SALISBURY — ”Human trafficking is one of the most pressing human rights issues of our day, and we should be proud that Rowan County is on the map for shedding light on a dark situation,” said Dr. Anthony Davis, president of Livingstone College.

That was the prevailing message on Tuesday, during the grand opening of Project Light’s new space in the Rowan Community Center, formerly known as the West End Plaza or Salisbury Mall. 

“I congratulate you and your volunteers and the folks who have got you this far. God bless you for what you’re doing, attacking and addressing the demand aspect of that trinidad, so to speak, by educating the public. I think a lot of us don’t realize that somebody you’re working with, somebody that you pass in a hallway, may be a victim of human trafficking. It’s a situation that is insidious in the way that it exists. But we’re fortunate to have folks that are motivated and called to work on this issue,” said State Representative Harry Warren.

Project Light, an organization aimed at raising awareness of and stopping human trafficking in Rowan County, received a $1 annual lease earlier this year from the county to move from Rockwell to Salisbury. Since that lease was granted in March, the organization has been working to fit the old Bath and Body Works to its needs.

“We do ribbon cuttings all the time, (Senator Carl Ford) and (Representative Harry Warren) and others, but there are ribbon cuttings and then there are ribbon cuttings. I believe they’re all divinely-appointed, but this one today carries such a need and is such a big part of this community. When you think about community and the idea that when a need pops up, there’s just something about Rowan County that folks step in the gap and identify the need,” said Rowan County Board of Commissioners Chairman Greg Edds.

Project Light Executive Director Dr. Jim Duncan said that the event on Tuesday was the culmination of a lot of different organizations’ and people’s support of Project Light. Food was brought over by Chick-Fil-A and The Hotdog Shack. Godley’s Garden Center donated plants for decoration. The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce helped coordinate the ribbon cutting that ended the event.

Davis announced during the event that Duncan was going to be presented with Livingstone College’s honorary doctorate of humane letters in recognition of his work in the community. He said that he would work with Duncan and with the college administration to decide if the presentation would be during the fall or spring semester commencement.

Duncan has previously said that one of the main benefits to moving the office was the increased space. Last year, the organization hired its first paid staff member, and the organization has grown since then to include three new paid staffers, including new Director Amy Young. He also cited the increased visibility of moving to the county seat as well as moving into the same building that the Rowan County Health Department will be moving to as important aspects of the change.

North Carolina ranks in the top 10 nationwide for human trafficking cases, with the North Carolina Department of Administration reporting that 260 cases of human trafficking were reported in 2020 along with 390 victims of trafficking served by agencies throughout the state. However, the NCDOA notes that the real number of cases and victims is likely much higher.

“This is such a serious issue that I don’t think many people realize is in their backyards. I see it on a daily basis with my job, so I realize the importance of having organizations like Project Light. (Duncan) and his staff are working so hard to help bring the education piece and awareness components that really help prevent it. If we can prevent one child, one woman from falling into this evil world, that can prevent so much trauma,” said Charlene Mooneyhan, a Homeland Security representative.

Duncan pointed to one recent change in state law as a major boost in the fight against human trafficking. House Bill 971 made soliciting a person for prostitution a felony on the first offense, instead of the previous misdemeanor. The bill, passed unanimously in June by the House of Representatives and Senate, also directed the Department of Labor to develop human trafficking awareness training and required lodging establishments, accommodation facilitators and property managers to implement awareness training. The bill was originally introduced by Representative Kevin Crutchfield, with Warren later becoming a co-sponsor.

“There’s a lot of things that need to happen in the coming days, weeks, months and years and we’ve just got to keep going forward, keep helping folks like this out and keep praying that the Lord will help us defeat this terrible thing of human trafficking. It’s a scourge and we’ve got to do everything we can to eradicate it,” said State Senator Carl Ford.