Working with the IRC has given me a new perspective in the ways community members show solidarity to one another. Many of us express solidarity to others as individuals, but there’s an interesting component to it when NGOs or big parts of a community partake in them. This week, I attended a conference centered on substance abuse and its impact on families and the community. The event was very informative and covered topics such as the negative effects of marijuana use during pregnancy, unregulated drugstore medications, abuse of “legal” drugs, and the dangerous exposure of children to drugs. A number of different local organizations focused on combating these issues were present, showing their solidarity by providing information, resources, and support to those who need it.
Through this opportunity, I was able to learn about current drug concerns in our local community and the actions people can take to help those in vulnerable situations. I met lots of new people who work in similar fields and also took a chance to spread the word about the IRC’s anti-trafficking efforts in Tallahassee.
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