Honors College to host experts on fight against human trafficking

Students in a Honors College class will host a panel discussion about the fight against human trafficking that will feature James Kofi Annan, a former child slave and founder of Challenging Heights, an organization in Ghana dedicated to rescuing victims of the slave trade.

The panel discussion will take place December 4 at 6 p.m. in the Loosemore Auditorium on Grand Valley’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus. 

The panel was assembled by students in the GVSU course Human Trafficking and Visionary Thinkers as a culminating event in service to the community. Panelists will represent their respective areas in the fight against the trafficking of human beings both internationally and domestically along five domains: detection, intervention, prevention, education and social action/awareness. 

Annan will be joined by:

Richard Hiskes, GVSU political science professor and editor of the Journal of Human Rights

Julie Guevara, social work professor and human rights scholar

Karen Zivi, GVSU political science professor and human rights scholar

Carmen Kickinich, a victim specialist for the FBI

Sgt. Jacqueline Stasiak, Human Trafficking Task Force, Michigan State Police

Rebecca McDonald, founder and president of Women At Risk

Kim Sorrelle, executive director of Rays of Hope International, Global Medial Relief

Emily LeBlanc, Michigan legislative driver

Sruda Xedagbui, trafficking survivor, Ghana

Julie Slagter, Michigan Abolitionist Project, global trafficking activist

The panel will serve to raise awareness of human trafficking worldwide, and honor Annan as he prepares to receive the Doctor of Humane Letters degree during commencement ceremonies on December 6. 

The event is free and open to the public.