Walk to End Human Trafficking–Oct. 19

KEARNEY-CHI Health Good Samaritan, in partnership with New Life Church, Family Practice Associates, Family Advocacy Network, GI ACT, Kearney Dawn Rotary and the Central Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force, invites the community to join them on Saturday, Oct. 19 to raise awareness of human trafficking.

The fourth annual Walk for Freedom begins in the hospital’s Parking Lot D near Good Samaritan Cancer Center with a 9:30 am check-in. At 10 am a local human trafficking survivor and law enforcement will share a powerful awareness message with participants. The walk will begin after the address. 

The approximately two-mile walking loop utilizes sidewalks along 2nd Ave. and Hwy 30. Refreshments, including coffee provided by Common Grounds Coffee, will be provided. 

There is no cost for the event. However, participants are asked to register in advance at: mynewlifechurch.com/events. 

Participants are encouraged to wear black apparel to the event. Walk for Freedom T-shirts can be purchased during the online registration process with a limited supply available the day of the walk.

In 2023, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 113 signals from Nebraska. From those calls, text and emails, 23 cases with 33 victims were identified. The cases predominantly involved sex trafficking of adult females.

“Human trafficking is happening right here in Kearney and our surrounding communities. In Central Nebraska, labor trafficking (particularly of migrant workers) is an often unseen and underreported issue. It’s hidden, fast-growing, and complex,” says Dr. Abby Richardson, walk host and family medicine physician at Family Practice Associates. “Shining a light on the issue is our first step. Together we can identify, report, and put an end to modern-day slavery in our community.”

This year’s event is made possible by a Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) Mission and Ministry Grant. Mission and Ministry Grants are awarded annually for proposals with a focus on creating healthy communities, violence prevention and promoting global health. The Mission and Ministry Fund is a hallmark of CHI’s spirit of innovation and dedication to creating a better world.

More about Walk for Freedom (A21.org):

Walk for Freedom is a day of global awareness and local action in the fight against human trafficking. On Saturday, Oct. 19, thousands of people will hit the streets in hundreds of cities across the globe to walk in a single file line–holding posters and handing out flyers–to reach their city with information about human trafficking and how to end it. Every step reduces vulnerability locally, empowering your neighbors, friends, and community to identify and report trafficking suspicions.

A21 is one of the largest organizations in the world that is solely fighting human trafficking–at a local, domestic, and international level. All over the world, A21 is not just responding to trafficking that is already taking place, but actively working on the frontlines to prevent it from happening to begin with.

More about CHI’s commitment to violence prevention:

Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) has a long-standing commitment to violence prevention, rooted in the legacy and traditions of our founding congregations and predecessor systems. Through CHI's United Against Violence campaign, this commitment has been formalized and extended system-wide in an effort to create healthy communities and prevent violence. One of the most devastating issues affecting all CHI communities is human trafficking – the practice of modern day slavery. Human trafficking is an affront to basic human rights and dignity, and health care providers are uniquely positioned to identify and respond to victims in the health care setting. Working through public policy, community-based initiatives, socially responsible investing and education, CHI addresses violence across a broad continuum. CHI recognizes that this complex issue must be addressed with a multi-faceted approach.