Social entrepreneur, Episcopal priest and a CNN Hero of the Year for 2016, Becca Stevens will speak at Siena about human trafficking, rehabilitation and Thistle Farms, the Nashville-based business she founded to give a home and work to survivors of trafficking, abuse and addiction.
Her talk is set for Thursday, February 8 at 7:00 pm in SSU 241-243. It is the annual "Ours to Do: Women Leading the Way” lecture sponsored by the Sr. Thea Bowman Center for Women.
Thistle Farms welcomes women with housing, medical care, therapy and education for up to two years. Residents and graduates earn income through one of four social enterprises. The Global Market of Thistle Farms helps employ more than 1,800 women worldwide, and the national network has more than 40 sister communities.
There will be a sale after her talk of Thistle Farms body care products and books. A woman who is currently working at Thistle Farms will attend the talk with Stevens.
While on campus, Stevens will visit with business students at the Stack Center to discuss social entrepreneurship.
She has been featured in the New York Times, on ABC World News and NPR, and was featured in the PBS documentary “A Path Appears.” She was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Small Business Council of America in 2014.
The Center for Women and the Anti-Violence Task Force will also host “1 Billion Rising: Solidarity Against the Exploitation of Women” on Wednesday, February 14 from 12:30PM – 2:30PM in SSU 240.
This event, which is being repeated at locations all over the world that day, will feature speakers, information tables, an “I Rise” dance, and refreshments.
