Adrian College Hosts First Ever Abolitionist Academy posted 4/6/09
Supported by the Not For Sale Campaign

ADRIAN, Mich. – The “Not for Sale” organization will hold its first ever international "Abolitionist Academy" at Adrian College on Friday April 17, thru Sunday, April, 19 2009. Registration will begin at 4:30 P.M on Friday and the event will end at approximately 2 P.M. on Sunday.

Members of the Abolitionist Academy invite the public to join them in the fight against human trafficking and slavery at the historic abolitionist Adrian College. This three-day event will provide education, training and networking opportunities needed to successfully lead the anti-human trafficking movement in all areas.

“I am grateful for all who are supporting this venture,” said Adrian College Chaplain and Michigan Director of the Not For Sale campaign, Chris Momany. “The Not for Sale organization is excited about Adrian College's identity as an historic ‘abolitionist’ college, and people will come from California, Georgia, Washington, D.C. and several other places to attend the academy.”

This event is meant to introduce the newest developments in the movement to fight human trafficking nationwide, as well as keep up on current Not For Sale Campaign projects. Attendees will receive hands-on training from Not For Sale Campaign staff and guests to gain the skills and tools needed to lead. In addition, attendees will meet face-to-face with Not For Sale Campaign staff, state and regional directors and leaders from across the nation to help collaborate with other abolitionist leaders in the community.

The Not For Sale Campaign’s Backyard Abolitionist Tour is a multimedia event that brings together lecture, film, and music to expose the human trafficking epidemic. Not For Sale founder, Dave Batstone and award-winning singer/songwriter, Brant Christopher Menswar perform together weaving songs into stories while being supported by riveting video; all in an effort to emotionally connect the audience with the global slave trade. It is a gripping event of heart breaking truth, inspirational victories and a call to action.

Dave Batstone is a professor of ethics at the University of San Francisco who started his “career” guarding Salvadorans and literacy teachers from death squads, Batstone was a member of the founding team of Business 2.0 magazine and is the founder of the social venture firm, Right Reality. He writes regularly in USA Weekend edition as “America’s Ethics Guru.” He traveled around the world investigating the slave trade before writing Not For Sale, the first book associated with this campaign. Winner of numerous national journalist awards, Batstone’s first book “Saving the Corporate Soul” was named the 2004 Business Book of the Year at the Nautilus Awards.

Award winning singer/songwriter/social activist Brant Christopher Menswar may be best known for fronting the popular Koch Records trio Fort Pastor. Serving as the voice and main songwriter for the group, their last album “Beautiful Imperfection” received rave reviews from Billboard, Christianity Today, Sirius Satellite Radio, and others calling Brant’s voice “Gritty and Magnificent!”

Admission is free to the Backyard Abolitionist Tour and the public is welcome to attend. The cost for the Abolitionist Academy weekend is $45. To register please contact Laura Aguirre with the Not For Sale organization, via e-mail at laura@notforsalecampaign.org .

Friday’s events will be held on the main floor of the Caine Student Center, located at 1325 Williams St. Saturday workshops are in Valade Hall, located on the corner of Madison and Williams streets. The Saturday night ‘Backyard Abolitionist Tour’ program is in Dawson Auditorium. This is a music/ education event that may be most accessible for folks who want to come for a limited part of the Academy. Dawson Auditorium is located off of Charles St. next to the college chapel. Sunday Morning Worship will be held in Downs Hall, off of S. Madison St.

For more information contact Adrian College Chaplain, Chris Momany, at 517-265-5161 ext.4211 or via e-mail at cmomany@adrian.edu.