“It Happens Here”: Human Trafficking Awareness Program

ZANESVILLE, OH – January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and the John McIntire Library is hosting an event to help the community identify signs of human trafficking.

This Thursday from 5:30 to 7 PM the Library, in partnership with Transitions, The JW & MH Straker Charitable Foundation, The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, The Soroptomist of Zanesville, and Rescue and Restore, will be hosting “It Happens Here” in the auditorium.

Suzanne Helms, the Adult Services Manager at the John McIntire Library, said this event is to help people recognize the signs of human trafficking and abuse and how it can be prevented.

“We’re just trying to bring people together to bring awareness to human trafficking,” Helms said. “We want to let them know some of the signs to look for, the things you can do, and who to contact to get more information.”

There will be two speakers at this event. The first is Christi Scott Bartman, the Founder of Eyes Up Appalachia, which is an anti-human trafficking initiative. The second speaker will be Jasmine Myers, who is a survivor of human trafficking, and she will be talking about her experiences.

Helms said they’re hosting this event because they always want to share knowledge and information at the Library.

“In this case, this could be information that saves someone’s life or changes it in a way they never saw coming or thought possible,” Helms said. “Some of these situations are very grim and it’s not the exploitation that we think it is. Often, it’s more of a servitude or slavery and free labor situation.”

Registration is not required for this event. There is a trigger warning for some audiences because the speakers will be discussing sensitive material related to human trafficking.

Helms said if you become uncomfortable at any time during the presentations, you may leave the auditorium.