Zion’s Story

RESOURCES & HELP

Visit our Human Trafficking Resources page.

CONTACT:

Catherine Hanna Schrock
catherine@imaginebravespaces.com
(619) 894-6444

PROGRAM DESIGN

Zion's Story is a new human trafficking prevention and awareness program for middle and high school youth, families, and communities. This one-of-a-kind creative and interactive experience cultivates awareness, empathy, and action while at the same time building community and connection within the participating group.

The program takes a holistic approach to prevention by addressing vulnerabilities and root causes that lead to trafficking. It also supports participants in identifying the intersections with other well-being and safety issues affecting young people today, including substance abuse, peer bullying, decline in mental health, and online and gaming addictions.

PRE & POST SHOW LESSONS

Before and after seeing the play, participants take part in two 60-minute in-class lessons to learn about the circumstances that lead to trafficking and the warning signs that they or their peers may observe in human trafficking situations. Participants will also reflect on Zion's Story and how, in light of her story, they might become empowered to make safe and healthy choices to protect themselves and their peers.

ZION'S STORY INTERACTIVE PLAY

This 90-minute interactive play is inspired by real-life experiences, and informed by trafficking survivors and San Diego-specific research. Zion’s Story was designed as a Forum Theatre play, a unique interactive style of performance that invites audiences into the action of the play itself.

During the live play, audiences follow the story of Zion, a 15-year old girl who has recently moved to San Diego. While her story initially ends in tragedy, audiences are then invited to return to specific scenes to discuss and role-play different actions that might have prevented the tragic outcome. Ultimately participants take part in a hopeful journey to both imagine and create a better ending for her...

For community workshops, Imagine will custom design and adapt the program for each unique community.

EDUCATOR TRAINING

Prior to the Zion’s Story in-school program, we provide training in Human Trafficking prevention for school personnel. Schools learn about CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children), human trafficking and how best to support students who may be impacted. Schools are trained to identify the risk factors that contribute to trafficking, how to identify the warning signs that a student might be experiencing CSEC and how best to respond. We provide an HT 101 school training in 90-minute session or offer a more extensive HT 101-102 training in a 3-hour session. For more information contact catherine@imaginebravespaces.com.

PROGRAM CREDITS

Spring 2024 School Tour sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education.

Zion’s Story was developed in partnership with Jessica Kim, Survivor and Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW), and Keelin Washington, Survivor and Social Worker, with additional input from Mary-Ellen Barrett, San Diego Deputy District Attorney (Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division), Charisma De Los Reyes, Coordinator for SDCOE Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, Dr. Jamie Gates, Anthropologist and Human Trafficking Researcher (Point Loma Nazarene University) and Tami Johnson, CVUSD District Counselor.

LIVE PERFORMANCE CREDITS

Playwright & Director: Catherine Hanna Schrock
Original Cast: Britney McKiernan, Jaeonnie Davis-Crawford, Taran Haynes, Zach Porter, Kayla Adorno, Bernardo Mazón Daher, Giovanni Ferreira, Melanie Stanek
Production Stage Managers: Bianca Pizarro and Laura Hanna
Sound Design: Peter Schrock
Music Development: Derek Rice, Milton Campbell