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Contact: Jolene Goldade |
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Media Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CNN reporter to speak to Edina students and community about his international investigative reporting on human trafficking Edina, Minn., Nov. 18, 2009 – On Friday, Nov. 20, Richard Lui, a national anchor for CNN Headline News, will speak to Edina students and the community about his investigative reporting in Indonesia on underage sex slavery and human trafficking. The presentation will take place in the Edina Performing Arts Center at Edina High School (6754 Valley View Road, Edina) from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The event is co-sponsored by Edina High School’s Amnesty International and End Slavery Now, a youth-led anti-human trafficking organization. Lui’s talk concludes a three-day human trafficking awareness campaign called Break the Chain. A reception in the high school’s community room will immediately follow the presentation. A light lunch will be served. “I would like to make our community socially aware of human trafficking,” said Hailey Lee, president of End Slavery Now and a senior at Edina High School. “Trafficking is a $32 billion industry and those involved certainly don’t want to give up the business.” Lee met Lui last summer when she became one of 42 students nationwide to earn an invite to the prestigious J-Camp, a journalism camp held in Boston. Lui was one of her mentors and the two quickly learned they shared a passion for ending human trafficking. Lui offered to speak to her group, End Slavery Now, in November, but Lee never took his offer seriously – that is, until he emailed her last week to plan the details of his appearance. End Slavery Now, a relatively young organization, has largely focused on fundraising efforts. Through the Break the Chain campaign, Lee hopes to raise awareness on the prevalence of human trafficking in Minnesota. “Many people assume human trafficking is a problem that is limited to third-world countries, but that is not true,” said Lee. “Minnesota is the 13th most trafficked state in the United States. It’s an inconvenient problem to have, but it’s our responsibility to be aware.” More information about Richard Lui can be found here. About Edina Public Schools: ###  |
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