麻豆传媒

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Center for Combating Human Trafficking (CCHT) has organized a series of educational events to provide area communities with information and resources to combat human trafficking.

The center鈥檚 theme for the month is 鈥淥ne is One Too Many,鈥� because even one exploited or abused person is too many. The purpose of Human Trafficking Awareness Month is to raise awareness that human trafficking, which includes sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery or servitude, is a crime that can and does take place in our community.

Five events are being sponsored by the CCHT in January to educate and mobilize multi-disciplinary professionals and community members to respond to human trafficking in an informed and intentional way.

The center鈥檚 showcase event will be the Anti-Trafficking Conference, 鈥淟essons from the Trenches: Combating Human Trafficking Together,鈥� from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at the 麻豆传媒 Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th St. The conference, which CCHT plans to hold annually, will move the discussion beyond Anti-Trafficking 101 to enhance professionals鈥� ability to serve those at risk. Presenters will include keynote speaker Ron Matson, dean of Wichita State鈥檚 Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Gov. Sam Brownback, Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Kansas U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom. The conference is open to the public. .

Other CCHT events in January include:

• 鈥淗uman Trafficking, Refugees, and Immigration: A Local and Global Perspective,鈥� which will focus on the connection between immigration, refugees and human trafficking, and includes a documentary screening. It will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, in Wichita State鈥檚 Lindquist Hall, Room 100.
• 鈥淲ichita Outreach Community Training鈥� will feature CCHT Executive Director Karen Countryman-Rosswurm and anti-trafficking training for faith leaders. It will take place from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Eastside Community Church, in Wichita, and is free and open to the public. .
• 鈥淎llies and Ambassadors of Faith: Combatting Human Trafficking in the Trenches,鈥� in partnership with Hope Ranch for Women, will feature Jim Lyon, general director of the Church of God Ministries. His presentation will explore the role of the church in combatting human trafficking. Heavy hors d鈥檕euvres will be served at 6 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Eastside Community Church, 14242 E. 21st St N. .
• 鈥淏ecause One Abused and Exploited is One Too Many: Human Trafficking Awareness鈥� is a program designed to help participants become aware and engaged in the anti-trafficking movement. Featured speakers include the CCHT鈥檚 Countryman-Roswurm and Bailey Patton Brackin, volunteer and community outreach coordinator, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at First Christian Church, 102 E. First St., in Newton.

The full schedule of events can be found at the Center for Combatting Human Trafficking鈥檚 events website: .