Cranberry native fights against human trafficking
SEWICKLEY — Call it divine intervention, or a productive moment at an otherwise unproductive time.
Either way, Christen Cappatt found her life's calling in the most unlikely of places: her Instagram feed.
The Cranberry native and Seneca Valley High School graduate was on the road with The Silver Ring Thing, a touring group that speaks at schools, churches and events across the country on relationships and love. On one of the long drives between stops, she found herself scrolling through social media to combat boredom.
“I was just scrolling through Instagram ... and I had noticed people posting ... this picture with a red 'X' on their hand and saying things like 'slavery still exists,'” she said. “I was so confused ... and I just started doing research.”
Cappatt's research pointed her to the “#EndItMovement,” which aims to spread awareness of human trafficking in the United States.
As her time with The Silver Ring Thing came to an end, Cappatt, 26, found herself at a crossroads. Through her connections she was introduced to Joseph Sweeney, a law enforcement and military veteran who was in the process of founding The Asservo Project, a nonprofit aimed at not only spreading awareness about human trafficking and child exploitation but helping to solve cases and save those who needed help.
Almost a year after beginning, the Sewickley-based organization has made its mark locally and across the country, working with law enforcement to investigate suspected trafficking cases.
Cappatt will be on campus at Slippery Rock University Thursday to participate in the #EndItMovement's red 'X' day, which is being recognized worldwide. The organization will also offer a presentation on their work at 10 a.m. Saturday at Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North, 12330 Perry Highway, Wexford.
A full story appears in the Butler Eagle.
