The Red Sand Project Burbank is a local initiative inspired by the national Red Sand Project, organized by the Zonta Club of Burbank Area, Burbank Noon Rotary Club, and Burbank Kiwanis Club, with location support from UMe Credit Union. This program is supported in part by a Community Events and Program Grant from the City of Burbank.

Molly Gochman first launched Red Sand Project in 2014, after realizing the depths to which human trafficking and modern slavery continues to be a contemporary reality. Globally, an estimated 50 million individuals are being trafficked or living in modern slavery, whether in forced marriages, forced labor, or for sexual exploitation. Molly recognized that to begin finding a solution to such a widespread challenge, increased public awareness and engagement would be essential. She initiated the first Red Sand Project action in Miami, where she filled the cracks of sidewalks in and around the Art Basel Miami Beach pavilion with red sand. The approach was symbolic, with the grains of sand representing those individuals who fall through the cracks—whether the cracks of our social, economic, and political systems or those of our personal consciousness.

To expand the reach of the project, Molly launched a website offering Red Sand Project toolkits, which include packets of red sand and information about human trafficking and modern slavery in the U.S. and across the world, giving participants a way to physically engage with the cause and to build discussions around the action. Today, Red Sand Project actions have been done in all 50 states and in 70 countries, with more than one million participants.

Burbank is taking bold steps in the fight against human trafficking.

In January 2024, the Burbank City Council passed a groundbreaking ordinance that strengthens local efforts to protect vulnerable individuals and support survivors. This new law requires a broader range of businesses to display critical information for victims of forced labor and sexual exploitation—and to undergo training to recognize and respond to trafficking.

Burbank’s community organizations—including the Zonta Club of Burbank Area, Burbank Noon Rotary, and Burbank Noon Kiwanis—have been working together to combat human trafficking through hands-on initiatives. One example is the SOAP Project, where in January 2025, 30 volunteers labeled and distributed 7,000 bars of soap and makeup wipes to 20 local hotels and four urgent care facilities. Each bar carried a message of hope and a hotline number for victims. This effort reflects the community’s deep commitment to awareness, prevention, and action—and their eagerness to do even more.

By hosting the Red Sand Project here, we’re shining a light on Burbank’s leadership and encouraging our community to question, connect, and take action.