Lessons from TEDx: Human Trafficking in the U.S.

Most of us have seen TED videos. Despite their short, 18-minute time limit and typically interesting content, they are often longer than our short attention spans will endure.  So, when friends encouraged me to attend TEDxColumbus: A Moment In Time – a local franchise of the larger TED event, I was interested but skeptical that it would keep me engaged all day long. My concerns were unfounded! The TEDx presentations on the widest variety of topics made me laugh, cry, cringe, tap my feet, empathize, learn, disagree, change my opinion, meditate a little and mostly just THINK, THINK, THINK! I have already marked my calendar for next year's event!

One unforgettable talk came from Theresa Flores, a victim and survivor of teenage human trafficking in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Theresa recounted her horrifying ordeal and gave shocking statistics of a silent epidemic in the United States. And, despite her own personal trauma, she has rechanneled her energies into stopping human trafficking in the U.S. and helping other victims…one bar of soap at a time! Check out her amazing story!