An Empty Seat and a Single Rose: 2026 Communities Against Trafficking Walkathon

By Eugene Tossany | Pietas Coalition Corporation

Every child deserves the opportunity to blossom. Yet exploitation, abuse, and preventable harm continue to threaten the innocence and well-being of children across our communities. Protecting them requires more than awareness. We need vigilance, collective responsibility, and the courage to confront uncomfortable realities.

On November 14, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m., Pietas Coalition Corporation will host its second annual Communities Against Trafficking Walkathon at Dillon Park in Sumter, South Carolina. This gathering will unite survivors, families, advocates, and concerned citizens in a shared commitment to child protection. Prevention cannot rest exclusively with law enforcement or government agencies. Community members must understand how exploitation develops, recognize potential warning signs, and know when and where to report concerns.

Preliminary findings from Pietas Coalition's independent, voluntary micro-survey offer insight into community perceptions surrounding child protection. Among respondents, 43% identified situational awareness as the most important prevention topic, while 91% selected prekindergarten as the most appropriate age group for introducing prevention education themes. Additionally, 45% expressed the belief that every public recreation area is potentially unsafe. Conducted independently of city and county government interests, this informal survey involved voluntary, uncompensated participation. Although the small sample is not representative of the broader population, these findings highlight perspectives worth exploring through continued community engagement. Complete results will be published on Pietas Coalition's social media platforms in October.

This year's walkathon will feature a particularly poignant dedication to a young girl whose story appears in U.S. Department of Justice Epstein documents release (Data Set 10, EFTA01860044). An empty seat, an enlarged image of an email, and a single rose will serve as a solemn reminder of children whose experiences may become public record while their individual voices risk being overshadowed. The empty seat emphasizes the importance of remembering the child at the center of every case, while the rose embodies our 2026 theme, "Every Child Deserves to Blossom."

That message will extend beyond the walking path through a nationwide artistic assembly featuring contributions from the West Coast to the East Coast. Our survivor pop-up art exhibition will showcase survivor art, advocacy art, community art, and Pietas Coalition's traveling art canvas. Together, these artistic expressions will communicate a unified stand against exploitation while celebrating resilience, dignity, and hope.

Pietas Coalition invites community members of all artistic abilities to contribute flower-inspired artwork to this meaningful exhibition. Individuals interested in participating can email info@pietascoalition.org to sign up for an upcoming art workshop in October/November. Each flower will symbolize a child's potential and the fundamental importance of nurturing and protecting their future. Through this collective artistic effort, individual expressions can blossom into a powerful message of community solidarity.

The walkathon represents more than an annual event; it is an invitation to participate in lasting community change. We encourage residents to walk with us, follow our initiatives, share our stories, and volunteer their time to help expand prevention education and strengthen community protection networks. On November 14, one empty seat will remind us why we gathered, while the surrounding community will demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to blossom.

For event information, volunteer opportunities, and announcements about participating partners and sponsors, visit pietascoalition.org and follow @pietascoalition on social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube).

Editorial note: Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number. The denominators are retained because the number of respondents varied across survey questions. The findings describe respondents' perceptions rather than establishing the actual safety of

public recreation areas.

EVENT UPDATES WILL APPEAR HERE:

'Every Child Deserves to Blossom' Art Workshops

Description: Pietas Coalition is hosting a series of art workshops throughout Sumter in October/November to support the 2026 'Communities Against Trafficking' walkathon. This year's theme is 'Every Child Deserves to Blossom.' Our art program manager, Kristin, will coordinate FLOWER ART from survivors, advocacy centers, and community groups from around the United States. These flower art pieces will be featured as a pop-up art show at the walkathon. Free and open to the public! Please join us at one of these dates/locations.

October 2, 2026, at Sumter YMCA (5:00pm - 6:00pm) TBC

October 21, 2026, at South Sumter Resource Center (5:00pm - 6:30pm)

November 12, 2026, at Sumter Micro School (6:00pm - 7:30pm)