Red Sand Project brings human trafficking awareness to light
JACKSON, Tenn. — The Red Sand Project is designed to shed light on human trafficking by pouring red sand into sidewalk or pavement cracks.
An event was held at the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department to do just that.
We were able to speak with Ashlee Allison, with the Scarlet Rope Project, about the Red Sand Project.
“It originally started as an artwork sidewalk installation that really was raising awareness about human trafficking and those that were falling through the cracks, essentially,” Allison said. “What we’re doing is pouring red sand in the cracks to represent those individuals. So we’re bringing it here to Jackson, specifically the health department is partnering with us and WRAP to be able to bring it to Jackson.”
There are various different ways that these three organizations are involved with those affected by human trafficking. Franchesca Perry, public health educator with the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department, spoke with us regarding what they can do.
“So the health department can be involved in this because it’s a public health issue,” Perry said. “Sometimes we may see victims who come in for unwanted pregnancy, sometimes they may have contracted a STD, or due to malnutrition or dental problems, because we do also have a dental facility here in the health department.”
There is always a reason behind events like this. This one specifically is about providing more information for people. Simone Travis with WRAP explains more.
“If you don’t know, you can’t grow. Being able to be educated allows you to be empowered,” said Travis. “It allows you to be informed, and it also helps you to not make mistakes by being misinformed and retraumatizing individuals that would be going through something like that.”
Somewhere between 20 and 30 organizations and businesses around Jackson participated in their own Red Sand Project event throughout Thursday.
It was also said at the event that community support is the best way to raise awareness for this issue of human trafficking.
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