The Carroll County Health Department partnered with Coordinated School Health and other stakeholders within our community to shed light on human trafficking recently. Human trafficking, also known as modern day slavery, is quickly becoming a major public health concern. Today, an estimated 40.3 million people are being trafficked worldwide, including 180 cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline in Tennessee last year.
The Red Sand Project is a participatory art installment designed to shed light on human trafficking. Due to COVID-19, participants in events in their neighborhoods, office groups and respective spaces around the state practiced social distancing and other precautions while pouring red sand in the cracks sidewalks in areas with high foot traffic, to symbolize human trafficking victims that “fall between the cracks.”
Carroll County participated this year including students and McKenzie and Huntingdon Police officers. Thank you to Northwest TN Economic Development Center, Clarksburg Supermarket, Trezevent City Hall, McKenzie City Hall, Huntingdon Police Department, West Carroll and Bruceton/Hollow Rock schools for allowing the red sand to be poured on their property.
Carroll County Health Department is one of more than 90 organizations that partnered with the Tennessee Department of Health on this effort this year, each hosting events in their communities. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is also participated, with each of the 16 Tennessee Welcome Centers featuring information on the project and how to get involved in spreading awareness.
If you know someone who needs help to escape trafficking, contact the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-558-6484 or text “BeFree” to 233722.
If you suspect you have come into contact with a victim of human trafficking, you may call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-558-6484. Hotline staff members will identify resources in your community. For more information on human trafficking and the hotline, visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/.
