five days to study how city leaders and organizations are combating modern day slavery at home and abroad. We got to pick the brains of experts leading the way in anti-human trafficking efforts from several sectors including social workers, NGOs, social service groups, faith based organizations, federal prosecutors and academics.
The students’ familiarity with modern day slavery pre-trip ranged from having no experience with the issue to having pursued academic study and research on the issue. With such a spectrum of knowledge represented, our discussion and reflection time each night was lively and fruitful; and especially demonstrated that our day’s work offered a wealth of new information and a challenging, transformative experience for everyone. Our conversation was guided by the students’ own promptings, questions in our curricular guide and also material that students posted on their blogs.
The most important outcome achieved was that students received a panoptic view of the issue: some of the agencies and community partners that we visited were able to raise the issue in light the students had yet to consider. Because each different site visited presented the modern day slavery from a different standpoint (depending on the angle from which they were tackling the issue, whether it be as a case manager, or as a litigator, or as a professor, or as a Christian in ministry, or as a university student, or as a former victim), the students were forced to consider the issue from a rigorously critical standpoint, measuring several different perspectives as they formed their own views.
Another hugely significant outcome is that students’ visions for how to tackle modern day slavery once back in Waco were vastly expanded. Next week IJM (Baylor organization of which many of the trip’s participants are members) will host Justice Week and focus its advocacy events on anti-human trafficking. At two of the advocacy groups that we visited, students were given new ideas for ways to powerfully probe discussion and reflection on this issue; including a participatory art project (see photo on blog). Students will continue to execute these ideas in coming semesters as several of the trip’s participants are underclassman who are on their way to becoming leaders of IJM as well as our campus at large. On an even more impactful scale, students got to observe firsthand the ways Houston has effectively combated trafficking. The reason Houston’s anti-human trafficking efforts are so impressive is that sectors that usually don’t communicate have begun to align their efforts and work together. For the first time, federal prosecutors and social workers are humbling themselves to see an issue from the other’s perspective. As one of the federal prosecutors shared with us, at the first meetings of the anti-trafficking taskforce (which comprised many of the sites we visited), a social worker shouted across the room at him: “You could care less about the victim—all you’re worried about is putting the criminals away.” A few years later, the taskforce has come a long way and the city has accomplished so much change. A similar taskforce is so needed in Waco, and we believe that working with a Baylor professor, students have the potential to assemble a best practices/recommendations report to local law enforcement and law enforcement for Waco’s implementation. We met with a student group from the University of Saint Thomas who conducted similar research for Harris County attorneys.
The reach of this trip has already extended beyond the attending students and sponsors; they each have committed not to allow this societal ill to go unacknowledged—and the campus, the Waco community and their future communities will not go unchanged. Your diversity enhancement grant helped pay for our housing and honorariums shared with each site visited; not only did your support allow students this front-line learning experience, but also went to help the heroes we observed to continue in their noble work.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
JUSTICE WEEK AT BAYLOR
BIPI is excited to sponsor of this Student Activities event!
For more information please contact Student Activities Justice Intern Saralyn Salisbury
Proceeds benefit IJM National Office
Place your order with Dalychia_Saah@baylor.edu
JUSTICE SUMMIT
Monday March 21st
12:00 PM: Modern Day Slavery Demonstration, SUB Daniel Plaza Outside
*Counseling Center available to process this demonstration: 254.710.2467
6:00-6:15: Introduction, Barfield Drawing Room
6:15-7:15: Ron Soodalter, Barfield Drawing Room
7:15-7:30: Break, Barfield Drawing Room
7:30-8:15: Break Out Session #1, Barfield Drawing Room
8:15-8:30: Break
8:30-9:15: Break Out Session #2, Barfield Drawing Room
(Tomi Grover; Andy Hein; Art Tonoyan; Anita Johnson)
SPEAKER BIOS:
• Ron Soodalter (keynote speaker, Barfield Drawing Room) is a renowned historian with a B.A. in American History and masters degrees in Education and American Folk Culture. In addition to his two current books – Hanging Captain Gordon and The Slave Next Door – Soodalter’s articles appear frequently in magazines. He has recently written for Smithsonian, Civil War Times, Portland, New York Archives, and True West, and is a featured columnist for America’s Civil War. He is the recipient of the International Regional Magazine Association's 2010 Gold Award. Soodalter is also a well-known public speaker, recently presenting at “The Collective Shout,” an anti-trafficking conference hosted by Love146.
• Dr. Tomi Lee “T.L.” Grover (Baines Room; Title: Human Trafficking in the U.S. - Understanding Advocacy and Engagement Here) serves as an educator and abolitionist with TraffickStop, an anti-trafficking initiative to educate, advocate and engage people on the issues of human trafficking. She actively pursues educating others about the atrocities of exploitation and engages their response in a variety of avenues. T.L. holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work and Ministry-Based Evangelism, and a Master of Arts in Christian Education, from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She serves as an adjunct professor for Dallas Baptist University. T.L. had a twelve year career as a certified telecommunications operator, and was certified as a law enforcement officer, as well as a law enforcement instructor and holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Florida.
