MARQUETTE, Mich.— Theresa Flores, a survivor of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, will speak at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, in the Whitman Hall commons at Northern Michigan University. She is the author of The Sacred Bath: An American Teen’s Story of Modern Day Slavery.

The Flores event is preceded by a March 10 showing of a film and documentary related to human trafficking. Both are free and open to the public. The awareness-building activities are sponsored by the NMU group Promoters for Nonviolent Peace Resolution.

In her book, Flores shares her story of trafficking and slavery while living in an upper-middle class suburb of Detroit. She discusses how she healed the wounds of sexual servitude and offers advice to parents and professionals on preventing this from occurring. She also gives facts on human trafficking in modern-day America.

The back cover description reads: “At 15 years of age, she was drugged, raped and tortured for two long years. Kept in bondage, forced to pay back an impossible debt. All the while living at home, attempting to keep family safe and attending school during the day along side of her abusers. Only to be called into ‘service’ late each night, while her unknowing family slept. Involuntarily involved in a large underground criminal ring, Ms. Flores endured more as a child than most adults will ever face their entire lives.”

            Flores is a licensed social worker. She speaks nationally on parenting, multicultural issues and human trafficking.

            Promoters for Nonviolent Peace Resolution will also show a film about human trafficking from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, followed by an MTV documentary on the subject. The event will be held in room 102 Jamrich Hall.

            For more information, e-mail bwielech@nmu.edu.

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Prepared by Kristi Evans.