SALISBURY — Sacred Heart is hosting an educational forum on preventing human trafficking on Saturday, Nov. 23.
The free forum will include a panel of 3 expert speakers: Dr. Jim Duncan, director of Rowan County anti-trafficking organization Project Light; Charlene Mooneyhan, a Victim Assistance Specialist with Homeland Security Investigations; and Alexa Arciero, Director for Youth for Hope, a youth-led peer-to-peer anti-human trafficking group. Arciero also serves as Communications Director for Fields of Hope, a safe house and outreach program for victims of sex trafficking in North Carolina.
The Carolinas are known as a throughway for human traffickers.
“Child exploitation is one of the fastest growing crimes,” said Kara Griffin, lead of the CCDOC Human Trafficking Awareness Committee, “and we are grateful that Sacred Heart church is bringing attention to this fast-growing criminal industry to educate our community.”
She noted that parents of children who are on social media are particularly encouraged to attend the panel discussion.
Education, she said she believes, plays a vital role in protecting children.
“We believe more parents, schools and community leaders need to understand how traffickers and predators work and how we can help keep our children safe,” Griffin said. “This forum will provide human trafficking data on crimes in the North Carolina area, as well as awareness information, hotline numbers and resources to address human trafficking and even child sexual exploitation.”
As Arciero said, “We believe educating and empowering youth and their families is key to preventing sex trafficking.”
There will be a Mass at 8 a.m. The forum will be from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart, 375 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury.
A reception with the expert presenters, local agencies and information tables will follow the presentation. Contact Kara Griffin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information and register here.
— Catholic News Herald