On December 14, East Juniata came together to make a change for the better. Many people fail to realize that human trafficking, or the practice of illegally transporting people from one country or area to another, typically for the purposes of forced labor or sexual exploitation, is more prominent than ever before in human history. Even now, in 2019, there are an estimated 40 million slaves around the world.

To take initiative against this heartbreaking issue, Emma Seaman and Margaret Edwards organized a formal Friday at EJ to raise awareness as well as funds for organizations that help free slaves. Students and staff were encouraged to wear dresses and ties in order to stand out and show their support, therefore raising awareness. They were also encouraged to bring in donations for the Dressember Foundation, which gives all funds to human trafficking rescue missions and more.

In just one day, in just donations from students and staff, we raised nearly $400. This is truly amazing and we hope to make an even bigger change next year.