As the President of the Ambassadors group, it is my responsibility to recruit others. In order to do that, I feel it may help for the current members as well as other followers of the blog to understand why I'm doing what I'm doing.
Russ Tuttle, leader of The Stop Trafficking Project, spoke to my marketing class on a couple different occasions regarding the issue and I felt I had to get involved. I had not involved myself in much since I started as a UMKC student three years ago, so I thought this could finally be my niche. That said, I spoke with my Marketing professor, Gene Brown, about opportunities for involving myself in raising awareness about the issue. Thus, a week or two or three later, the Ambassadors group was created.
To go through life and experience so many positive things, and to take advantage of all the forms of technology that we are blessed with, and to know that others in the world, and right here in Kansas City, are not free to experience the same things I am, did not seem right to me. Furthermore, to know that individuals in the world were being treated as poorly as they were, and to know that happened right here in Kansas City, was just wrong to me.
Kansas City is ranked as the 5th largest city in the nation when it comes to the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). I realized this was not a 'global' issue; it was a local issue as well, and it is happening right in our backyard and no one is being pro-activ about it. I had to be. I wanted to lead a dedicated, passionate group of college students in an effort to make large strides in aiding TSTP and their efforts. I wanted to be the leader that knew I was doing something far bigger than myself, and in the process, to help others realize they were accomplishing something so much bigger than who they are as well.
We have recently held a 1.2 Mile walk on the UMKC Campus to raise awareness about the issue, and had 38 walkers, raising nearly $450 for TSTP. It was our first step at making a difference, and I promise you many more are to come, including another on-campus event this Spring.
This blog is a place for all members, faculty, and others involved to blog their thoughts or stories or experiences, to share with other people the importance of Human Trafficking, and what a large, $32 billion industry it has become.
As the first blogger, the first president of the group, and as your leader, I look forward to hearing your thoughts, ideas, and stories. Feel free to share this blog with your friends and other social media tools you use on a daily basis. Remember, it's all about raising awareness.
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