Red Sand Project 2026: Join Blackburn Center in Raising Awareness About Human Trafficking

Every September, communities across the country come together to raise awareness about human trafficking and the people whose lives have been affected by exploitation. Here in Westmoreland County, Blackburn Center and the Westmoreland Human Trafficking Task Force are once again bringing that message into our community through the Red Sand Project.

This September, red sand will fill cracks in sidewalks at locations throughout Westmoreland County. The simple but powerful installation is designed to make people stop, look, and think about the people who can fall through the cracks of our systems and communities.

Blackburn Center’s 2026 Red Sand Project events will take place throughout September, giving community members multiple opportunities to participate. Whether you join us at an installation, learn more about human trafficking, share information with others, or simply take a moment to understand what the red sand represents, your involvement can help bring greater visibility to this important issue.

What Is the Red Sand Project?

The Red Sand Project is a participatory art installation created by artist Molly Gochman to raise awareness about human trafficking. Participants pour red sand into cracks in sidewalks, where the bright red grains create a visual representation of people who have fallen through the cracks of society and systems of care.

Blackburn Center has participated in the project for years, supporting our efforts to provide education and awareness to our community, and as part of our work with the Westmoreland Human Trafficking Task Force. The Human Trafficking Task Force had developed through a collaboration of community organizations, healthcare providers, law enforcement, universities, religious organizations, and other community partners. Its mission is to enhance education, identify survivors and victims, and increase awareness in an effort to reduce the number of lives affected by human trafficking.

The Red Sand Project gives that mission a visible presence in the community. A sidewalk crack may seem insignificant. Most people walk past one without giving it a second thought. But when those cracks are filled with red sand, they become difficult to ignore. They invite us to consider the people who may be overlooked, misunderstood, or unable to access the support they need.

Join Us for the 2026 Red Sand Project

Blackburn Center and the Westmoreland County Human Trafficking Task Force will hold Red Sand Project installations at several locations throughout Westmoreland County throughout the month of September.

2026 Red Sand Project dates and locations include:

• September 1 — Delmont Library

• September 2 at 10:30 a.m. — Adams Memorial Library

• September 3 at 9:00 a.m. — Independence Frick Hospital

• September 3 at 4:00 p.m. — Independence Westmoreland Hospital

• September 3 — PA State Representative Jill Cooper's offices in New Kensington and Export.

• September 4 at 10:00 a.m. — St. Clair Park

• September 4 — Country Cuts Hair Salon

• September 4 — Jeannette Library

• September 8 — Monessen Public Library; time to be determined

• September 10 at 9:00 a.m. — Independence Latrobe Hospital

• September 12 at 10:00 a.m. — Westmoreland County Courthouse

• September 12 at 10:00 a.m. — Westmoreland Transit Authority

• September 12 at 10:00 a.m. — Twin Lakes Extension

• September 15 at 11:00 a.m. — Mount Pleasant Public Library

• September 24 at 11:15 a.m. — Rostraver Public Library

These installations provide opportunities for residents in communities throughout the county to participate close to home. Event information and updates are available through Blackburn Center's Human Trafficking page.

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Why Does the Red Sand Matter?

Human trafficking can be difficult to recognize. It does not always look the way people expect. Survivors and victims can be people of any age, gender, or background.

Human trafficking involves the exploitation of people through force, fraud, coercion, or abuse of a position of vulnerability. People may be exploited for labor or commercial sex, and trafficking can occur in a variety of settings and industries.

Trafficking can happen in communities where people live, work, attend school, and socialize. It is not only an issue that happens somewhere else. That is one reason awareness is so important.

People who encounter potential victims, including healthcare workers, educators, law enforcement officers, employers, service providers, and community members, may be in a position to recognize warning signs or connect someone with resources. But recognition begins with understanding that trafficking can happen here.

The Red Sand Project helps start those important conversations.

