To Ambassador Lagon, With Appreciation

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
– John F. Kennedy

A year ago this month, Ambassador Lagon and I were steeped in conversations about how Polaris Project could strengthen awareness on modern-day slavery by increasing reports from the frontlines of the anti-trafficking field.  Too often, those working directly in the trenches lack the time to come up for air to share their experiences and thoughts about how this problem is affecting our communities.

Mark and I decided to co-create the North Star blog as a more concerted effort to highlight some of the current and important issues confronting the field.  As Polaris Project nears the one-year anniversary of its blog, I appreciate Mark for his leadership in carrying forward this vision in our launching year.

The North Star has been one of the most frequently visited sections of our website, providing readers with a diverse coverage of topics about modern-day slavery.   Ambassador Lagon was the primary contributor to the blog over the year, highlighting important films, recommending steps towards greater corporate social accountability, and describing situations of trafficking ranging from forced begging to domestic servitude to demand reduction.

He reported on his travels, in Japan and elsewhere,  and illustrated the importance of collaboration and partnership with government, private, and non-government agencies in the anti-trafficking field.  Mark also expressed Polaris Project’s celebration of achievements within the movement, as well as our mourning of the lives lost within the small anti-trafficking community of colleagues and friends.

I have appreciated Mark’s service within Polaris Project over the year and will miss his voice through the North Star blog postings as he pursues his next plans for continued public service.  I look forward to joining others at Polaris Project in building on the North Star’s foundation that Ambassador Lagon is leaving us with and carrying on the values that I most appreciate him for.