Building on the success and impact of the first One Humanity Tour,
Swagger
, a play for sixth grade students by Eric Coble addressing the tensions between citizens and law enforcement that recently completed its third season, Palm Beach Dramaworks is pleased to announce the launch of a second tour, this one for seventh grade students about another pressing issue.
Live to Tell
, a new, commissioned work by Coble about human trafficking and online safety, will be performed free of charge in Palm Beach County schools beginning the second week in December. The tour will continue through the second week in January, Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Each performance will be followed by a talkback, and there will also be supplemental materials for teachers, administrators, and parents.
The new tour is funded by Impact 100 Palm Beach County.
“Over 20 million people globally are victims of human trafficking, and according to the Florida Department of Health, South Florida is ranked third in the nation as the most trafficked destination,” said Gary Cadwallader, director of education and community engagement. “A dire component of this statistic is that 50 percent of all victims are under the age of 18, and according to the human trafficking unit of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, many are middle school children. Eighty percent of these victims are girls. A Palm Beach County middle school principal recently remarked that this topic ‘keeps him up at night.’ Human trafficking victims cross all socio-economic profiles, and many trafficked children remain at home and attend school.”
The play will present a narrative of cause and effect, and the post-performance talkback will include a discussion about online safety and emphasize to students how their smartphones are a gateway for traffickers. A survivor will also speak about her personal experience.
“We’re offering this show to seventh graders because the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office says that they are prime targets of human traffickers,” said Cadwallader. “Puberty often creates anxiety at this age, and physical changes sometimes lead to mood swings and low self-esteem. Cognitive development in seventh grade students shows more independent-minded youth detaching from the structure imposed by parents or guardians. These factors combined allow predators to groom and entrap teenagers. This project will guide children to think critically about all facets of this topic.”
