Showing posts with label Houston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houston. Show all posts
Friday, April 5, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
World Affairs Council of Houston Hosts Dottie Laster for Human Trafficking Workshop
The World Affairs Council of Houston has invited Dottie Laster of Laster Global Consulting and Bernardo Kohler Center to present her educational workshop on human trafficking at the Global Perspectives Workshop for Educators on Saturday, January 26, 2013. The event will be from 8:30am-3:30pm Central time and held at the World Affairs Council of Houston Office, 2500 East TC Jester, Suite 350, Houston, Texas.
Along with Dottie Laster, other expert speakers include Jeronimo Cortina, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and a Research Associate at the Hobby Center for Public Policy at the University of Houston, and Deborah Hubbs, General Counsel and Business Development Manager for GeoSouthern Energy Corporation in The Woodlands, Texas.
The day-long professional development workshop is geared towards Houston area high school teachers and they will receive classroom-ready information on the economic, political, and cultural issues of human trafficking, both nationally and globally. Topics to be covered by the experts are: Human Trafficking, Definition, Policy and Prevention; Human Trafficking In India; and Human Mobility and Foreign Policy.
Dottie Laster is on the front lines of awareness, education and training. Her work with such organizations as the Bernardo Kohler Center, as well as the Department of Justice, qualify Laster to work with law enforcement agencies and organizations across the country to get the message to the public that human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes affecting every country, even the United States.
Dottie Laster has served as a consultant to several celebrities in film and television projects and is featured in The Cantinera Documentary which exposes the life of the “cantina girls” in the Houston area. In October 2012 she was the subject of a feature story in MORE Magazine written by Mimi Swartz. She has appeared on several local and national television and radio shows as well as completed training of law enforcement and social workers for the state of Kansas.
Recently, Laster has created a way for victims to find that self-sufficiency by designing and creating jewelry for TRAFFICKED Designs and an awareness campaign called SOS “Save One Soul.” To read articles written by and about Dottie Laster refer to her site, Anti-Human Trafficking News from Dottie Laster.
Prior to speaking at the World Affairs Council, Dottie Laster will be addressing the student body of Second Baptist School in Houston at 6410 Woodway Drive Houston, TX on Friday, January 25, at noon Central time.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, January 26
- Time: 8:30am-3:30pm Central time, Registration begins at 8:00am
- Location: World Affairs Council of Houston Office, 2500 East TC Jester, Suite 350, Houston, Texas.
- Registration Required: Cost $30 To register online CLICK HERE
- Contact: Mandy Seymour 713 522-7811
For information about scheduling Dottie Laster for your next event, please contact ImaginePublicity. Tel: 843.808.0859 Email: contact@imaginepublicity.com
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Interview with Photographer Van Ditthavong
I was so fortunate to meet Van Ditthavong of Van Photographs. Van is the photographer selected by Texas Monthly magazine to shoot the photos for the story, The Lost Girls, by Mimi Swartz, in the April 2010 issue. This story was receiving more views than any article after just a few days after release- even more than the story on the late icon Selena. It was a huge success for taking the readers into the barriers, misunderstandings and absolute impossible world that vicitms face when they attempt to escape from trafficking. I am so thankful to the team who worked on the story and to the the Magazine for devoting extensive resources to this topic. The story may be accessed by subscribers of Texas Monthly online at Texas Monthly. Van may be reached at Van Photographs
What did you think when Texas Monthly magaine asked you to shoot scenes for a story on Sex Trafficking in the US?
Van: Working with Texas Monthly is always a thrill for me. The assignments I receive from them have always been exciting and challenging. However, when I was asked to cover the story on sex trafficking I was extremely honored. I knew I was going to enter an underground world, but my focus was to capture that through the camera and add to Mimi Swartz's excellent piece.
What was it like when you went out with the law enforcement officers?
Van: Going on these "inspections" with law enforcement gave me the opportunity to see what is actually happening behind these blacked out windows, behind the rooms where these poor girls are forced to sleep in, and what our community is up against. The "Johns" I saw were from all walks of life, the girls/victims were young and lifeless. When we came in, they weren't scared or anything. They were emotionless. That was the saddest part.
What was the best part of the shoot? the most frustrating?
