Telling The Truth To Bring Justice
This story is from the book Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of our Daily Choices by Julie Clawson
Alexa was a typical high-school student, but during her senior year, she became a modern-day abolitionist as well.
During a student government class, a friend brought up the issue of modern-day slavery. Having learned about it in her church youth group, Alexa's friend wanted to spread this knowledge to her classmates. Alexa was shocked to discover the extent of modern-day slavery and that her hometown of Seattle was a major port for human trafficking. She thought about what it would be like if she or one of her friends were forced into slavery, and she knew she had to take action.
With her classmates, Alexa helped organize an information campaign. They invited twenty other local schools to attend events that helped raised awareness about modern-day slavery. But Alexa decided to do even more. For her senior project she organized a benefit dinner to help fight slavery. The purpose of the dinner was twofold: to educate people about modern-day slavery and to raise funds for the International Justice Mission (IJM), which works to free slaves worldwide.
Alexa poured herself into this event, recruiting her friends and family to help out. Her mother's restaurant catered the event, and her brother created a registration and information website (www. endhumanslavery.com) She invited speakers from IJM and the Seattle police department to talk about the magnitude of slavery.
The dinner proved to be a great success, as Alexa raise nearly $5,000 to help end slavery. She also raised awareness in her community and had numerous people tell her that they had no idea slavery was still such a major issue. Alexa worked within her everyday world to seek justice for those in slavery. Even as a high school student she knew that she could make a difference. Reflecting on her experience, Alexa expressed her hope "that by raising awareness about human trafficking people will realize that this isn't just a big issue in other countries, it's happening right here! And I hope that they know that there are so many things all of us can be doing, big or small, to make a difference."
Alexa was a typical high-school student, but during her senior year, she became a modern-day abolitionist as well.
During a student government class, a friend brought up the issue of modern-day slavery. Having learned about it in her church youth group, Alexa's friend wanted to spread this knowledge to her classmates. Alexa was shocked to discover the extent of modern-day slavery and that her hometown of Seattle was a major port for human trafficking. She thought about what it would be like if she or one of her friends were forced into slavery, and she knew she had to take action.
With her classmates, Alexa helped organize an information campaign. They invited twenty other local schools to attend events that helped raised awareness about modern-day slavery. But Alexa decided to do even more. For her senior project she organized a benefit dinner to help fight slavery. The purpose of the dinner was twofold: to educate people about modern-day slavery and to raise funds for the International Justice Mission (IJM), which works to free slaves worldwide.
Alexa poured herself into this event, recruiting her friends and family to help out. Her mother's restaurant catered the event, and her brother created a registration and information website (www. endhumanslavery.com) She invited speakers from IJM and the Seattle police department to talk about the magnitude of slavery.
The dinner proved to be a great success, as Alexa raise nearly $5,000 to help end slavery. She also raised awareness in her community and had numerous people tell her that they had no idea slavery was still such a major issue. Alexa worked within her everyday world to seek justice for those in slavery. Even as a high school student she knew that she could make a difference. Reflecting on her experience, Alexa expressed her hope "that by raising awareness about human trafficking people will realize that this isn't just a big issue in other countries, it's happening right here! And I hope that they know that there are so many things all of us can be doing, big or small, to make a difference."
posted by Murray @ 5:00 AM
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