Cleveland State Community College and Love146 have partnered together to show two screenings of the documentary “Sex + Money: A National Search for Human Worth” on Sept. 13 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. in the George R. Johnson Cultural Heritage Center Theater on CSCC’s campus.
“Sex + Money: A National Search for Human Worth” is a feature length documentary that follows a group of photojournalists as they travel in an RV on a journey across the United States, seeking to understand how the sexual exploitation of children has become the nation’s fastest growing form of organized crime and what can be done to stop it. The goal of the “Sex + Money” documentary is to bring freedom to those enslaved.
Co-sponsoring the documentary is Love146, a non-profit international human rights organization that is dedicated to the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation through prevention and aftercare. Named an “Agent of Change” by GQ magazine, as well as earning the MySpace Impact Award for social justice, Love146 continues to be recognized as a leader in the fight to end modern day slavery. The industry of human trafficking, and specifically child sex trafficking, is the second largest illegal money-making industry in the world, second only to drug trafficking.
“This program is being planned at the request of a Cleveland State student, Brandy Vaughn, who is a part of the Love146 Task Force. She approached me about a desire for the campus to help get the word out about the modern day slavery that is taking place all around the world,” said Tracey Wright, director of Special Programs and Community Relations. “Given that around the time Brandy approached me there was a human traffic arrest made in Cleveland, the time seemed right to partner with the local Love146 Task Force to bring to light this important issue.”
CSCC student, Brandy Vaughn said, “I learned about Love146 at my church the same day that I learned that slavery existed, here, in the U.S., with Chattanooga, being among the Top 10 cities for human trafficking. I was floored! There was no way that I could go another minute knowing that this horrid thing was taking place, and I knew that I had to do something about it.”
The task force that Ms. Vaughn is a part of was created in December 2010 and has trained two groups since then, raising awareness to hundreds of individuals locally. She is currently organizing a benefit for a survivor who was recently rescued from Los Angeles, Ca., and brought back to Chattanooga for recovery with her family. Also involved in the task force are Lee University students Tyler Price, Jil Chaney, Jessica Quinley, and Adrianne Alexis Ziarkowski.
Ms. Vaughn said, “I realize I cannot cure the problem, but I can and will raise awareness, just as I am trying to do by leading a task force and putting on this documentary at Cleveland State. I am extremely passionate about abolishing human trafficking & child sex slavery. This is where my heart is. This is my calling, and now I am attending college to become a public interest attorney to defend victims of trafficking and to be an advocate as well.”
Ms. Wright said, “Cleveland State Community College attempts to find ways to keep key issues at the forefront of conversation. The statistics for human trafficking are astounding. No group or individual is immune from having this tragic and inhumane activity impact someone they know and love. It is through forums and viewing such as this that we are able to learn what we can do to help end this crime.”
The “Sex + Money” documentary is free to the public and is made possible by Merck Foundation Neighbor of Choice Grant, in cooperation with the Cleveland State Community College Foundation. For information on how to become a member of the Exchange Love146 task force, email exchangelove146@gmail.com or call 423 299-5099. There will also be an information table at the "Sex + Money" documentary screenings.
For more information about this upcoming event, contact Tracey Wright at twright05@clevelandstatecc.edu or call 423 473-2341 or 800 604-CSCC, ext. 341.