United Nations Day 2024 - Mountain Strong AgainstTrafficking: A Colorado UN Day Summit Recap
United Nations Day 2024 - Mountain Strong Against Trafficking: A Colorado UN Day Summit Recap
Hey everyone! What an incredible day we had at our UN Day 2024 event, "Mountain Strong Against Trafficking: A Colorado UN Day Summit"! Held at the beautiful St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Boulder, the energy was palpable as community members, advocates, and experts gathered to tackle the critical issue of human trafficking.
The space buzzed with conversation when the doors opened at 12:30 PM. Attendees networked, enjoyed snacks (thanks to our amazing UNA-Denver & UNA-Boulder County volunteers!), and explored informational tables hosted by a fantastic array of local organizations dedicated to supporting survivors and fighting trafficking. A massive shout-out to New Horizons House International, Seeds of Exchange, the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, the office of Congressman Joe Neguse, HER Future Coalition, Exodus Road, Momentum Global, ALIGHT, and the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice for sharing their invaluable resources.
As the clock struck 1:15 PM, we moved into the chapel for an inspiring program. UNA-BC’s Vice President, Jessie Torres, kicked things off, highlighting the significance of UN Day and the urgency of addressing human trafficking. Intern Max then guided us through a grounding activity, setting the stage for the powerful stories and insights to come.
We were incredibly honored to hear from Molly, a survivor whose resilience and vision for change were truly moving. Her story, combined with the expertise of KC Wagner, a detective with the Oklahoma City Police Department, offered a deeply impactful look at the realities of human trafficking from both a personal and investigative perspective. AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Co-Founder and Research Director of the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, further enriched the conversation with her expertise on the local landscape of trafficking in Colorado. A huge thank you to these incredible speakers for sharing their time and knowledge!
After a short break, we dove into a dynamic panel discussion featuring some of the leading voices in the fight against human trafficking. Kristina Wilburn from LCHT, Dr. Lumina Albert from the CSU Center for Ethics and Human Rights, Shanna Scott from New Horizons House International, Marianna Kosharovsky from ALIGHT, and Sarah Davison-Tracy from Seeds of Exchange shared their perspectives, offering a comprehensive understanding of how human trafficking manifests in Denver and Boulder. Vice President Jessie Torres expertly guided the conversation, and the audience Q&A session sparked even more insightful dialogue.
The afternoon culminated in a powerful closing. Melody delivered a moving spoken word piece and led a reflective activity, inviting attendees to share key takeaways from the day. And, of course, no UN Day celebration is complete without pie! A big thank you to everyone who helped make our pie-eating a success!
The energy and commitment in the room were truly inspiring. It's clear that our community is passionate about creating a world free from exploitation. If you weren't able to make it, or if you're looking to deepen your involvement, don't worry! You can learn more about the fantastic work of our speakers and participating organizations by clicking on their names in this recap.
Thank you again to everyone who made "Mountain Strong Against Trafficking" such a success. Together, we can make a difference!
Spoken Word: Clearing by Martha-Postlethwaite
Do not try to save
the whole world
or do anything grandiose.
Instead, create
a clearing
in the dense forest
of your life
and wait there
patiently,
until the song
that is your life
falls into your own cupped hands
and you recognize and greet it.
Only then will you know
how to give yourself to this world
so worthy of rescue.