This weekend I’m going to be part of an event called ArtofFREEDOM, working to bring greater awareness to the horrible crime of human trafficking and support for the often forgotten victims of it. A couple of years ago I learned a shocking fact – my home town is a hub of human trafficking and the sex trade it supports, in large part because of the intersection of two major interstate highways. Learning just the barest minimum about this broke my heart and I wished for something that I could do to help.
A few months ago I was given that opportunity when I was asked to participate in ArtofFREEDOM, brought to Sacramento for the first time by Made for Them. I was thrilled to be able to accept. I’ll be leading as many as 160 participants in a hands-on art project, starting with a blank canvas to represent the fresh start that those rescued are given. But they need help and I have created several artworks just for this event, and the proceeds from these works will go towards that end, especially supporting Courage Worldwide.
All of these brand new works are florals, inspired by the lovely rose garden that the event will be held in, and representing the beauty within each of the girls rescued from the sex trade. Really it’s a very small thing that I’m doing, but if each of us did just a little thing, all together it could be a pretty big deal.