Meet Nate and Laura Davis - two Oakland residents who are putting their regular lives on hold for a year to do something about the global problem of human trafficking and shed light on this underreported issue. 

Earlier this month Oakland Local ran an investigative series on youth trafficking. Included in this series was a resource guide to local and national organizations fighting this growing problem. Thursday, representatives from those and other organizations held "Taste for Freedom," a fundraising event at Mills College that was hosted by Nate and Laura Davis.  

Nate and Laura live on a quiet street in the Laurel neighborhood. A year before getting married they decided to volunteer one year out of every seven to help others, though neither works in the public or non-profit sector full time. 2010 marks that seventh year and, having quit their jobs, the two will soon relocate to the Phillippines to work with organizations that fight human trafficking in Manila. 

Laura turned her attention to this issue after she saw Call + Response, a "rockumentary" about modern slavery in which musicians use their skills to bring attention to these issues. Laura decided to use her skills as a writer to finish her second novel, which will look at the sex trade and slavery from the perspectives of the many people who perpetuate the problem around the world. She recently received a Fulbright fellowship to finish this new book. 

"There are many amazing non-fiction books written about the topic, but sadly I feel that a lot of times they don't reach a wide audience," she said recently. "Art and fiction have a way of moving us, and I hope that this novel can accomplish that."

In the Philippines, Laura and Nate will work with Samaritana, a Manila-based rehabilitation center for girls who have escaped or have been rescued from sex slavery, and with International Justice Mission, a global organization that helps communities organize and fight the problem in their cities. 

Taste for Freedom included a sampling of wines from local wineries and an East Bay favorite, Cheeseboard Pizza. There was a silent auction for items and services donated by some of Bay Area's top restaurants and businesses. International Justice Mission, and nine other local and international organizations, were on hand to speak about their work. 

Further questions? Write to Nate and Laura Davis at freeisaverb@gmail.com.