11 AM – 12 PM: Students! Come particpate in a Human Trafficking Awareness Walk in downtown Redwood City for one hour. 11am to noon. The walk will start from the Courthouse Square located at 2200 Broadway St.
12 PM – 1 PM: Attend the FREE Human Trafficking Awareness Day Rally on the Courthouse Square and learn more about human trafficking in San Mateo County and what is being done to rescue victims from this crime. This event is open to the public. Speakers include: State Senator, Jerry Hill; San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President, Warren Slocum; San Mateo County District Attorney, Steve Wagstaff; Deputy County Manager, Mike Callagy; Redwood City Mayor, John Seybert; Artist Jonathan Fung; and Filmmaker, Tony Gapastione.
1 PM – 2:30 PM: Attend the FREE Human Trafficking Awareness Day Panel Discussion. This event is open to the public. Learn what human trafficking is, and how you can participate in the rescue of victims and prevention of this crime which exploits people for commercial gain. Speakers include: Mike Brosnan, Anti-Trafficking Program Coordinator for San Mateo County; Betty Ann Hagenau, Founder and Executive Director of Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition; Catherine Egli, MD, Pediatric Endocrinologist, Kaiser Permanente, Volunteer Ambassador with Shared Hope International; Denicia Cormier, Social Worker for San Mateo County, Children and Family Services; Regina Evans, Business Entrepreneur and Trafficking Survivor. Seating is limited.
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM: Join us for a reception in the Courtroom immediately following the Panel Discussion.
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM: Attend and watch the actors’ dramatic reading of a NEW film called “Neighbor” written by Tony Gapastione that highlights the crime of human trafficking. This event is FREE and open to the public. Human trafficking is happening right under our noses, in our beautifully landscaped, white collared, American neighborhoods. We need to talk about it. And we can do something about it. We can bring change if we are willing to take a stand.
This event, produced by the Before Our Very Eyes campaign, seeks to define the issue of human trafficking in Peninsula neighborhoods, describe how to recognize it and take action to wipe it out.
A key feature of this free, countywide event will be a 20-foot shipping container which Santa Clara artist Jonathan Fung has transformed into an art installation called PEEP. Available for viewing on the square May 9-15, the art piece weaves several human trafficking themes (sweat shops, child labor, prostitution) together to shed light on the issue.
Further information and details are available at BeforeOurVeryEyes.org or you can contact contact@beforeourveryeyes.org.