Ready, Set, GO!     

Guest writer: Bill Smith    

It began in the uncertainty of a figurative and literal fog. Some people could barely find the event in the thick early morning cloud that hung over the start line. Would this, our first big fundraising event, be a boon or a bust?  

The list of people to recognize and thank is long and includes the riders, sponsors and volunteers who gave up a Saturday to make a difference. Special thanks goes to Jamie Blurton (pictured above), who was just audacious enough to tackle organizing this first-ever event, even from her college 150 miles away. LifeChurch.tv graciously hosted us in their building and parking lot. Karen Karpinski was Registration Captain; Brittany Bertolli, Riders Captain; Lexie Smith , Volunteer Captain and Josh Allds,  Route Captain. Our $500+ fundraisers were Derri Smith ($985), Jamie Blurton ($800), Elizabeth Stewart ($730), Janna Demonbreun ($700), Brittany Bertoli ($526.46) and Scott Hardesty ($500.) The top team was End Slavery Tennessee, captain Jamie Blurton! Kudos, all!  

Thanks and admiration also goes to Brian Carney and Mika Takamaki at Ride for Refuge, a ministry birthed out of International Teams that organizes "The Ride" across the US and Canada to benefit organizations that serve the displaced, the vulnerable and the exploited, including victims of human trafficking.  

Even while pulling off a great success, we learned a lot of things, and your comments and suggestions are welcome as we gear up for next year's even better-than-amazing Ride for Refuge.

We Bring People Together 

Guest writer: Chelsea Weber

On October 20th, around 40 people gathered at Hermitage

Rondy Smith

Church of the Nazarene (HCN) to learn about the reality of human trafficking in their community and begin casting a vision for the future.  Rondy Smith, Community Life pastor at HCN, shared her passion and the way God has been moving on her heart to get involved since this past May.  Through dialogue among members present, seeds were planted in minds and hearts to consider the possibilities for involvement, specifically as it relates to aftercare for victims. 

Also present were several members of the community currently involved in the fight to end human trafficking.  Derri Smith, Director of End Slavery in Tennessee, gave an educational presentation about the facts and realities involved.  Jamie

Jamie Casler

Casler, Director of the Center for Social Justice (CSJ) at Trevecca Nazarene University, shared how university students are plugging into the community and partnering with businesses to create practical action plans.  He brought two senior marketing and business majors to share about a project they are completing in cooperation with the directors of the upcoming Hollywood movie Trade of Innocents set to be released in 2012. 

A local artist named Jessica Campbell, accompanied by her husband, shared a moving song that she wrote called "I Have A Name".  (See Music, Music, Music, above.) Written from the perspective of a sex slave, it shines a light on the secret pain and struggle she faces. 

ITeams' mission is to bring people together - churches, schools, businesses and government organizations - to help the oppressed. This event was a great illustration. Plans are in place for ESTN, CSJ and HCN to meet to explore ways we can work together to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners. Isaiah 61:1

ESTN Happenings 

The training schedule is fast and furious these days, and both our team of presenters and geographical range are expanding. Here's a sampling:

At the October 15th 10th annual Montgomery County Sheriff's office Community Awareness event in Clarksville, Karen Karpinski, Tonya Epps and Dana Garrett Montgomery handed out information, networked with other organizations and  educated hundreds of community members on human trafficking.

AT the October 26th annual Child Abuse Prevention conference put on by the Rutherford County Child Abuse Prevention coalition, Karen Karpinski and Dana Garrett Montgomery spoke to social workers and health care workers, and  Bucky Elliot and Patty Fawver targeted Law Enforcement.  Marsha Johnson was stationed at the informational booth and handed out ESTN materials to participants.

Also recently, Karen Karpinski spoke to social work students, faculty and others at David Lipscomb University. Lipscomb did a fabulous job of hosting and publicizing the event, including an interview with Karen on Channel 4 news. Click here to see the event publicized on the school website. (Karen also taught numerous classes at Volunteer State Community College this month and scheduled all volunteer presentations.)

Bucky Elliott and Patty Fawver just completed four weeks of four-hour police training sessions for the Spring Hill police department. Mark Hoerrner, abolition activist from Atlanta, drove up to advise us and to do part of one presentation.

Glimpse at Global 

Bulgaria is a source country for human trafficking. According to the US Dept. of State TIP Report, "Ethnic Roma men, women and children are particularly vulnerable to becoming trafficking victims and are overrepresented among identified trafficking victims."   

ITeams worker Margie Brown and her husband, Keith, have served among the Roma people for 12 years and are exceptionally qualified to address trafficking among this targeted group. 

Finding YOUR Niche 

There are times to read history and there are times to MAKE history. We invite you to join us in making history in Tennessee and beyond.

A good place for everyone to start is by joining one of our seven volunteer groups. See sidebar to the left for contact information.

Current specific volunteer opportunities include:

• Musicians and producers (see Music, Music, Music, above)
• Web designer with MS FrontPage experience (or willing to learn)
• Researcher to work on list of fair trade sources in Tennessee
• Researcher to develop list of resources for youth, mainly through phone calls and interviews
• Graphic designer to create a door hanger for community campaigns
• Marketing professionals
• Fundraisers
• Data entry - enter e-mail addresses into Constant Contact
• Hosts for home parties
• Videographers and producers to create a video on trafficking in Tennessee and ESTN's work

Except for home parties (see email link above), please contact info@endslaverytn.org to express your volunteer interest.