WSU Center for Combating Human Trafficking to host award-winning film producer
The Center for Combating Human Trafficking will host "LOVE NOT LOCKUP: A Documentary Screening of One Survivor's Story" followed by discussion with producer Dan Birman and Kansas civic leaders at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, in Hughes Metropolitan Complex. This event will feature a screening of the nationally recognized "Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story," along with Birman, the film's producer. This event is free and open to the public.
Birman is the founder of Birman Productions and has produced award-winning documentary and nonfiction television programming for more than 20 years. He spent six years producing and directing the world-acclaimed documentary "Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story," which aired on PBS's Independent Lens. This story follows a 16-year-old girl who is serving a life sentence for murder in Tennessee and the deep social issues that contributed to her fate. The documentary was selected by ITVS for its Community Cinema program, where it was screened in 98 cities around the country. The story went viral in 2017, bringing greater attention to the need to change sentencing laws in America.
Civic leaders representing Wichitans from local to national government have been invited to engage in discussion on how "Cyntoia's Story" can serve as an instrument of change for countless others across America who, despite the rise in anti-trafficking efforts, are further harmed by our systems of care and justice. And with a commitment to serving our own Kansans, leaders will engage in curious exploration and critical conversations regarding the criminalization of individuals who have survived sex trafficking.
"I am thrilled that we are able to host documentary producer Dan Birman," said CCHT executive director Karen Countryman-Roswurm. "His work exposing the realities of Cyntoia Brown's experiences within our system as a result of her abuse and exploitation has drawn national attention and has greatly impacted legislation across the U.S.
"Additionally, I am proud that we have Kansas civic leaders who are committed to acting as humble explorers and servants in order to strengthen our anti-trafficking responses. We have come a long way in addressing trafficking in Kansas, but the reality is that our response to actual victims and survivors has not widely improved. Once identified, Kansas is still struggling with how to respond to survivors and therefore, they are far too often being detained. But it is only through relational responses that our community will see survivors of sex trafficking overcome their trauma and become the people they were created to be," said Countryman-Roswurm.
The screening is sponsored in part by the Ulrich Museum of Art, WSU Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Central and Chick-Fil-A on Rock Road.