• Andy Hein (Fentress Room; Title-TBD) is the Texas Regional Director of Church Mobilization for International Justice Mission. Mr. Hein was ordained and served as a missions mobilization pastor at Saddleback Church for eight years, working to ensure that each of the congregation’s 2,800 small groups embraced and engaged in the P.E.A.C.E. Plan, a global effort to motivate Christians to address the “five global giants” of spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, poverty, disease and illiteracy. Mr. Hein joined IJM in 2010 to continue this calling to churches in Southern California and Texas. He teaches that holistic mission includes seeking justice for the poor who suffer abuse and oppression, and that matters of injustice are integral to the church’s missional mandate.
• Artyom H. Tonoyan (Beckham Room; Title: Genocide: Remembrance and Prevention) is a doctoral candidate in Religion, Politics & Society in the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies at Baylor University, where he also lectures on nationalism, ethnic conflict, and international human rights. He is completing his dissertation on religion and national identity in the Southern Caucasus. His research interests include religious nationalism and church-state issues in the post-Soviet space, and the Armenian Genocide. His most recent article on Armenian-Georgian tensions was published in Demokratizatsiya: The Journal of Post-Soviet Democratization.
• Anita Johnson (White Room; Title: John School) Johnson has served as an investigator with the Waco Police Department for the past 21 years. During 18 of those years, Investigator Johnson has served as an undercover prostitute, which led to her initiative to start Waco’s first John School. The John School was founded by Investigator Johnson in 2002, and has had an incredible success rate in Waco. This unique program aims to decrease the amount of men seeking prostitution in Waco by exposing them to the harm prostitution can cause the clients (the Johns), the prostitute, and the community.
JUSTICE WEEK Dr. Pepper Hour
Tuesday March 22nd, Barfield Drawing (3-4pm)
Participating Organizations:
• International Justice Mission-Baylor Chapter
• Baylor Students for Social Justice
• Waco Arts Initiative
• The Campus Kitchen Project
• The Wells Project
• Baylor School of Social Work
• Mission Waco
• Steppin’ Out
• Up ‘Til Dawn
• And others social justice student groups
These organizations work the Dr. Pepper Hour together, to inform students about the opportunities on campus with justice- and service-oriented student organizations.
TUNNEL OF OPPRESSION
Tuesday March 22nd, Barfield Drawing Room (6-10pm)
The Tunnel of Oppression will portray various types of oppression around the world such as sex trafficking, homophobia, and racial discrimination. Student organizations will be portraying these oppression skits for the observers. Observers will be led in a debriefing after experiencing the Tunnel to discuss and process what they saw. Participating student organizations:
• Theater students (sex trafficking)
• The Wells Project (clean water access)
• Interested Students (homelessness)
• UNITE Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (religious persecution)
• Baylor Students for Social Justice (sweat shops)
• Interested students (homophobia)
HEART FOR JUSTICE
Wednesday March 23rd, Fountain Mall (10pm)
International Justice Mission is partnering with Spiritual Life to host student artists and staff worship leaders in a time of praise for God’s heart of justice. Tents will set up at this event for students to enter and pray for specific forms of oppression such as modern-day slavery.
ACOUSTIC CAFÉ + CALL & RESPONSE FILM
Thursday March 24th, SUB Den (7-10pm)
IJM will be partnering with Acoustic Café to present the issue of modern-day slavery and justice through music. We will present a portion of the “Call + Response” film, as well as justice-oriented artwork provided by Houston Rescue and Restore. PARTNERS:The Academy for Leader Development and Civic Engagement; Baylor Student Government and the Student Government Allocation Fund; Baylor Interdisciplinary Poverty Initiative; StudioNorth
Monday, March 7, 2011
the world needs more rachel lloyds
GEMS (Girls Educational & Mentoring Services), the organization featured in the above video, has been referenced at least once at each of the four sessions we have had with local experts fighting modern day slavery. We have learned that the safe house/transitional house model of re-stabilization of individuals coming out of trafficking situations is incredibly complex and virtually impossible to master, but Rachel Lloyd and GEMS has repeatedly been cited as a best practice.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Very Young Girls
Houston Anti-Human Trafficking Trip
By Saralyn Salisbury
Tonight we watched the documentary “Very Young Girls.” The film featured girls who had been sexually exploited by pimps in New York City.
As stated multiple times throughout the film 13 is the average age of the girls who first enter prostitution. All of the girls featured in the film were underage when they entered prostitution.
I believe that this film truly confronts standard assumptions about prostitution in general. It is safe to say that most Americans would probably classify prostitutes as criminals. However, all of these girls were coerced, forced or pressured into this lifestyle. It is also the case that when a prostitute is underage they should automatically be classified as victims. So why then are the girls continuously arrested and serving harsh jail time when the johns that seek them serve little to no time?
IGNORANCE. Would these girls continued to be classified as criminals if we knew what they went through. If we knew that this lifestyle is not a choice and that the girls go through extensive brainwashing and manipulation.
