Human Trafficking Documentary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          

CONTACT:
Laura Harwin
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
412-255-1279

Three Organizations Host Film Screening About Modern Day Slavery on March 19
Followed by a panel discussion with local experts

PITTSBURGH, PA (March 11, 2014):  Human trafficking and other forms of modern day slavery are present in the United States – and even Western Pennsylvania. To bring awareness to this issue, there will be a special salon screening of “Not My Life,” the first documentary to depict the cruel and dehumanizing practices of human trafficking and modern slavery on a global scale, followed by a panel discussion on Wednesday, March 19.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and Bricolage Production Company have joined together to show this film in recognition of International Women’s Day. The event is supported by the Eden Hall Foundation.

The program takes place from 5-7 p.m. at Bricolage Production Company, 937 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Seating is limited, and registration is required. There is no charge for this event. Refreshments are included. To register, visit www.worldpittsburgh.org or call 412-281-7970.

Following the film screening, a panel of local experts will address “Understanding Modern Day Slavery: Pittsburgh’s Role in Finding a Solution.” Deb Acklin, President and CEO of WQED Multimedia, will serve as moderator. Panelists include Elizabeth Echevarria, CEO and Founder of Living in Liberty; Anne Rackow, Planning and Evaluation Manager of the Project to End Human Trafficking and Co-Facilitator of the Western PA Human Trafficking Coalition; and Greg Bristol, retired FBI Special Agent, featured in the film “Not My Life.”

The discussion builds on the topics of human trafficking and forced labor, among other related crimes, and the work being done on the local, national and international levels to address these issues. Who is being exploited? What are the signs? What can you do to help?

Human trafficking, domestic servitude, forced labor, and child soldiers are just a few forms of modern day slavery affecting vulnerable populations – women and children especially – around the world. While often hidden, these exploitive practices are in fact present in the United States – and even Western Pennsylvania.

International Women’s Day is dedicated to celebrating the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future.  First celebrated in 1911, International Women’s Day recognizes the work for women’s rights, celebrates women's success, and reminds us of the inequities still to be redressed.
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About the Partners
The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh strengthens our community by creating and advancing opportunities for all women to seek equality and self-sufficiency.  We are dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of key contemporary international issues throughout Western Pennsylvania.

Bricolage Production Company immerses artists and audiences in adventurous theatrical experiences that foster connections and alter perceptions.

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Laura Harwin
Director of Development and Marketing
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
305 Wood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-255-1279 (phone)
412-391-5109 (fax)

lharwin@ywcapgh.org
www.ywcapgh.org

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Comfort Women Wanted at Wood Street Galleries

For Immediate Release

Media Contacts:
Shaunda Miles, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-1578/Miles@TrustArts.org      
Diana Roth, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-8717/Roth@TrustArts.org

Images available: http://TrustArts.org/press
Search: Comfort 2013

PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST PRESENTS THE VISUAL ART EXHIBITION

COMFORT WOMEN WANTED

BY INTERNATIONALLY EXHIBITED ARTIST CHANG-JIN LEE

November 1–December 1, 2013 | Wood Street Galleries | Third Floor

Exhibition Opening | November 1, 5:30–8 p.m. | Artist Talk 6:30 p.m.


Pittsburgh, PA—The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces the opening of Comfort Women Wanted, an exhibition by Korean-born, New York-based visual artist Chang-Jin Lee. The exhibition is on view at Wood Street Galleries, third floor, November 1–December 1, 2013. The opening night event, 5:30–8 p.m., features an artist talk with Chang-Jin Lee at 6:30 p.m.

Comfort Women Wanted exposes the fates of nearly 200,000 young women who were exploited as sex slaves by the Imperial Japanese Army in Asia during World War II. The artist uses the remembrance of these “comfort women”—some of whom are still alive today—to increase awareness of sexual violence against women during wartime.

“In Asia, the comfort women issue remains taboo and controversial, while at the same time, it is almost unknown in the West,” says artist Chang-Jin Lee. “The comfort women system is the largest case of human trafficking in the 20th century. Human trafficking is the fastest growing industry in the world, and the second largest business after arms dealing in the 21st century. So, the comfort women issue is not just about the past, but it is very relevant today.”