Van: The best part was meeting everyone involved and being able to help tell this story visually. We, meaning the American public, thinks Sex Trafficking is someone else's problems. It's in India, Cambodia, Thailand, Africa... not here in the U.S. Well, that's not the case. It is here in the U.S. and it is frightenedly abundant.
What was it like going to detention to photograph Kiki?
Van: Traveling to the middle of nowhere Louisiana is an adventure onto itself. But knowing that I had to make a portrait of someone who has been through so much, a lot of thoughts sort of go through your mind like - how is the subject going to be? is she going to be scared? hardened? timid? ... but in the end Kiki was just a sweet woman. I looked at her and thought... she could be my sister... my mom. How did she end up here behind these cell doors and razor wire?
How has this changed you?
Van:This experience has opened my eyes to a real part of our society. I'm so proud of Texas Monthly for doing a feature like this so the public can be informed that modern day slavery is alive and well and here in our communities. There's so much we all can do as citizens and neighbors to help these victims and fight against human trafficking. But first it's starts with knowledge, and since the story was released in April 2010, I just accepted a fellowship at the Polaris Project in Washington D.C. for the summer where hopeful I can contribute more to this cause.
Which photo were you most proud of?
Van: I would say I am proud of the whole series. I hope the public will get to see more of what really is going on.
What message do you have for men who think that prostitution has no vicitms?
Van:Wake up. Stop paying for sex. These girls/children are not willing participants.
What is your next project?
Van:Well I hope to continue pursuing photography work on Sex Trafficking and getting exhibits for the photos. I think it's important that people get to see what's happening in their strip malls. My aim is have a traveling exhibition to colleges, high schools, shopping centers all around the nation. It's going to take some work but we'll get there.
http://www.vanphotographs.com/
http://www.lasterglobal.com/
http://www.millionkids.org/
What did you think when Texas Monthly magaine asked you to shoot scenes for a story on Sex Trafficking in the US?
Van: Working with Texas Monthly is always a thrill for me. The assignments I receive from them have always been exciting and challenging. However, when I was asked to cover the story on sex trafficking I was extremely honored. I knew I was going to enter an underground world, but my focus was to capture that through the camera and add to Mimi Swartz's excellent piece.
What was it like when you went out with the law enforcement officers?
Van: Going on these "inspections" with law enforcement gave me the opportunity to see what is actually happening behind these blacked out windows, behind the rooms where these poor girls are forced to sleep in, and what our community is up against. The "Johns" I saw were from all walks of life, the girls/victims were young and lifeless. When we came in, they weren't scared or anything. They were emotionless. That was the saddest part.
What was the best part of the shoot? the most frustrating?
Van: The best part was meeting everyone involved and being able to help tell this story visually. We, meaning the American public, thinks Sex Trafficking is someone else's problems. It's in India, Cambodia, Thailand, Africa... not here in the U.S. Well, that's not the case. It is here in the U.S. and it is frightenedly abundant.
What was it like going to detention to photograph Kiki?
Van: Traveling to the middle of nowhere Louisiana is an adventure onto itself. But knowing that I had to make a portrait of someone who has been through so much, a lot of thoughts sort of go through your mind like - how is the subject going to be? is she going to be scared? hardened? timid? ... but in the end Kiki was just a sweet woman. I looked at her and thought... she could be my sister... my mom. How did she end up here behind these cell doors and razor wire?
How has this changed you?
Van:This experience has opened my eyes to a real part of our society. I'm so proud of Texas Monthly for doing a feature like this so the public can be informed that modern day slavery is alive and well and here in our communities. There's so much we all can do as citizens and neighbors to help these victims and fight against human trafficking. But first it's starts with knowledge, and since the story was released in April 2010, I just accepted a fellowship at the Polaris Project in Washington D.C. for the summer where hopeful I can contribute more to this cause.
Which photo were you most proud of?
Van: I would say I am proud of the whole series. I hope the public will get to see more of what really is going on.
What message do you have for men who think that prostitution has no vicitms?
Van:Wake up. Stop paying for sex. These girls/children are not willing participants.
What is your next project?
Van:Well I hope to continue pursuing photography work on Sex Trafficking and getting exhibits for the photos. I think it's important that people get to see what's happening in their strip malls. My aim is have a traveling exhibition to colleges, high schools, shopping centers all around the nation. It's going to take some work but we'll get there.
http://www.vanphotographs.com/
http://www.lasterglobal.com/
http://www.millionkids.org/
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