Teens shine spotlight on slavery in America

SANDPOINT — You’re never too young to make a difference in the world, even when it comes to tackling an issue as old as slavery.

 Cousins Savannah Hicks and Emily Nicholson certainly put their faith in that idea. They were recently shocked when they learned that slavery, an institution they believed dead and buried, was actually alive and well in every corner of the globe — including America. Shocked by a reality affecting millions today, the teenage girls decided to do something about it.

Their efforts proved more successful than even they anticipated. Thanks to their work, the local public can learn about the issue and take action this Friday at “Slavery Today — A Dirty Secret,” a presentation by human rights experts at the Panida Theater.

Organizing the special event was no small effort on the part of Hicks and Nicholson. While many teenagers would might file the information of modern slavery away and forget about it, they determined that if they hadn’t known about it, others probably needed to know as well. The best way to get the world out, they figured, was a special presentation held at the Panida Theater. The teens faced plenty of doubt along the way.

“People told us, ‘Oh, you’re probably not going to go anywhere with this,’” Nicholson said.

They also knew that if people were going to take the matter seriously, they needed to bring some experts onboard. Hicks and Nicholson set to work contacting human rights organizations across the Pacific Northwest. At first, they had a hard time getting anyone to return their messages. With a little persistence, they eventually secured commitments for the four major corners of the presentation.

“We definitely asked multiple times,” Hicks said. “In the end, we ended up with more feedback (from organizations) than we thought we’d get.”

The effort was worth it to bring attention to a global human rights catastrophe. With any luck, the girls hope attendees will not only be educated about modern slavery but also be motivated to do their part in eradicating it.

“I hope people can use what they learn to take action,” Nicholson said.

Set for the 7 p.m. Friday, May 23 at the Panida Theater, “Slavery Today — A Dirty Secret” is free of charge and will feature speakers from International Justice Mission, World Relief and Seattle Against Slavery, as well as local pastor AmberDawn McCall. Throughout the evening, the guest speakers will detail the nature of modern slavery, the people it impacts and what everyday Americans can do to stop the injustice. The event will also feature a song written and performed by Nicholson.

“We wanted to start at the broad world scope and then narrow it right down to Sandpoint,” Hicks said.

The presentation will also detail how many industries, companies and product manufacturers benefit and exploit the continued existence of slavery. When it comes to making a difference, sometimes it’s as easy as determining your brand of chocolate.

“The things you buy and the little choices you make can actually make a big difference,” Hicks said.