Second Life Tennessee and the Chattanooga Coalition Against Human Trafficking will host their seventh annual human trafficking awareness event on Friday, Jan. 19, 9:30-11:30 a.m., at the DoubleTree Hotel, 407 Chestnut St.
The local expression of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month will be “Unite: Wear White.” Event guests are asked to wear white as a sign of solidarity about human trafficking and to support those who have been or are victims of the crime.
“Unite: Wear White was created to expand overall awareness about the issue of human trafficking,” says Jerry Redman, CEO of Second Life Tennessee. “A well-informed community is a community that’s prepared to fight human trafficking.
“Human sex trafficking is the world’s fastest growing criminal industry, and it’s our duty to do everything we can to end to it.”
This year’s speakers will include Second Life Tennessee representatives and local partners. The speakers will discuss the local, regional and statewide resources and initiatives that are in place to combat human trafficking.
“The more we know about the crime, the better we’re able to recognize it,” says Emily Aikins, director of survivor services at Second Life Tennessee. “Our goal is to work together to strengthen the agencies and organizations that work together daily to end human trafficking.
“Through awareness and collaboration, we’ll be able to reach more survivors and bring an end to this crime.”
Unite: Wear White is open to the public. There will be no charge to attend. Sponsor exhibits from various community partners will be held 9:30-10 a.m. and 11-11:30 a.m. The event program will take place 10-11 a.m.
Information: www.secondlifetn.org, www.facebook.com/secondlifetennessee, 423 994-4857
Source: Second Life Tennessee