Activism: Best Practices

Abstract

The issue I will be addressing is what students and community members can do in the anti-trafficking movement. Having studied human trafficking for some time, and starting an anti-trafficking student organization myself, I understand the confusion and eagerness of wanting to do something but not knowing what to do or where to start.

One of the major ways to increased human trafficking awareness is by starting an anti-trafficking coalition or organization. From personal experience, creating an anti-trafficking organization has enabled me to reach out to other students/professors on my campus, use University rooms for free (where events are held), and the opportunity to work with other student organization to increase awareness and plan events. Through this organization, I have also had the opportunity to become an active member on Michigan’s Human Trafficking Task Force, which I will also address in my presentation.

My presentation will outline the trials, tribulations, and successes of my quest to increase human trafficking awareness at my university and throughout Michigan. I will outline what events we have had success with, what community organizations we have reached out to, and how we have increased awareness within our University community. I will also provide an overview of what student activist and community member can do to become participants in the fight against human trafficking, as well as resources to get them started.

Heidi Miller, MSA
Organizations: CMU Chapter of Campus Coalition against Human Trafficking and Michigan Human Trafficking Collaboration Task Force
Location: Michigan
Title of Presentation: Activism: Best Practices