Cabrini High School
Fights Human Trafficking
with “Sun’s Up, Dress Up” Day
NEW ORLEANS – Cabrini High School helped fight human trafficking on Friday, April 16, 2021 by participating in “Sun’s Up, Dress Up.” In place of the school’s annual Dressember promotion against human trafficking, Cabrini was inspired with the spring weather for “Sun’s Up, Dress Up,” a collaboration among all students leveraging fashion and creativity to promote the dignity of all women and stand in solidarity against the modern injustice of human trafficking.
Founded by Mother Cabrini, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus support two corporate stances, “To support the rights and dignity of all immigrants” and “To stop human trafficking.” This is the driving force behind Cabrini High School’s efforts to fight human trafficking. In keeping with Mother Cabrini’s own service to immigrants and migrants, today’s Missionary Sisters have prioritized work against human trafficking in their mission, in part, because studies show that migrants and immigrants are one of the more significant demographics to be victims of human trafficking.
“Sun’s Up, Dress Up” is a day to dress and advocate by keeping four important points in mind: dignity, fashion, modesty, and femininity. Students could pay two dollars to dress up with dignity, modesty, femininity, and their own fashion. These words guide the Cabrini dress guidelines for every occasion.
Throughout the school, Cabrini raised $307.72 for “Sun’s Up, Dress Up.” All money collected will be donated to the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart’s anti-human trafficking initiatives.
According to Campus Minister, John Smestad, “In keeping with this mission a priority of the Cabrini family, Cabrini High School takes a week each year to educate, pray, and take a stand against the crime and sin of human trafficking. One of the concrete efforts is to raise funds for the anti-human trafficking initiatives of the Sisters. ‘Sun’s Up, Dress Up’ provides an opportunity for students to dress up, make a donation and make a difference.”
Prior to “Sun’s Up, Dress Up,” Cabrini High School has been participating in anti-human trafficking efforts through Dressember since 2014. Dressember is a national collaborative movement leveraging fashion and creativity to restore dignity to all women. Before Dressember, students were educated on facts about human trafficking and slavery, and prayed as a community to end this horrible crime against humanity.
Cabrini High School continues to pray for victims of human trafficking.