CUSAMS News & Events

CU·SAMS (CU Students Against Modern-day Slavery) is a student abolitionist organization affiliated with the University of Colorado at Boulder and sponsored by the International Affairs Program. Use this portal to submit and post your own findings to the feed and to talk to us. Find us at our office in the UMC 330 Fall 2012 Meetings: TUESDAY at 6:30pm in UMC 404

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IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN!

EMPATHY WEEK IS COMING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER!!

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Empathy Week is an immersible mixed media experience on college campuses directly engaging the public with the stories of victimized women and children of forced prostitution.

Encounter the lives of Natalie and other actual victims we relentlessly advocate for.

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EMPATHY WEEK BEGINS next week on Monday, October 15th! It's free and open to the public from 11AM to 3PM.

BUT HURRY! Empathy Week only lasts until Thursday, October 18th! AND YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!

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DID YOU KNOW...

During Empathy Week 14,400 children will be sexually exploited (UNICEF).  HELP US RAISE $14,400 through your personal or group EMPATHY CAMPAIGN.

START A CAMPAIGN AND LEARN MORE BY GOING TO EMPATHYWEEK.COM!

OR JOIN THE FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

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Need HELP? Contact Helen at [email protected] OR [email protected]

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Coming this September 29th experts in the fight against human trafficking will gather at Greenwood Community Church in Greenwood Village, Colorado to participate in the Restoring Lives of Survivors Symposium. The conference, aimed at both domestic and international aftercare for minors or adults, will focus on the important question:

“How do we create successful programs, safe homes, and shelters to take care of those who have been rescued from sex trafficking?”

The issue of sex trafficking is growing in terms of global awareness. Each year, more and more organizations are emerging - many without the tools, experience, and learning community to develop effective programs. There is a drastic need for quality aftercare shelters in the United States, as well as, internationally. Yet, there is very little conversation or networking on how to accomplish this.

The needs of survivors are complex and require significant understanding, intentional planning, and intentional implementation to do well. This symposium is a beginning dialog for a community of organizations, individuals, and efforts to work together in building new lives for survivors of sex trafficking.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE RESTORATION PROCESS, THIS IS THE PRIME OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE YOURSELF!

TALK TO C.U.S.A.M.S. ABOUT POSSIBLE SPONSORSHIP TO ATTEND THE EVENT!

If you have any questions or concerns, contact:

Pam Harvey, Transitions

National Director of Advocacy & Education

www.TransitionsGlobal.org

303-668-4463      

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HEY Thanks to all those who helped out today at the Fall 2012 Student Involvement Fair!  I know we all had a great time conversing with interested CU students and we are super stoked about this Fall semester!  Here are some pictures of today's event.

If you are interested in joining CUSAMS and missed us at the Involvement Fair don't worry! Shoot us an email at [email protected] or [email protected] and ask to join our email list so that we can let you know about any of our upcoming events!  You can also drop by one of our weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 6:30PM in the University Memorial Center Room 404!

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BANKRUPT SLAVERY WEEK

Next week during CWA (Conference of World Affairs) CUSAMS will be hosting a modern-day slavery, "Awareness to Everyday Action" Week. Part One: We will be handing out black bows in the UMC to signify those victims of sex-trafficking in the US. We are asking everyone to wear them on Thursday the 12th. Part Two: While awareness is a key step, it is not enough, we are advocating action from everyone through the choices we make with our dollars. We will have a fair trade and social responsible products table both inside and outside the UMC in the fountain area comparing products which are destructive to communities around the world and those which build up communities and reduce their vulnerability to slavery. Stop by and check it out! Part Three: Thursday night (April 12th) at 7pm we are showing the film "Dreams Die Hard" about slavery in America in Hellems 252. Come hear the stories and join the discussion about what is being done locally.

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I tried to go to one of your Monday night meetings in UMC 335. But the room what empty. Did you move?

Ah I'm so sorry!! We meet in UMC 330 because 335 wasn't available every week. Please come next week!!

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Bankrupt Slavery Week: April 9-12

Bankrupt Slavery Week is a weeklong, on-campus initiative to educate students about fair trade and environmentally responsible products and their irresponsible counterparts. CUSAMS will be handing out black bows representing the innocence lost by sex trafficking victim (Mon-Thurs). Tables inside and outside the UMC will display recommended fair trade products and companies. A film about what fair trade really means and it's impact will end the initiative on Thursday @ 7PM in Hellems 250. This is a week for CU students and faculty alike to learn how to make small changes that will impact the lives of our global neighbors.

Dates: April 9-12

We need volunteers!  Email us if you'd like to help with the research, or with the table display!

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SPREAD THE LOVE to sex-trafficking victims in Colorado ON VALENTINE'S DAY DANCE FOR HOPE Feb. 14th Salsa Ball lessons 7pm open dance 8:30pm UMC Glen Miller Ballroom It's FREE for students!

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MONDAY JAN 30th 7pm UMC 335!!

Hey Peeps!!

Join us MONDAY Jan 30th at 7pm in UMC 335 to kick off this spring semester with CU SAMS!

Join us for free food and the chance to hear the latest and greatest in slavery from a woman who spent most of her time last semester studying what is current in the slave market and the anti-slavery movement. Then we will discuss what we as CU students are doing as a part of that movement.

