Ella T. Grasso Leadership in Action Grant

Ella T. Grasso Leadership in Action Grant Project-­‐ Slave Free City Campaign Date: November 13, 2012 By: Janet Tso Introduction A world without slavery seems impossible. Population surge, corrupt governments, and globalization have been blamed for the explosion of modern day slavery internationally, nationally, and locally. Dr. Kevin Bales, the foremost expert in the world on contemporary slavery, estimates that there are more than 27 million slaves in the world today. Human beings have become disposable, forced into labor, suffering from physical, mental, and psychological trauma. Although the news media has covered stories from under-­‐developed and developing countries such as India, Somalia, and Mexico, human trafficking occurs within our own borders even in our towns. Nine years ago, at the age of thirteen, Janet Tso was inspired by my ninth grade U.S. History teacher, Wendy Nelson-­‐Kauffman, who exposed the reality of modern-­‐day slavery by making a correlation to chattel slavery in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Since then, Janet started two student organizations: Students Abolitionists Stopping Slavery (S.A.S.S.) at the Metropolitan Learning Center Magnet School and Operation 21st Century (OPT21) at Connecticut College to educate local communities on modern-­‐day slavery through education. Through the Ella Grasso Leadership in Action Grant, Janet embarked on a venture to make New London, Connecticut the first Slave Free City in the U.S. In partnership with the Provenance Center, a local non-­‐profit cultural center in New London, they worked to introduce human trafficking across all borders to the tiny port city. Through educational programs, lectures, art exhibitions, and local outreach, Operation 21st Century (OPT21) led the student movement against 21st century slavery. Timeline of Events: Development of “Operation Silence” October 1, 2011 Operation Silence is a human exhibition. Donning black attire: sports bras, shorts, and t-­‐shirts, wrapped in chains, and branded a tattoo barcode that marks: “I am Not for Sale” illustrates real-­‐life slaves. Today, slavery does not discriminate. Slaves are not victimized base on race, gender, sexuality, physical or mental strength or weakness. Anyone can be a victim so my creation of Operation Silence is to give people a real life depiction of what slaves look like today and their invisibility in society. (Please view pictures below) Tso 1 October 16, 2011 “Child Trafficking Exhibition” 6:00-­‐8:00pm As the opening event of the Slave Free City Campaign, we held an art exhibition at the Provenance Center, located in the center of New London, with art pieces by Nadesha Mijoba, visiting artists, and Operation Silence. The event drew hundreds of locals and people from New England. The art pieces displayed statistics, stories, and facts about child trafficking today. November 30, 2011 5:00-­‐8:00pm “The 21st Century Abolitionist Walk” Hosted at Connecticut College, this statewide event captured the attention from Channel 3 Eyewitness News. Exactly 40 chairs formed into a spiral stretching out 30x50 ft. The spiral began statistics and facts about international corporate companies that use slave labor such as: GAP, Abercrombie and Fitch, Victoria Secret, etc. on chairs then slowly closing into methods and tactics on how to join the 21st century abolitionist movement. Along with the exhibit, OPT21’s video played on a projector consisting of OPT21’s history, mission, and updated facts about modern day slavery. News Source: http://www.conncoll.edu/news/7598.cfm February 26, 2012 1:00-­‐5:00 pm “Free One, Free All Anti-­‐Slavery Conference” OPT21 hosted a conference to gather veteran abolitionists to share their experiences but more importantly, how to inspire local citizens to join the 21st century abolitionist movement. Speakers such as: Dr. Kevin Bales from Free the Slaves to talk about the governmental solutions to solve slavery, Nadesha Mijoba from the Provenance Center, introduced basic methods to consume slave-­‐free goods, Janet Tso, President of OPT21 spoke about her eight years as a 21st century abolitionists to engage youth, and finally Tanasia Ellington, a former commercial sexually exploited victim from Girls Empowerment Mentoring Services (GEMS) to share her traumatic experience as a victim in New York City. The conference consisted of speakers, Operation Silence, but also discussions among conference attendees on what they could do. Educational Lectures October 2011-­‐April 2012 Tso 2 Throughout the months, Janet Tso, toured schools in southeast Connecticut to introduce modern-­‐day slavery and OPT21. The mission of these educational lectures were to plant the abolitionist seed in their minds and inspire them to join our movement in New London. Grant Budget Date Event 10/12/2011 Development of Operation Silence 10/16/2011 Child Exploitation Exhibit 11/30/2011 The 21st Century Abolitionists Walk 2/26/2012 Free One, Free All Anti-­‐Slavery Conference Detailed Use •
