ESTN, TBI, Others Join Forces

On April 8th, Susan Eames and I represented ESTN in a small meeting of legislators, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), our local Vice Squad, the Select Committee of Youth and Children and aftercare providers. It was such an encouraging time to see the heart and vision for each agency and it reminded all of us in attendance that we must work together to make Tennessee a slave free state.  

Susan (Lft), me, Yvonne Williams, organizer of the upcoming Trafficking in America Conference, and a friendly TBI agent

Later, we toured the impressive TBI Fusion Center and had a sneak peek at the TBI human trafficking research project, which will be released to the public later this month. The information in this report will be essential to the continued, collaborative fight against slavery in Tennessee.  The report will be shared with local media, legislators and other change makers.  

The research is compelling, proving that we have a major problem with trafficking in our state; a problem more expansive than gang activity. These facts will have a huge impact, because as we know, understanding the problem is the first step towards eliminating it.

Truck STOPS

Women and children, known derogatorily as 'lot lizards', are routinely sold at truck stops, and some truckers also aid traffickers in transporting victims across state lines. End Slavery in Tennessee (ESTN) is organizing truck washes, where volunteers will educate and resource truckers to police their own profession.  

To better understand the reason we need to target truck stops, please check out this video from Truckers Against Trafficking. To help, please contact the initiative organizers Jamie Blurton and Elizabeth Duke.

As a prelude to the planned Truck Wash events, Mark Hoerrner, from Atlanta addressed, via Skype, the Sumner County group and leaders from other ESTN groups. Mark covered a wide range of topics from safety protocols to best practices in approaching both truckers and truck stop owners. Mark said this type of initiative is sorely needed because trafficking at truck stops is increasing dramatically - between 30 and 60 percent annually- as crackdowns on drug trafficking motivate traffickers to sell people instead.

In April, ESTN Community Educator Karen Karpinski presented to medical students at Vanderbilt University. In the same month, she taught a social work class at Trevecca and represented ESTN at the Ensworth Service Fair, a Nashville Conflict Resolution Meeting, and a Cumberland University Graduate Presentation.

Everywhere she goes, Karen opens new doors, recruits new abolitionists, and raises the community awareness needed to identify victims and elicit the public outcry essential to influence change makers.

On Saturday May 7th from 10:00-12:00, Karen will train others to be ESTN presenters, multiplying her reach. The meeting will be held at Second Harvest Food Bank. Questions? Get in touch with Karen here.

Artist Actions

Channing Salava is putting her photography skills to work to provide a variety of tools both web and print based. Here's just one example of the way she's using her talent to end the buying and selling of people as commodities.   

Rebekah Bentley, a graphic designer in the Nashville Central ESTN group, created these bumper stickers which are great conversation starters and drive people to our website to learn more about modern day slavery right here in Tennessee.

Like our new logo? That's thanks to another artist, Jason Miller, Communications Lead for International Teams US. The plan is for End Slavery teams in other parts of the world to use the same logo, with their location replacing "Tennessee."

Who Will Win Our Contest?!?! 

We'll be giving a $25 store credit to the person who has the most friends 'like' our Facebook page during the month of May. Maybe the winner will be YOU!  

It's so easy to raise awareness and recruit new abolitionists, and your prize is made by a rescued slave or helps prevent slavery among vulnerable people. What's not to like?

So share the link with all your friends and just ask them to put your name in a comment box, after clicking the "Like" button. Ready... set...GO!

Then start picking out your prize(s) here!  

Ensworth Engages

Karen Karpinski and Lindsy Anton were End Slavery Tennessee ambassadors at Ensworth High School on April 15th. Senior students at Ensworth High participate in a student driven independent service learning project, completing 25 hours of community service.

There was a great deal of interest among students in volunteering with ESTN. We look forward to seeing what projects these young leaders of tomorrow choose to start, engage in, and lead this year. 

Ruby... Again

Two months ago you read about receiving the Soroptimist International's (SI) Ruby Award, for Women Helping Women. That was at the local club level from our own Music City Soroptimists.

Well, we did it again, this time for the Southern Region. The award was presented at the SI Conference in Montgomery, AL. It was great meeting so many good-hearted women and learning more about the fabulous work of this organization that exists to better the lives of women and girls.