Transitioning Times

Shyima Hall has been in the news before, for becoming a naturalized citizen in 2011.  She is currently in the news for writing her own story.  She has written a book, Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave.   Shyima was sold into slavery by her parents at 8 years old, approximately 2 years later, the family she was sold to smuggled her into the United States.  She lived in their garage and worked for the family, including children her own age, from morning until night, for as long as they needed her.  2 years later, a neighbor called authorities because they saw Shyima working but not going to school.  She has stayed in the United States, graduated high school, become a citizen and wishes to become a law enforcement officer. This is human trafficking .  Many people think only of sex trafficking, but human trafficking can also include anyone who is forced into performing labor or services against their will. Watch an interview w...

I have always wanted to help people in any way I can. Growing up, my parents spent much of their time helping others, and I saw how important that was to them. I wanted to work in the medical profession to help others, but the idea of needles, blood and gore was too much for me to handle. When I started school I wasn’t sure what type of work I would want to do until I had an experience that changed my life. I was sexually assaulted as a teenager.   At the time I didn’t have any resources to turn to. The only agency I knew about was too familiar with my family, and my abuser was well known to the community. I knew like the people in my life would respond out of anger and make choices that would have negative consequences for them, so I never told anyone what happened. I was more worried about my family and friends, and chose to protect them instead of standing up for myself. In fact, some of my friends were there when the assault happened, yet none of them stopped what they were d...