The exhibition features a video documentary featuring interviews of Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Indonesian, Filipino, and Dutch “comfort women” survivors, and a former Japanese soldier, each speaking about their experiences at military “comfort stations”, as well as about their own hopes and dreams. Additional projections show former military “comfort stations” in China and Indonesia, recalling the history and memory of place.

The exhibition’s print works include posters reminiscent of advertisements that feature images of the young “comfort women” and are set alongside posters featuring the silhouettes of the now aged women. Each image is enclosed by the bold, black text COMFORT WOMEN WANTED, which refers to the language newspapers used to advertise for “comfort women” during WWII.

Chang-Jin Lee’s artworks deal with identity, gender, globalism, nationalism, human trafficking, and religion. She based this project on her visits to Asia since 2008, where she met Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Indonesian, Filipino, and Dutch “comfort women” survivors, as well as a former WWII Japanese soldier. Comfort Women Wanted has been exhibited at The Incheon Women Artists’ Biennale, Korea; The Kunstmuseum Bonn, Germany; 1a Space Gallery, Hong Kong; Spaces Gallery, Ohio; George Mason University Gallery, Virginia; and The Boston Center for the Arts, Massachusetts. Video screenings have been shown at Hauser & Wirth Gallery, New York; and Columbia University, New York. Lee’s artwork Floating Echo—a transparent inflatable statue of Buddha—was featured at the 2013 Pittsburgh Three Rivers Arts Festival.


About Wood Street Galleries
Wood Street Galleries is located at 601 Wood Street. Hours: Wed. & Thur. 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public. Wood Street Galleries is a project of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Support for Wood Street Galleries has been provided by the Howard Heinz Endowment and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Additional support provided by the Port Authority of Allegheny County. For more information about all gallery exhibitions featured in the Cultural District, please visit www.TrustArts.org.

About The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts.

Image Courtesy of the Artist Chang-Jin Lee
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Human Trafficking, The Courage to Speak Up - Topic of Speaker Series

Greater Pittsburgh Business and Professional Women’s Association Presents Speaker Series

Human Trafficking

The Courage to Speak Up

@ Rivers Club - One Oxford Center

September 7, 2011

7:30AM to 9:30AM

Find out what Human Trafficking is, how to recognize the signs in our own community and how to help victims speak up.

See below for the expert panel who will discuss this topic:

Moderator -

Diane Richard,

Public Information Officer

Spokeswoman Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

Soo C. Song,

First Assistant U.S. Attorney

Department of Justice Western District of

Pennsylvania, Criminal Division - Civil Rights

and Exploitation Section

Jaime Turek, M.I.D., Assistant Director,

Project to End Human Trafficking in Pittsburgh. Dedicated to the fight for human rights and global justice for young women

Yinka Aganga-Williams, Ph.D., Executive Director Acculturation for Justice, Access and Peace (AJAPO)

The Greater Pittsburgh Business and Professional Women Association will present the third installment of their breakfast series on women and domestic violence. This discussion, Human Trafficking: The courage to speak up will examine the sexual exploitation of women and young girls.

These victims are entering the commercial sex industry at younger and younger ages to bring money into families, gangs and to individuals who steal, buy and sell them for a hefty profit. Vanity Fair magazine estimates 300,000 young American girls are entering the commercial sex trade at this time. The recent case of Jaycee Dugard who was kidnapped as a child and kept as a sex slave in a back yard compound for eighteen years is an example and the case of the FLDS leader, Warren Jeffs, is another example. And, there are many more instances that go unnoticed and women and children remain the target.

The event combines breakfast, speaker presentation and panel discussion. The proceeds will benefit the Linda Cobb Memorial Scholarship Fund. Each year the Greater Pittsburgh Business and Professional Women Association awards two scholarships based on school record and written essay to a new college student and to a student returning or entering college later in life.

Participants will learn:

• What Human Trafficking is,

• How to recognize the signs

• and how to help victims speak up

For more information contact,

Sue Roselle, BPW President at (412) 889-2401

Breakfast $35 Registration begins at 7 AM

Must pre-register by August 31

To attend call (412) 889-2401 or email: pittbpw@hotmail.com

Approved by NASW-PA for 2 CE units.