Community members gathered Thursday outside the Berks County Services Center to participate in the Red Sand Project, a global awareness campaign highlighting the vulnerabilities that can lead to human trafficking, modern slavery, and exploitation.
The event, held on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, was hosted by the Berks County District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Assistance Unit and the Children’s Alliance Center.
Participants poured red sand into cracks in the sidewalk, symbolizing the structural inequities that can leave individuals vulnerable to exploitation. Organizers said the artwork serves as a visual reminder of people who “fall through the cracks” of social, economic, and political systems and encourages communities to recognize and support those at risk.
The Red Sand Project was founded in 2014 by artist and activist Molly Gochman to spark conversations about human trafficking and exploitation. According to organizers, the initiative has been carried out in all 50 states and more than 70 countries, with over one million people participating worldwide.
Organizers said the event aimed to foster awareness and dialogue about human trafficking and modern slavery, issues that affect more than 50 million people around the world.
Representatives from the North Carolina Eastern Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, including members of the Dare County Sheriff’s Office and Outer Banks Hotline, also attended the event to discuss their initiatives and answer questions from participants.
The event was open to the public, with materials provided on-site. Attendees were encouraged to share their participation on social media using the hashtag #RedSandProject to help spread awareness of the campaign.
