Community Gathering: “A Thousand Hands, A Million Stars” raises awareness of human trafficking

By Jordan Beach

Art is often used to express thoughts and feelings to convey meaning that elicits a response, sometimes one of action. “A Thousand Hands, A Million Stars” uses a multimedia performance to address the topic of sex trafficking.

The first Community Gathering of the spring semester will take place on Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. The performance, “A Thousand Hands, A Million Stars,” to be performed in Flint Hall of the Falany Performing Arts Center, combines a variety of art forms to bring awareness to sex trafficking and its brutal realities.

“Atlanta is a hub for human trafficking in the United States. Some have suggested that it may actually be the capital for this activity in the states,” said Cory Schantz, associate professor of music. “It is critical that, in a time of moral ambiguity, we provide our students with the information necessary to understand its impact and the means to take a stand against human trafficking. We must empower a new generation to be agents of change.”

The project is described as “interactive, community-driven, [and] collaborative,” and the artists who crafted the performance hope to not only bring light to the issue but tell survivors’ stories and use the artistry to invoke a response of empathy.

This event is free and open to the public; however the content may not be suitable for all ages.

Visit https://www.athousandhandsamillionstars.com/ to learn more about the project.