Students and professors from Lee University and Southern Adventist University have joined together in a “poster-blitz” to spread Second Life of Chattanooga’s anti-sex-trafficking message. Second Life is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending human sex trafficking in Southeast Tennessee by creating awareness that drives action through collaborative relationships.
Caleb Cox, a dorm residential assistant at Lee University, led 25 students, and Kendra Lee, a professor of public relations at Southern Adventist University, led eight students. These two teams placed 100 posters with information about the Tennessee Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at businesses in the Cleveland community as well as hotels surrounding Hamilton Place Mall.
“It excited me to find out that an organization like Second Life exists,” said Mr. Cox. “I think this organization has a positive impact on those negatively affected by something like human trafficking.”
Kendra Lee’s team met a hotel worker who had seen evidence of human slavery but was unaware of what to do, until Second Life volunteers arrived with posters. Now this individual has the tools to make a difference in the lives of those impacted by sex trafficking.
“The weekend I moved to Chattanooga this past summer, I caught the tail-end of a radio program about Second Life Chattanooga. When I heard that Atlanta was ground zero for sex trafficking in the U.S., I was shaken to my core,” said Ms. Lee. “Since that weekend, I have been involved with SLC's awareness campaign, specifically canvassing local hotels and offering them information on the Tennessee Anti-Trafficking Hotline. Trafficking is happening in our own neighborhoods. Hotels are obvious targets. This is something small I can do to combat this crime.”
Volunteer opportunities with Second Life of Chattanooga are available by contacting the organization via email at contact@secondlifechattanooga.org or by phone at 994-4857.