vailsymposium

There are approximately between 20 and 30 million slaves in the world today and, according to the U.S. State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year. Of these people, 80% are female and half are children. This is not a problem of other countries, the U.S. State Department estimates between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States every year. 50% of them are children. There have also been more than 150 human trafficking investigations in Colorado and it is believed that the I-70 corridor is an artery for transporting victims of human trafficking.

Event Details

You can attend this event for FREE by scrolling down to the ticket window. Please enter the number of guests under the general admission line. You can also make donations in increments of $10 on top of your registration. All donations go to the Vail Symposium for program expenses.

Starting at 6 p.m. you will be able to tour a one-of-a-kind mobile exhibit provided by The Freedom Drivers Project that will be parked outside of CMC in Edwards. The exhibit is a premiere tool in educating communities across the nation about the realities of sex trafficking.

Follow your tour of the exhibit with a lecture from three expert panelists that will begin at 7 p.m. in the CMC auditorium. You will leave here knowing the raw realities and alarming facts of human trafficking.

Panelists

Janet Drake is a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Special Prosecutions Unit at the Colorado Attorney General’s office where she investigates and prosecutes organized and complex, multi-jurisdictional crimes, including human trafficking.

Katie Kurtz heads the Human Trafficking Unit in the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The Human Trafficking Unit works to create programs to prevent and protect victims of trafficking and prosecute offenders who exploit vulnerable individuals in the community.

Candace M. Joice is the Education Manager at iEmpathize. She provides trainings and workshops regarding human trafficking and exploitation prevention for groups such as educators, parents, youth, faith communities and social workers.

6 p.m. to 7 p.m. exhibit walkthrough + small reception with food and drinks. 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. program and Q&A.