Human Trafficking Awareness Event Draws Fuller Students

Local coffeehouse run by Fuller students hosts essential items drive :: 02/03/10

Fuller students and members of the Pasadena community gathered last week on Saturday, January 30, for an event promoting awareness about human trafficking. Held at Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters, a coffeehouse run by Fuller students, the event offered participants the opportunity to donate clothing and essential items to the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) and to learn about trafficking and ways they can help from the various organizations in attendance—ZOE Children’s Homes, Stop the Traffik, Nightlight USA, and Project Exodus. Fuller students Michael Wright and Isaac Smith provided live music.

“My goal for the event was that it would be a place where people could come and donate towards, learn about, and engage in the fight against trafficking around the world,” said Lindsay Henson, the organizer of the event. “The day turned out even better than I had hoped.”

The Fuller community has a growing number of students who have been or are currently involved in anti-trafficking work. “Anti-trafficking is becoming the huge ‘it’ topic,” remarked Jane Kim, Fuller student and co-organizer of Saturday’s event. “Because Los Angeles is a major port for human trafficking, there are so many organizations here that are involved in prevention, aftercare, and other related needs.” Kim pointed out that many students are involved in Oasis USA, a social justice organization with an office in Pasadena and a vision for a “traffik-free” city. Additionally, Fuller hosts the Asha Forum every other year. The forum is designed to inform, unite, equip, and mobilize Christians in preventing all forms of sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.