The Greensburg Diocesan Council of the National Council of Catholic Women Prayer and Outreach Group to Combat Human Trafficking is partnering with St. Vincent College Campus Ministry Human Trafficking Awareness Group to host an educational forum in honor of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. It will take place on Saturday, February 10, 2018, from 1 to 4 p.m. at St. Vincent Grove, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, Pa., near the college campus.

The forum will feature Dr. Marlene Carson, PhD, a ‘SurThriver’ of domestic minor sex trafficking and founder of The Switch National Anti-Trafficking Network. At age 15 she became one of the tens of thousands of girls and young adult women who are exploited daily. Dr. Carson’s work in this field has been featured on Katie Couric, Oprah’s website, the CNN Freedom Project and the national news.

Human trafficking is the world’s second largest underground crime and a large number of victims are sexually exploited. “Unfortunately, child exploitation is the fastest growing crime," Raissa Federline, coordinator of the group. Sex trafficking also is a reality in our area, and many victims are youth. We believe more teachers, counselors, medical and mental health professionals need to be educated and made aware of how to identify victims of child exploitation. We hope this forum will do just that.”

For more information or to register, contact Raissa Federline at rsvpf@hotmail.com or call 724-537-2064.