Aglow International started working against human trafficking in 2012 with Action Points that include, prayer, getting involved locally, and receiving and spreading awareness about human trafficking.
On January 31st the Aglow U.S. Mid-Atlantic region put on the first of two Anti-Trafficking workshops. The event, organized by Mid-Atlantic Regional Trafficking Coordinator Ed Thomas, was a great success! From 9:00 to 3:00 over 100 people from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC gathered to learn more about human trafficking and how they can make a difference in their communities.
The workshop started out with prayer from Alice Holland and a welcoming from Nancy McGuirk and Ed Thomas, then moved into important information on human trafficking from Jessica Wilson, Aglow’s Anti-Trafficking Specialist.
A highlight of the morning was a panel discussion with an incredible wealth of knowledge and information, discussing “What is Being Done, What Needs to be Done, and What We Can Do”, from: Kay Duffield (Executive Director, Northern VA Human Trafficking Initiative, Ashburn VA), Candace Wheeler (Founder and Executive Director, Restoration Ministries), Melissa Yao (Anti-Trafficking Specialist, The Samaritan Women, Catonsville MD), Brent Breining (Men’s Pastor, Mount Vernon Foursquare Fellowship, Alexandria VA) and Betty Sixsmith (Detective, Police Department, Alexandria VA).
Tawny Bond Dance
Come out of HidingAfter a lunch break, Raymond and Tawny Bond (Mid-Atlantic Generations Regional Coordinator, DXAMPL Generations Group) spoke and Tawny did an interpretive dance to the song, “Out of Hiding”.
After the powerful dance, the room split into small groups to discuss specific action plans of how individuals could get involved in their communities – such as reaching out to a youth group or getting involved in legislation to stop trafficking. After a time, each group shared their ideas. It was an inspiring and enlightening time! After closing thoughts from Nancy McGuirk, Barbara Potts closed the event in prayer.
After the Workshop the suggestions made during the small group discussions were compiled into a "Recommended Actions" report.
For information on their second, upcoming anti-trafficking workshop in North Carolina, please click here.