One of the most striking things I noticed about the film was the difficulty that the girls faced in staying away from their pimp and previous lifestyle. These girls grew attached to their abusers and would often go back with nothing else keeping them away.
So how do we end this cycle?
Stay tuned for more blogs from the rest of our trip…
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Training Session with Dr. Kim Kotrla
The Anti-Human Trafficking Spring Break 2011 crew met for a few hours today to watch the MSNBC episode: Sex Slaves Texas and debrief with a professional in the field.
Dr. Kotrla teaches a human trafficking class at Baylor University and has an interest for how social services can most effectively partner with law enforcement and government to combat modern day slavery. Below I've included highlights/information from our conversation:
Kotrla see's modern day slavery as a two-fold issue:
1. DISCRIMINATION ISSUE
[Gender/ethnicity]
Socioeconomic, gender, ethnicity
Poverty – lack of opp, education
Women feeling this is the only choice they have
Poverty defined as: Lack of opportunity – power to make life choices
2. DEMAND ISSUE
[Since 1997 child pornography websites have increased by 1500%]
The Johns - Book that reports research/interview/info from hundreds of interview with men who have purchased sex; extremely hard read as there is an obvious wide spread disturbing, misogynous view of women by men interviewed
One of the questions asked of the men is what would it take to deter you?
75% said they wouldn’t do it again if they knew several things would happen:
1. letter to family (being outed in some way)
2. picture put on internet or billboard
3. Registered as sex offender
4. Driving license removal
etc.
99% of investigations of sex trafficking involve females; but in pockets of places like Atlanta – there are reports of demand for male sex tourism - men coming in for young boys.
There's also an organization in Florida that focuses on young boys, however males are not as “pimp-controlled” as females. Interesting distinction.
…………..
Examples of how other countries are addressing the issue differently:
Sweden – prostitution not illegal, but it is a crime to purchase sex; you can see how this criminalization of the purchaser is opposite US protocol. Message: Women should not be bought
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Reflection on Free the Captives Conference in Houston, Texas February 26, 2011
One of Free the Captives, a theocentric anti-human trafficking organization, objectives is to reduce the demand for human trafficking. This objective stands out to me. I was also struck by the amount of information, knowledge, and concern for the issue. To have a fairly large number of people gathered together who all want sex and labor trafficking abolished was encouraging. In the past year or two, I have talked with many people that want to do something, but do not know what can or should be done, and also do not think there is enough information or awareness of how the trade works for productive action to be undertaken. This conference debunked this attitude in me. There are people out there working to abolish trafficking, and there is information and resources a plenty if you are willing to search a little bit for them. The importance of working together cannot be emphasized enough. We must not allow ourselves to become ‘territorial’ about this issue, or think that our way of fighting it is the only way to do so.
To bring about justice, we, as organizations and as individuals, have to work together.
So, you ask, what can I do? It`s important for you to pick a specific area to focus on. You cannot take on the whole system at once or by yourself. Ask yourself which part of the issue angers you the most. Which part makes you want to really take action. Take that, and run with it. If you feel passionate about helping to restore survivor`s lives, get involved with a safe house or an aftercare program. Free the Captives is starting “Girls Circles” that help girls process their feelings and determine their future direction. They journal, make art, and bond as a group so that the girls can support and encourage each other. Jessie Riggs, with FTC, spoke to us about the group she leads. Alert Ministries (alertdfw.org) has a similar goal of teaching survivors and girls at risk life skills and providing them with support. Christina Mackenzie, the director of ALERT, emphasized becoming an advocate for your own training, and for the training of others in your organization or group.
The curriculum must be population specific.
If what you are talking about is not relevant to the people you are serving, then it will not help in achieving your goal of restoring and healing these individuals. Mackenzie also discussed working with law enforcement and government agencies. She said too often these groups are considered enemies of sorts, rather than allies who both appreciate the support you will provide the victims, and have resources and abilities that can help you as you work towards ending human rights violations.
Too often we think we have to travel across the globe to find an issue or cause worth working for. Too often we think that the only people in need are far away. Too often we forget to look around and see the injustice right before our eyes. Each of us contributes to labor trafficking when we purchase items that have been made by forced workers. Each of us is personally responsible for the continued demand for slave labor. Each of us lives in a place where injustice occurs on a daily basis. Before traveling to a different country, we must first work in the city we live in to right and redress wrongs. We have to go into this work with the mindset of long-term investment. Human trafficking will not go away overnight. Your mission trip will not help the community you travel to improve, unless you find a way to create a sustainable and replicable solution to the problems the people face. Unless you find a way to get the local people invested in and taking ownership of the solution, your efforts and vision will not last beyond the time you spend there. Dr. T.L. Grover, the director of TraffickStop, said that we must minister with the people, not to or for them. She said we must prepare for trips by becoming culturally aware and contextually sensitive. We have to know what we`re getting into and where we are going. The same holds true for work in the U.S. and in your own city. The resources and information is out there, so take the time to really do your homework and find the right people and resources before you get involved with something. See what organizations and people are already working where you are, and partner with them.
Commit to preparation and hard work before you begin, expecting challenges and set-backs as you encounter injustice and seek to remedy it.
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