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Hooper: Super Bowl's connection to human trafficking heightens awareness in Tampa

The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host the human trafficking summit at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 18 in the Centre Club, 123 S Westshore Blvd.
 
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will be one of the speakers at the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Human Trafficking Summit.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will be one of the speakers at the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Human Trafficking Summit.
Published Feb. 11, 2019

Sometimes sports intersects with life and illuminates an issue in unprecedented ways.

Human sex trafficking remains a problem across the nation and here in Tampa Bay, a place that ranks as one of the country's troubled areas for the problem.

With Tampa set to host the Super Bowl in 2021, officials have started to focus on how the game exacerbates trafficking. Law enforcement arrested nearly 170 people in connection to human sex trafficking at the Atlanta Super Bowl earlier this month.

The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host a human trafficking summit at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 18 in the Centre Club, 123 S Westshore Blvd.

The event will include Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.

When we host the big game, it's as important to make it safe as it is to make it super. …

Seen on a bumper sticker: To Write Love On Her Arms. …

To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.

Now I know. Thanks to a bumper sticker. Hey, they work. …

The official diet starts today, 12 hours after attending the Florida State Fair. Yeah, I was bad, but it was good.

Confession. When first asked to be the guest speaker for the Feb. 18 prayer breakfast at Clearwater's Bethel Lutheran Church, I might have thought more about food than faith, more about bacon than the Bible.

As the day nears, it's becoming apparent I better focus more on serving up inspiration than serving myself. Yes, prayer is needed.

Join us at 7 a.m. on Feb. 18 at Bethel Lutheran, 3166 McMullen Booth Road.

That's all I'm saying.