One Play Taught 700+ People How to Spot Human Trafficking

Wednesday, Feb 12, 2020

On Sunday, February 9, 2020, more than 700 people attended one of two performances of “Only One”, the play on human sex trafficking written by senior Criminal Justice student Abigail Howard. The riveting 45-minute play tells the story of three teens who become victims of sex trafficking and share how they got there – one lured by a false opportunity to become an actor; one who was meeting his online boyfriend for the first time in person; and one who had been groomed to believe she was in a meaningful relationship. The name of the play comes from the sobering statistic that only one percent of trafficking victims are rescued.

Following both performances, expert panelists shared invaluable safety tips with parents and youth in the audience.

Dr. Calli Cain, producer, panel moderator, and Assistant Professor in the FAU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Pastor Alfredo Castro, Ministry Relations Director of Glory House of Miami
Special Agent Katina Hernandez, Homeland Security Investigations and South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force
Sgt. Carlos Lisboa, Coordinator of the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force
Alex Ortiz, Director of Business Development for the Child Rescue Coalition
Dr. Heidi Schaeffer, President of the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches
Alma Tucker, International Network of Hearts

Attendees learned that victims and traffickers represent all genders, ages, races, income levels and sexual orientations, and that Florida ranks third in the nation for reported cases of trafficking. The panelists also shared safety tips – such as the importance of keeping gaming and smartphone devices in a common area of the home, to have open dialogue with kids of all ages on how to establish safe physical and information boundaries; and where to go for more information:

Panelists also encouraged all attendees to add the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 to their phone contacts and report any suspicious behavior. As Special Agent Hernandez said, “If it turns out to be a false alarm, great. But if it turns out to be trafficking, you’ve saved a life.”

Photo Gallery

(Clockwise from top left: Tamsin Shayji-Kindred, costume designer; Joseph Eberspacher, cast member; Rebecca Lili Seide, cast member; Regina Thompson, co-director and FAU Student Entrepreneurship Manager in the Division of Research; Sofia Puritz, cast member; Blaine Deberry, cast member; Connor Hadel, lighting designer; Abigail Howard, writer and co-director; Laumar Lindsey, cast member; Alex Athanasiou, cast member.

Panelists for the 2 pm performance. (L-R) Dr. Calli Cain, producer, panel moderator, and Assistant Professor in the FAU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice; Alma Tucker, International Network of Hearts; Pastor Alfredo Castro, Ministry Relations Director of Glory House of Miami; Special Agent Katina Hernandez, Homeland Security Investigations and South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force; Alex Ortiz, Director of Business Development for the Child Rescue Coalition; and Sgt. Carlos Lisboa, Coordinator of the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force.

Dr. Cain presenting Abigail with flowers after the performance.

Attendees had the opportunity to speak with the cast and panel experts after each show.

Smartphone social apps that Child Rescue Coalition recommends every parent know.

Regina Thompson welcomes the audience to the 6 PM show, as Dr. Calli Cain looks on.

The 6PM panel welcomed an additional expert, Dr. Heidi Schaeffer, President of the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches.

Tags: SW-CJ | sccj