And you should BE THERE!

-Nathan

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EMPATHY WEEK IS COMING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER!

What is Empathy Week?

It is a multi-day event hosted by yours truly (CUSAMS) in partnership with an AMAZING non-profit called iEmpathize, who advocates for the vulnerable and victimized children exploited sexually.  We've teamed together to create a space for people to enter into the suffering of others through a mixed media exhibit.  This interactive exhibit immerses you in the underground world of sex slavery through film, photography, and artifacts from actual victims, survivors, and heroes from all over the world.  Hear their stories and see the world through their eyes--but be warned: you may never be the same.

ALSO... during the exhibit CUSAMS and a host of other CU student organizations and community groups will be participating in the Mattress Vigil.  The Mattress Vigil is a silent demonstration to engage in the issue of injustice and protest against it.  This is our way of making the statement that we are NOT okay with children being sexually exploited and we will not tolerate it.  We will participate in sitting on mattresses to enter in to where kids are broken so that we might become broken for them.

***Every cent donated during this event will DIRECTLY IMPACT these kids.  We give FOR their on-going restoration and the work of rescue and prevention.***

Empathy week will be hosted in the Glenn Miller Ballroom in the University Memorial Center next week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 11 AM to 5 PM.

What is Empathy?

Good question.  And it's one that not everyone knows the true answer to.  As iEmpathize puts it: "Sympathy is feeling badly for the suffering of others.  It is passive, allowing separation to exist between the bystander and the victimized.  Empathy closes this gap by diving into the suffering of others.  It is active, compelling the empathizer toward action."  

As you might have guessed by their name, iEmpathize is all about empathy.  They know that the key to creating a global movement of justice that will erase slavery from all corners of the world and protect those who have been victimized is for us to empathize.

JOIN US MONDAY FOR A WEEK OF EMPATHY!!

(CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE)

[madeinafreeworld]

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slaveryfootprint:

Isn’t it so great that only we control where we do business? Sure, I happen to like the peanut butter filled pretzels and the luxury cheeses at Trader Joe’s. But do I have to shop there? No. I could just as easily give my dollars to an organization that wants to listen to the consumer. Our wallets have power. Our wallets have a vote. Our wallets act as our voice. It’s time to use it.

Consider downloading the Free World App for either iTunes or Android phones. Check in at your favorite stores and encourage them to look into their supply chains. Tell them that while you enjoy their products, you’d enjoy them even more if they were Made In A Free World. Together, we can ensure that a free market comes from free people.

Hopefully Trader Joe’s will start to listen because I don’t know how long I can live without those peanut butter pretzels…

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A Message From Betty Edwards

Human Trafficking Awareness Symposium - Saturday, October 22

Hi - The Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado was formed in 2008 and is a collaboration of individuals and organizations working together to stop human trafficking.  I was pleased to come across your information and see what you're doing in this area.   Would like to keep in touch with you and perhaps share some speakers and resources.  

Please see our web site:   www.ht-colorado.org 

We are showing the Sex + Money film on Friday night before our Symposium on Saturday, October 22.  The full schedule for Saturday should be on our web site soon.   Would enjoy having your members join us, the speakers are awesome:  Linda Smith, founder of Shared Hope International, Beth Klein, attorney who got the John's bill through the legislature last session, and Anne Darr, FBI Victim Specialist and a survivor who will tell her story, among others.  Send me an email and I can send my worksheet on the entire program if it is not on the web site by this afternoon.    In any event, keep up your good work, it is very impressive!

Betty Edwards, Chairman, Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado

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Take the survey and find out approximately how many slaves have suffered so that you can lead the lifestyle that you have.

If this bothers you, then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

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As part of our FALL SEMINAR SERIES we will be screening the independent documentary Sex + Money: A National Search For Human Worth this THURSDAY (October 20th) at 7PM in BENSON 180!!

About the film:

Sex+Money: A National Search for Human Worth is a feature length documentary that follows a group of photojournalists as they travel in an RV on their second journey, this time across the United States, seeking to understand how the sexual exploitation of children has become the nation’s fastest growing form of organized crime and what can be done to stop it.

The goal of the Sex+Money documentary is to bring freedom to those enslaved.

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Hi I just found out about this club and I'm really interested in joining. I was wondering if it was still possible to do so and if so how can I join?

Of course!  We always welcome new members anytime!  The best way to get involved is to come to our meetings on Monday nights at 7pm in UMC 381.  If you can't make the time send us an email at [email protected] and we will talk about different ways you can get involved.

--Natalie Wilson, CUSAMS

P.S. If you send us a message from the website please be sure to include your contact information.  Thank you!

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SLAVERY 101

CUSAMS is putting on a very special event this Thursday called "Slavery 101".  It is a 2 hour presentation and discussion on what slavery and human trafficking is and why it exists to this day.  This event is put together especially to educate the student population (and eventually the wider world) on the fundamentals of modern-day slavery.  This is the opportune time for CUSAMS members and interested students (and faculty) to ask questions they may have about the subject.  We will encourage the audience to participate in discussions and share their own education, experiences, and research on slavery and human trafficking.  Slavery 101 will take place September 22nd at 7pm in HUMN 1B80.  Food and beverages provided.  See you all there!!