For just a few minutes Thursday, the faith-based Catalyst 2012 conference will turn into a sea of white umbrellas.
One out of every 11 people will stand and open an umbrella, symbolic of the number of children who are trafficked around the world.
“There’s the idea that it only happens far away,” said Mary Frances Bowley, founder of the nonprofit Wellspring Living, which helps survivors of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation. “Girls are being exploited. It’s happening in your own community and you don’t know.”
The demonstration will also officially launch The White Umbrella Campaign, which will go to 14 cities, including Atlanta, that have been identified as the worst places for human sex trafficking. The initiative’s goal is to raise awareness about the issue, build partnerships and share strategies to combat the problem.
In metro Atlanta, several organizations are working to fight the sexual exploitation of girls. Last year, the state passed a historic anti-trafficking bill that gave tough penalties for people who engaged in trafficking and exploitation.
Between 300 and 500 girls are trafficked in Atlanta each month, said Bowley, whose book, “The White Umbrella: Walking With Survivors of Sex Trafficking,” was released this month.
It’s no coincidence that the campaign is being launched at the annual Catalyst conference, which will bring more than 13,000 young faith leaders together.
“They’re the change agents,” she said of conference attendees. “Younger people are just not going to write a check; they’re going to get involved and get dirty.”
The Catalyst conference was conceived in 1999 by megachurch pastor Andy Stanley and others who wanted to groom a new generation of church leaders. They created a conference for leaders under the age of 40.
The theme this year is the word “Make,” said Jeff Shinabarger, Catalyst’s creative director. “We’re saying people can make a difference,” he said. “There’s beauty in the journey in getting from here to where we’re supposed to be in the future.”
The conference will feature a Maker’s Market for items made by people working their way out of poverty.
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