New Exhibit at Sam Houston Center Educates Visitors About Human Trafficking

Liberty, TX – An original exhibition produced by the Bullock Texas State History Museum is now on view at the Hull-Daisetta Rotary Building at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Liberty. Not Alone: Working Together in the Fight Against Human Trafficking provides visitors with the tools to identify human trafficking and the resources to find help and support survivors.

Although underreported, recent statistics suggest there are hundreds of thousands of people being trafficked in Texas at any given time. Geared toward teens and adults and presented in both English and Spanish, the exhibition seeks to prevent further exploitation of vulnerable individuals in the state.

Not Alone centers on a series of questions that guide visitors to understand what human trafficking is, who can be a target, the tools and techniques traffickers use to target individuals and keep them captive, and the roles healthy relationships and social media play in tracking. In each exhibition section, a QR code allows visitors to view original videos featuring survivors and advocates who answer the exhibition’s guiding questions.

“Inspired by the governor’s initiative against human trafficking, we recognized an opportunity to use our platform as an educational institution,” said Bullock Museum Director Margaret Koch. “We hope this exhibition inspires everyone to understand that as individuals we are not powerless to assist in the prevention of human trafficking. One person can make a difference.”

Not Alone: Working Together in the Fight Against Human Trafficking is on view at the Sam Houston Center through May 28. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov/notalone.

The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center is a component of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s Archives and Information Services Division and serves as the official regional historical resource depository for the 10 southeast Texas counties of Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto and Tyler. The Center’s primary mission is to collect, preserve, and provide access to historically significant state and local government records and publications of the designated region and secondarily to serve as a library of Texana and genealogical resources. Through its collections, historic buildings, and educational exhibits and initiatives, it also honors the distinguished public service of former governors, organizations and citizens of the Atascosito District.

Not Alone: Working Together in the Fight Against Human Trafficking is produced by the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Lead Sponsorship by Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt. Major funding from the Texas Bar Foundation. Major support provided by the Texas Trucking Association. Special thanks to Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary P.C. and Mondics Insurance Group, Inc. The Bullock Texas State History Museum is a division of the State Preservation Board. Additional support of exhibitions and programs is provided by the Texas State History Museum Foundation.

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The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information needed to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic, and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.