Stop the traffick!

Arriving inside the theater on Thursday, Oct. 23, students sell candy for a dollar to help aid the young girls that are victims of sex trafficking. Club members sold sodas, candy bars, Skittles, and red licorice to help raise enough money to donate to the founders to rescue the young girls.

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
November 12, 2014

A new club, Stop the Traffick, has been admitted amongst the list of over 50 clubs at Downey High starting with the 2014-15 school year. Stop the Traffick is a club dedicated to raising awareness about sex trafficking, locally and internationally. The club’s adviser, Charissa James, started the club after discovering the issue of sex trafficking. James researched the topic for a while and developed an urge to do something about it. “My first thought when I started studying this problem was, ‘What if this happened to one of our students?’” James said. The initial thought that popped in her head was what motivated her to starting the informational club. After James spoke to a few of her students about sex trafficking and gave them the proper tools and resources to research it, she was able to start the formation of the club. Once the foundation of knowledge was built, these students began to meet up frequently over the summer to discuss their plans for starting and building the club. Senior Amberly Espinosa, president of Stop the Traffick, was emotionally moved after researching the topic which led to her involvement. “On more than one occasion, my reading brought me to tears and I know this was a topic that needed light,” Espinosa said. “I wanted others to see that no one gave it much thought but everyone was subject to the possibility of being a victim.” The club made its debut at club rush in September and since then has been holding fundraisers to not only to shine light on a serious world issue, but raise money for an organization of their choice that helps stop human trafficking. So far, the club has had two sex trafficking documentary showings that have raised $800 all together. Senior Nick Hernandez believes their fundraising will help them achieve all that they want and more. “Our fundraising goal is set somewhere around $2,000,” Hernandez said, “and I am positive we will surpass our goal.” Once the club has reached their goal, they will send all of their fundraising profits to an anti-trafficking organization of their choice. The club is still searching the right organization to support. James hopes to go beyond just giving money to organizations to help. “There is an international organization that builds schools in rural areas of Cambodia,” James said. “Eventually I would love to help create a partnership between Downey and a school like that…” With about 30 active members and already half of their goal of $2,000 fundraised, Stop the Traffick is working its way towards success. The board members anticipate a spike in the number of members and the profits from fundraisers as the club gains recognition throughout the year.

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About the Contributors

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Cheif

Mia Dixon-Slaughter, Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Downey Legend, stepped into the world of journalism 3 years ago as a sophomore. After a great deal of persuasion from her two best friends, who were on staff at the time, Dixon-Slaughter submitted her application at the semester and was welcomed shortly after. “I love writing and always have,” Slaughter said, “but I’ve always stuck strictly to literature so branching out into a different style and type of writing has helped me develop as a writer.” Although writing essays and covering stories can be polar opposites, the writer adjusted without much trouble. During her time at The Downey Legend, she has covered numerous stories, fiddled with the camera, and established the newspaper’s credibility on social media. She is competent enough to know what it takes to have efficient deadlines; all Slaughter has to do now is to guide her staff in that direction.

If the writer is not covering stories happening around school, she is still somehow always somewhere on campus. Juggling AP classes, an ASB position, and her role in newspaper, Slaughter often finds herself with a hectic schedule. This being said, when genuine free time presents itself, she takes full advantage of it. “I love getting lost or ending up in places spontaneously because it feels so great to not have an agenda sometimes,” Dixon-Slaughter said. While the senior is busy getting ready for college and balancing out the rest of her responsibilities, she hopes to provide the staff with an exemplary example of the amount of greatness that can rise from commitment.

Niomy Gomez, Photographer

Junior, Niomy Gomez’s love for taking pictures drove her to join The Downey Legend newspaper staff. With the help of her friend, she was soon admitted on staff as a photographer. “That’s what I do best!” Niomy Gomez stated. “I am always ready to take pictures; it’s a hobby.” As for what she hopes to accomplish in newspaper, she wishes to motivate herself to always get the perfect picture.

Photography is only one of Gomez’s many interests; she also enjoys playing volleyball, reading, learning how to play the piano, and watching movies with her sister. Gomez’s sister is her biggest inspiration. “She’s so intelligent,” Gomez stated. “She loves to learn new things all the time and is a very free spirit. I love it!” As the youngest of three siblings, she wants to be the first in her family to graduate from a university. La Sierra University is where she wishes to attend to become an Ultrasound Technician.