Isolation to freedom: my upcoming trip to SE Asia

To be cut off from your family and friends and thrown into complete isolation. Having your only human connection be with those who mistreat, abuse and exploit you for ill gain. There is nothing more dehumanizing than slavery.

I have always been passionate about human rights. As a writer, storyteller and artist I could not have scripted how my career would have ever translated into something like this. But it has. Next Wednesday I board a flight headed to Southeast Asia for a week with The Exodus Road. I am one of two writers who are part of a greater network of 67 bloggers telling the stories that come out of SE Asia where The Exodus Road is part of 10 groups working to free women and children, shut down brothels, prosecute those involved and provide the victims successful after care. It is both an intimidating and honorable opportunity to tell the story of these brave individuals as well as the victims that they serve. I can’t think of anything that is more isolating for a person than to be in slavery. When we become isolated we lose connection with our world and the world loses out on all the art one precious life has to offer.

So I plan to tell their stories with everything I have and I invite you to join me. I will be posting primarily on the Huffington Post Impact site daily throughout the trip as part of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. I will add a few more personal posts as stories arise.

I encourage you to follow along by reading the Huffington posts, viewing my instagram pictures, as well as some planned special content via twitter. Please leave comments and share. These stories need to be told and I can only do that with your help. Your connectedness will help end someone’s isolation and slavery.