Ithaca College

On Tuesday night March 29th, after the preview of Coram Boy, there will be a special talkback that will focus on international slavery, the meaning and monitoring or Free Trade, and what we can do to help eliminate the gruesome human cost of making a buck.

 Slavery: Not a Thing of the Past 

Coram Boy accurately depicts the merciless exploitation of children and slave labor—inhumane conditions that existed long ago and far away. We would like to believe that they no longer exist, but in actual fact there have never before in history been more slaves, internationally and in 90 cities of the Unites States. And never before has the price of a human life been lower; while a slave cost roughly the equivalent in today's currency of $40,000 during the Civil War era, today a slave costs under $100, and sometimes far less. No wonder Kevin Bales, the founder of Free the Slaves, calls them "Disposable People." Many of the products we purchase – including, to name just a few, chocolate, coffee, sneakers, computers and rugs--rely on slave labor. 

 On Tuesday night March 29, after the preview of Coram Boy, there will be a special talkback that will focus on international slavery, the meaning and monitoring or Free Trade, and what we can do to help eliminate the gruesome human cost of making a buck.

 Please join us for this important discussion, and join the interdisciplinary IC movement to address slavery through individual, community and global action.

Attendance is free and all are welcome. You need not attend the show, but we hope you will!

Guest speakers:

Chirag Desai is Treasurer for 10,000 Villages, a national movement to support humane working conditions and living wages by selling artisan goods at fair prices. Desai runs a software development company, but invests much of his time in the development of a shelter for human trafficking victims. His activism began with his consciousness of social justice in his native Ethiopia. 

Jessica Leuchtenburgis, a Junior at IC, is President of the IC chapter of Free the Slaves, the revolutionary international organization begun by Kevin Bales and his landmark research into global slavery. She has been an abolitionist since the age of 11. 

The discussion will be moderated by dramaturg and activist Dr. Susan Jonas from the Theatre Arts program. Presented with Much Ado About Outreach. Please contact MuchAdoAboutOutreach@gmail.com with any questions.