Mile in My Shoes: The Human Library - What's It Like To Be A Victim Of Sex Trafficking? June 5, 2011

You know you can borrow all sorts of things from the library, but how about borrowing someone else's shoes? We invite you to check out a fresh perspective and get the answer to the question, "what's it like to be someone else?" Hear from people who may be very unlike yourself, ask questions and satisfy your curiosity.

What's it like to be a victim of sex trafficking? About 300,000 youths are trafficked for sex each year nationwide, according to the U.S. Justice Department. When Jessica Richardson was 17 years old she became a victim of this illegal industry and was trafficked throughout the west by her pimp. She's since escaped the life and is a Gresham businesswoman, teaching people how to save money on groceries.

Moderator Emily Harris hosts "Think Out Loud," OPB’s daily public affairs talk show. Prior to helping launch "Think Out Loud," she was based in Berlin for National Public Radio, covering central and Eastern Europe and contributing to coverage of the Iraq war. She was part of the NPR team that won a 2004 Peabody award for Iraq coverage. Before moving to Germany, she reported from Washington for NPR and for the public television program "Now with Bill Moyers." She has produced and reported for many different TV and radio programs around the world. She got her start in broadcasting at KBOO community radio in Portland. Her interest in international affairs started with Russian classes at Lincoln High School in Portland. She graduated from Yale with a degree in Soviet Studies, and she was a 2006 Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University.

In the U.S. Bank Room.

Made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities Fund of The Library Foundation.
Space at library programs is limited. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Official Website: http://www.multcolib.org/events/mile_shoes.html