Human Trafficking Can Affect Anyone

Anyone can experience human trafficking. Survivors and victims come from diverse ages, genders, backgrounds, and nationalities, reminding us that there is no single profile of a trafficking victim or survivor.

A person experiencing trafficking may also be isolated from friends and family, controlled by another person, threatened, deceived, or made dependent on someone else for basic needs. Given that trafficking can involve coercion and manipulation, a person experiencing exploitation may not simply be able to leave.

That is an important misconception to address. Someone who is being trafficked may appear to have choices from the outside while facing significant barriers to leaving. However, fear, threats, financial dependence, immigration concerns, isolation, trauma, or concern for loved ones can all make seeking help difficult. Understanding these realities and individual perspectives can help communities respond with greater compassion and awareness.

Human Trafficking Can Be Hidden in Plain Sight

One of the most important messages behind the Red Sand Project is that individuals affected by trafficking can be overlooked. A person may be working in a restaurant, hotel, nail salon, agricultural setting, construction job, private home, or another environment without those around them realizing that they are being exploited.

Trafficking can also occur through commercial sex and online exploitation. That means awareness cannot be limited to one profession or one part of the community.

Everyone has a role to play. Learning about trafficking can help people understand what they see, recognize situations that may warrant concern, and know where to turn for information or support. The goal is not to encourage people to confront a suspected trafficker or put themselves in danger. Instead, awareness can help people respond appropriately and connect concerns with trained professionals and resources.

How You Can Participate

You do not need to be an expert on human trafficking to participate in the Red Sand Project. One of the easiest ways to get involved is to attend one of the September installations. Seeing the red sand in person can be impactful, and a way to learn about the issue while showing support for efforts aiming to prevent trafficking and support survivors and victims.

You can also:

• Get Informed: Take time to learn about human trafficking, including the different forms it can take and the signs that may indicate someone is being exploited. Blackburn Center provides educational information about trafficking and offers training opportunities for professionals and community organizations.

• Share What You Learn: Talk with friends, family members, coworkers, and community groups about human trafficking. Sharing accurate information can help challenge myths and misconceptions that make trafficking harder to recognize.

• Participate in the Red Sand Installations: Attend an installation at one of the participating locations throughout Westmoreland County. Bring a friend, coworker, family member, or community group and take part in this visible act of awareness.

• Request a Training: Organizations, schools, professional groups, and community partners can contact Blackburn Center about educational programs and training opportunities related to human trafficking.

• Know Where to Turn for Help: If you are concerned that someone may be experiencing human trafficking, it is important to connect with appropriate resources rather than attempting to intervene directly. Blackburn Center's 24-hour hotline is available at 1-888-832-2272. The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-888-373-7888.

Blackburn Center also provides supportive services to survivors and victims of violence and crime throughout Westmoreland County. Services include a 24-hour hotline providing crisis counseling and referrals, counseling and therapy, medical/legal advocacy and accompaniment, community education and awareness programs, and other resources. All client services are provided free of charge and may be confidential. If you or someone you know has been affected by violence or crime and needs support, Blackburn Center's 24-hour hotline is 1-888-832-2272.

Awareness Is the First Step

The Red Sand Project is intentionally simple. It takes only a few grains of red sand to transform an ordinary crack in a sidewalk into a reminder of a much larger problem. However, that reminder can lead to a question, which can lead to a conversation and greater awareness. Finally, greater awareness can help communities become better equipped to recognize exploitation and offer vital support survivors and victims in need.

Human trafficking is a complex issue, with no single event able to solve it. However, community action matters. When people come together to learn, ask questions, share resources, and support survivors, they help create a community where fewer people are overlooked.

This September, we invite you to join Blackburn Center and the Westmoreland County Human Trafficking Task Force for the 2026 Red Sand Project. Look for the red sand. Stop and think about what it represents. Learn something new. Share what you learn. And help us make sure that people experiencing human trafficking are not allowed to fall through the cracks.

Together, we can raise awareness, support survivors, and work toward a community where everyone can live free from exploitation and violence.