On Sunday, April 10, at 3 p.m., the public will have an opportunity to hear from panelists from the State Attorney General’s Office, law enforcement officials, victim advocates and a victim of human trafficking at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia (UUCC) at 2701 Heyward Street, Columbia, S.C.

Richland County Council Member Jim Manning, a licensed social worker who co-sponsored the launch of the county’s Human Trafficking Coalition in January, will moderate the event. Assisting in the discussion will be Marc Drews, co-president of the UUCC. Questions and discussion are invited, and resource materials will be available to participants.

This free public event is co-sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the UUCC. Childcare will be provided with reservation and confirmation at dre@uucolumbia.org. For more information, visit UUCC online at www.uucolumbia.org or on Facebook, or visit AAUW on Facebook at AAUW Greater Columbia SC.

In January of this year, South Carolina’s State Grand Jury indicted six people for human trafficking of juveniles, the first such indictments since the state reformed its human trafficking laws in 2015.

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About the Sponsors

AAUW is a non-profit organization uniting college students and graduates dedicated to advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. AAUW Greater Columbia is one of 12 statewide branches supporting this mission through legal advocacy, public policy initiatives, college and university partnerships, GOTV efforts, support of pay equity, challenges to gender discrimination, and Title IX. For more information, visit http://www.aauw.org.

The UUCC, a non-profit organization, is a progressive and inclusive religious congregation that affirms and promotes a free and responsible search for truth and meaning; the dignity and worth of every person; a more just, equitable, and compassionate society; and respect for the interdependent web of all existence. The mission of the UUCC is to nurture and respect each other in our spiritual growth and pursuit of meaning and to create a welcoming and engaging environment through which we work for positive change in the community and the world.