ENSLAVED: A Visual Story of Modern Day Slavery Opens at Freedom Center May 7
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jamie Glavic
(513) 333-7511
(513) 802-7355
jglavic@nurfc.org
Assia Johnson
(513) 333-7555
(513) 787-2110
asjohnson@nurfc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CINCINNATI, OH (April 26, 2016) – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced today the opening of ENSLAVED: A Visual Story of Modern Day Slavery on Saturday, May 7, 2016. The exhibit features images by world-renown humanitarian photographer, Lisa Kristine that not only document the lives endured by slaves but also celebrate the freedom they never dreamed possible.
"It's important to remember that these are not images of ‘problems’," says Kristine. "They’re images of people.”
ENSLAVED is a powerful statement about one of the greatest human rights abuses of our time – modern day slavery. Kristine’s images capture the experience of a moment lived in slavery, allowing the viewer to peek into the lives of those who are enslaved. From the sweltering brick kilns to the rickety mine shafts, Kristine traveled the globe capturing the brutality of slavery with each click of the shutter. She documented the work of Free the Slaves, a non-governmental organization, in three of the countries where the organization works on the front lines – Ghana, India and Nepal.
“An estimated 20.9 million people are enslaved today," says Brooke Hathaway, director of strategic initiatives at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. “Organizations like Free the Slaves and many others are working to raise awareness and connect everyday freedom heroes to resources and people battling modern-day slavery on the frontlines in America and abroad.”
ENSLAVED was created to inspire sustainable change at a local, national, and global level through education with visual story telling accompanied by information and curriculum on slavery today.
The exhibit also offers specific, doable and effective ways for people to help make sustainable change to eradicate slavery, like advocating for policy changes, supporting discovery and aftercare programs, and finding ways to empower survivors. Visitors will leave ENSLAVED with immediate ways to get involved.
Kristine will speak at the opening program of the exhibit on Saturday, May 7 at 11:00 a.m. in the Harriet Tubman Theater. Seating is limited and first-come, first-serve. The program is free and open to the public.
ENSLAVED: A Visual Story of Modern Day Slavery opens Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The exhibit is included general admission. Learn more about ENSLAVED at freedomcenter.org.
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, more than 1.3 million people have visited its permanent and changing exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.