5th Annual #MyFreedomDay set for Tuesday, March 16th

Last year, the NAHT did not promote this global event due to the pandemic. This year, the NAHT urges you, your local anti-trafficking coalition, service club (Rotary is already on board), or school to consider participating in the 2021 #MyFreedomDay.

Last year’s #MyFreedomDay was a success in spite of a global pandemic that closed many schools. Students gathered for virtual conversations and took part in many different ways to mark this global day of action to raise awareness about human trafficking. According to the CNN Freedom Project, #MyFreedomDay made more than 750 million impressions on Twitter and saw participation from 135 countries.

Here is a glimpse into what the day looked like: Highlights from #MyFreedomDay 2020

Now in 2021, #MyFreedomDay is coming up on Tuesday, March 16th. Students from across the globe have already started posting on social media answering the question “What are you doing to help end slavery.” This year, the NAHT encourages you to ask your local school students to participate and join youth around the world to raise their voices against modern slavery. For more information on how to get started, please click this link. https://www.cnn.com/specials/world/myfreedomday

The truth is, traffickers welcome distractions and take even greater advantage when the spotlight is off them, driving their criminal enterprise back into the shadows. With finances, resources, support services and law enforcement stretched to the limits of tackling a worldwide pandemic- hope will seem further away than ever for many of the victims.

It is only natural during this health crisis to focus on our own health and safety and that of our community- but it is more important than ever that we continue to find creative ways to keep this issue in the public consciousness.

CNN is the major Freedom Day sponsor and will cover the activities and participation with news reports prior to and on March 16th.

If you yourself or your local anti-trafficking coalition or Iowa public school district is interested in participating, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3SetrV1YwnSkW41D6

#MyFreedomDay will follow up with more details, along with a list of suggestions and ideas that schools can use to fulfill this project. In the meantime, the NAHT encourages students to start using social media to spread the word, using the hashtag #MyFreedomDay and making the post public, and start answering the question: “What are you doing to help end slavery?”

Iowa Child Trafficking Symposium

The Child Trafficking; Issues and Challenges Symposium was recently announced by Dr. Joe Moravec of the Mercy College of Health Sciences. Dr. Moravec is a board member of the NAHT.

The Research Symposium Virtual Webinar will be held on Monday, April 5 from 2:00-4:15 pm. Below is the Save the Date Flyer and the Webinar Program Agenda. Please note that the keynote speaker, Dr. Jordan Greenbaum, is a nationally recognized expert on child trafficking. One former Network board member, Steven O’Meara, and one current Network board member, Teresa Davidson, will also be presenting information and expertise that is specific to Iowa. You can begin registering now via the link here. www.mchs.edu/research.

Please know that attendance is limited to the first 500 registrants: so please sign up soon if you want to participate. Continuing Education credit information will be updated and finalized soon. Questions and/or information: please contact Dr. Joe Moravec at jmoravec@mercydesmoines.org and/or (515-988-0900).

Save the Date Flyer (PDF)

Agenda (PDF)

Information, Articles, and Resources

By on February 26, 2021   /   News