To date, most people are aware of the existence of human trafficking in the world. They understand what it is and how it happens. More and more, Americans are realizing that it is not just a global issue, but a national one as well. And on top of that, people are starting to realize that it is also a state issue, a city issue, or even a neighborhood issue.

The Illinois Rescue & Restore Campaign (a state group that seeks to raise awareness about human trafficking in Illinois, to pull victims out of their slavery and to restore them in whatever way they can) started the Illinois Rescue & Restore Outreach Day. On Saturday, April 26, 2008 groups of volunteers will canvass a community and raise awareness by passing out posters to churches, hospitals, coffee shops, and businesses with the human trafficking hotline number on it (1-888-373-7888).

As of now, the Campaign is still looking for volunteers to help out. Don't want to do it alone? Organize a group from your corps, school, or work. Tell your Corps Officer or Youth Leader about it to see if they can help you organize something.

If you, or your corps, are interested in being a part of this, please visit the Outreach Day's website for more information on how to sign up.

On January 21st we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Martin Luther King Jr. was a great American hero who spoke out against injustice and fought so that people, all people, could express their opinion and so that all people’s voices could be heard; regardless of race, color, age or gender. What Martin Luther King Jr. did for this country is unparalleled and should be remembered always. Because of his efforts, we can all express ourselves equally and our voices can be heard.

Unfortunately this isn’t the case all over the world, right now Kenya is facing a grave humanitarian crisis, and something the country hasn’t had to deal with in years. It all began due to their latest elections being allegedly rigged and having one of the candidates’ votes “evaporate over night”. The two presidential candidates are from opposing tribes; the Kikuyu and the Luo. This has then sparked tribal conflicts that have caused over 1,000 deaths and over 304,000 people to lose their homes and therefore become internally displaced.

So, we challenge you to the following:

• pray for the peace negotiations taking place in Kenya
• pray for peace in the area and for an agreement that is fair and equal in opportunity to be achieved.
• visit different world news websites to further inform yourselves of the crisis going on in Kenya. (www.cnn.com , www.bbc.com , www.javno.com, www.allafrica.com )
• pray for the Salvation Army in Kenya to maintain unity in spite of tribal conflict and to be reassured that we are all one in Christ
• pray for the Salvation Army’s on going efforts to provide relief in this humanitarian crisis.
• exercise your right to vote in the coming elections and make sure you inform yourselves of who stands for what.
• be thankful that we have a system in which the people DO decide and that people votes and opinions are valid and listened to.