​Human Trafficking Topic Of Forum At Bucks County Community College

NEWTOWN, PA — Human trafficking is a crime that deprives millions of people of their dignity and freedom, as at-risk populations are exploited for labor or commercial sex.

According to the U.S. Department of State, an estimated 27.6 million people are currently victims of trafficking worldwide, and, sadly, many of them are often hidden right in front of us.

Bucks County Community College is inviting the public to a free forum at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in-person and online. Allegra Cressman, director of programming at Worthwhile Wear, will speak about how the nonprofit is working to end modern-day slavery.

Worthwhile Wear provides a residential program to help survivors of human trafficking with counseling, education, and training. The organization also operates thrift stores in Plumsteadville and Collegeville to help fund its mission and to offer employment opportunities to women in their programs.

As director of programming, Cressman oversees the development of Worthwhile Wear’s housing, employment, and community-based outreach and empowerment programs for survivors of human trafficking. Prior to joining the team, she was the Executive Director at Family Promise of the Main Line, and before that spent 19 years as the Housing Program Director at Keystone Opportunity Center.

Cressman’s talk takes place at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in the Gallagher Room, located inside the Rollins Center building on the College’s campus at 275 Swamp Road, Newtown. The event will also be streamed live online for those who register in advance at https://bit.ly/BCCC-EndSlavery.

The event is sponsored by the college’s office of DEI Programs and the Bucks Catholic Student Association. To learn more, contact diversity@bucks.edu.