“Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3b-4
With the blessing of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the support of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos and the Greek Orthodox of San Francisco, and under the leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas of the Dardanelles, Coordinator of the Patriarchal Committee on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, you are invited to attend an Action and Educational Forum Against Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery. This event, hosted by the United Orthodox Communities, will be held on Sunday, November 4, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 778 S. Rosemead Boulevard, Pasadena, CA.
Guest speakers will include:
- His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas of the Dardanelles, Director of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA.
- Lisa Coen, Deputy-in-Charge, Human Sex Trafficking Section, Sex Crimes Division, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office speaking on Protecting Your Children from Online Predators
- Susan Patterson, Director of Through God’s Grace Ministry Against Human Trafficking and author of “How You Can Fight Human Trafficking”
- A representative from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office working with the Regional Human Trafficking Task Force and law enforcement officers
- And a most compelling message from a survivor of human trafficking, sharing their personal story of tragedy to triumph.
“This topic of great relevance to our society and should be at the forefront of discussion. Too many innocent people are suffering at the hands of predators and we must educate ourselves, our children and our communities so that we may be informed and empowered to make a difference and eradicate this devastation to human dignity,” stated His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos.
Local organizations will also have information booths at this Forum providing practical resources on how to protect children from online predation and how to combat human trafficking both locally and throughout the world. This event is free and open to the public. Complimentary coffee and light refreshments will be served. This is not a fundraiser.