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Temporary tattoos (1000) 5 sets of black pillow cases for blind folds 10 sets of 80 ft. chains Make-­‐up 500 printed educational booklets for opening ceremony Printed art posers (40) Orange fabric (9 meters) Snacks Rented projector Speaker fees-­‐ Kevin Bales and Tanasia Ellington Travel expenses for Kevin Bales and Tanasia Ellington Packet supplies for guests (folders, notebooks, pens, stickers, OPT21 booklet) Printed 200 copies of conference program Rented auditorium for space Rented tech equipment (microphones, speakers, projector) Janitor fee Food caterer (breakfast, snacks, dinner) ** OPT21 also applied for school funding, additional grants, and sponsor fees. Tso 3 Spent ($) 350.00 155.00 245.00 3,150 Impact/Evaluation The mission to make New London, CT the first slave free city in America was the dream. However, education cannot be the only method to fulfill this dream, rather local government and business cooperation was needed to complete the mission. Educating the youth was just the beginning, but older adults with more leverage were needed. I believe students were inspired and engaged, however they needed projects to get involved and put their inspiration into reality. OPT21’s specialty is to engage by spreading awareness, but I wish we could have partnered up with non-­‐profit organizations to implement sustaining projects to help local charities for local human trafficked victims. Despite my resignation as OPT21’s President, due to my career move to China, I continue to sit as a member of the Board of Directors to oversee the current organizations that still exists in southeast Connecticut such as the University of Connecticut: Avery Point and Mitchell College. My hope for OPT21’s future is to build a stronger manual for projects that school students can engage in and see their activism come to life. Special Thanks to The Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame for giving me the opportunity to make my dream of starting a city project to work against modern-­‐day slavery come true. Although, I did get my intended results, I grew as a leader, established rapport with the city of New London, built many great networks and friends, and lastly planted hundreds of seeds in the minds of individuals who now know that modern day slavery exists. Tso 4 OPT21 Pictures (1) Operation Silence. The barcode tattooed on the more sensitive locations of a slave. The blindfold symbolizes the lack of sight and future for slaves. Their positions expose their vulnerability. !
Child Exploitation Exhibit at the Provence Center !
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Visitors actually touched the models because they though the models weren’t real. !
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“Free One, Free All Anti­Slavery Conference” (From left to right) Wendy Nelson‐Kauffman, the teacher who inspired me to become an activist. Janet Tso, and Dr. Kevin Bales, President of Free the Slaves. It was great to have middle schoolers attend the event!
They were exposed to the horrors of modern-day slavery but more importantly,
how to become a 21st century abolitionist.
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One of our Operation Silence models during the walk.
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Another model was placed at the end of the walk,
asking visitors what were they going to do to combat slavery.
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"21st Century Abolitionists Walk"
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Students from Benny Dover Middle School along with Councilman Anthony Nolan came to the event.
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Left to right- Wendy Nelson-Kauffman, the 9th grade teacher that inspired me to become
an activist; Janet Tso; and Dr. Kevin Bales
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from Free the Slaves
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from Free the Slaves
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Janet Tso speaking at Mitchell College at their "Modern Day Slavery Awareness Day"
OPT21 started to develop more art pieces through the use of makeup, props, and photography.
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