About the Project

"2000 Souls" is a temporary public artwork display running March 11 through May 2016 at Eppley Airfield (second floor) in Omaha, Nebraska. The display is designed to raise awareness about the issue of sex trafficking in the Nebraska region. This artwork represents the lives of the 2,000 women, men, girls and boys who are forced into prostitution in Nebraska. My goal in creating 2,000 ceramic birds and hanging them in the airport is to help people visually quantify the enormity of the issue.

Many people are unaware that this problem takes place in their very own city and state on a regular basis. Many who have knowledge of the situation choose to turn a blind eye to the matter.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more!

Here are the facts:

• There are at least 2,000 people in Nebraska who are forced to work as prostitutes. This does not include those trafficked through Nebraska or those transported in for big events – University of Nebraska Lincoln (Source link)
• Eighty percent of these victims are women and children
• There are an estimated 30 pimps in Omaha, each controlling 2-3 girls – FBI/KETV News (Source link)
• The national average age of those forced or coerced into the commercial sex industry is 12‑14
• One out of every three runaways will end in prostitution – National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (Source link)

"Law enforcement agencies also agreed that the existence of Interstate 80 coupled with the internet sex advertising makes Nebraska vulnerable to trafficking. With ease of travel and internet sex advertising available 24 hours a day trafficking does occur on a regular basis in Nebraska." – Nebraska Governor's Human Trafficking Task Force

For more information visit the 2015 Trafficking In Persons Report.

You can become part of the solution to end modern day slavery!

By purchasing one of the birds for $25 (click to visit), your donation will go to the Rejuvenating Women; a faith-based, non-profits, that aids victims in Nebraska who are caught in sex trafficking.

And don't forget to tell your friends and family about the "2000 Souls" Project.

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About the artist:

Elisa Wolcott is currently a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts with an Art History and Business minor.