In Our Own Backyard: Children for Sale In Metro Detroit, Across America, And Around the World
Grants for this event provided by: Michigan Women’s Funding Network and Woman’s Life, Chapter 826– Detroit
Town Hall Meeting on
Sex Trafficking of Women and Children
Sponsored by:
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 1:00pm—3:00pm Wayne State University McGregor Memorial Conference Center 495 West ferry, Detroit, MI 48202
Administration of Barack H. Obama, 2010 Proclamation 8471—National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2010 January 4, 2010 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation
The United States was founded on the principle that all people are born with an unalienable right to freedom—an ideal that has driven the engine of American progress throughout our history. As a Nation, we have known moments of great darkness and greater light; and dim years of chattel slavery illuminated and brought to an end by President Lincoln's actions and a painful Civil War. Yet even today, the darkness and inhumanity of enslavement exists. Millions of people worldwide are held in compelled service, as well as thousands within the United States. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we acknowledge that forms of slavery still exist in the modern era, and we recommit ourselves to stopping the human traffickers who ply this horrific trade. As we continue our fight to deliver on the promise of freedom, we commemorate the Emancipation Proclamation, which became effective on January 1, 1863, and the 13th Amendment, which was sent to the States for ratification on February 1, 1865. Throughout the month of January, we highlight the many fronts in the ongoing battle for civil rights—including the efforts of our Federal agencies; State, local, and tribal law enforcement partners; international partners; nonprofit social service providers; private industry and nongovernmental organizations around the world who are working to end human trafficking. The victims of modern slavery have many faces. They are men and women, adults and children. Yet, all are denied basic human dignity and freedom. Victims can be abused in their own countries, or find themselves far from home and vulnerable. Whether they are trapped in forced sexual or labor exploitation, human trafficking victims cannot walk away, but are held in service through force, threats, and fear. All too often suffering from horrible physical and sexual abuse, it is hard for them to imagine that there might be a place of refuge. We must join together as a Nation and global community to provide that safe haven by protecting victims and prosecuting traffickers. With improved victim identification, medical and social services, training for first responders, and increased public awareness, the men, women, and children who have suffered this scourge can overcome the bonds of modern slavery, receive protection and justice, and successfully reclaim their rightful independence. Fighting modern slavery and human trafficking is a shared responsibility. This month, I urge all Americans to educate themselves about all forms of modern slavery and the signs and consequences of human trafficking. Together, we can and must end this most serious, ongoing criminal civil rights violation. Now, Therefore, I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2010 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, culminating in the annual celebration of National Freedom Day on February 1. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery, and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtyfourth. BARACK OBAMA [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:15 a.m., January 7, 2010] NOTE: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on January 8. DCPD Number: DCPD201000004.
Resources List of Agencies Local and National
Leaders in Our Own Backyard Global Projects purpose is to empower and assist under-served and impoverished people who experience economical, mental health and social challenges. We desire to help individuals become self-sufficient, anchored, stabilized, believers in Christ and well-rounded members of society. Learn more at www.globalprojects.org
Michigan Women’s Foundation (MWF) has dedicated more than 20 years to championing the causes of social justice for women and girls through public and grantee education, philanthropy and advocacy. More information can be found at www.miwf.org.
Mayor Dave Bing
City Council
Chief of Police Ralph Godbee, Jr.
Leaders in Our Town Hall Meeting Carolyn Cassin President and CEO Michigan Women’s Foundation
As a global network and a movement for social justice, Women's Funding Network accelerates women's leadership and invests in solving critical social problems -- from poverty to global security -- by bringing together the financial power, influence and voices of more than 160 women's funds. Learn more at www.womensfundingnetwork.org.
The primary goal of the Michigan Rescue & Restore Coalition is to raise public awareness of the issue of human trafficking by implementing any or all of the following action steps: distribution of literature, training, public service and building bridges between existing steering committees, task forces, initiatives and organizations combating human trafficking.
Pamela J. Hudson Executive Director Global Projects for Hope, Help and Healing Katie LaRoche Miss Michigan One World, One Future
Guest Panelist Jullia Allan—Survivor of Trafficking—She is a survivor of domestic sex
trafficking in the Dallas and Detroit area. She is in college and is part of a sex trafficking ministry at a church in Clarkston, MI. She is hoping to make a difference with her personal story in order to give people on the outside of this underground world an insight into it. She also wants to provide an understanding of the destructive nature of this beast on the individual..
Dr. Sabrina D. Black—Global Projects—She is the clinical director of
Abundant Life Counseling Center and the Healing Place at Evangel Ministries. She is a published author, counselor, mentor and professor at several colleges, universities and seminaries. She is president of the National Biblical Counselors Association and the founder of Global Projects a non-profit Missions Counseling Agency serving on 5 of 7 continents. She launched Passport to a New Life internationally in 2005 to help victims of Human Trafficking and the MIRRC in 2011.
Dr. Nicole McGee—Federal Bureau of Investigation—She has worked
as a clinical psychologist at the Clinic for Child Study, 3rd Circuit Court - Juvenile Division, doing psychological evaluations, treatment .and running sex offender groups for juveniles aged 10 to 18 years old. In 2005, she began working as a Victim Specialist for the FBI-Detroit responsible for attending to the needs of victims of federal crimes including working with the Southeast Michigan Crimes Against Children Task Force (SEMCAC).
Deena Policicchio—Alternatives for Girls (AFG) - She has
worked at AFG for over ten years and is the Outreach & Education Director. She presents on sexually exploited young and adult women and effective risk reduction and outreach strategies and recently at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria in 2010. She is certified on HIV / STD prevention, assessment and outreach. She serves as a member of taskforces, coalitions, and committees to combat sexual exploitation.
Program Overview Welcome from MWF President and CEO Carolyn Cassin Introduction of Global Projects Dr. Sabrina D. Black, Founder Announcement of Rescue and Restore Coalition Your Daughter for Sale – Vaquita Taylor Moderator—Miss Michigan Katie LaRoche Panel:
Julia Allan—Survivor Dr. Sabrina D. Black—Global Projects Dr. Nicole McGee—Federal Bureau of Investigation Deena Policicchio—Alternative for Girls Special Agent Todd Reineck— Federal Bureau of Investigation Patrice Suggs—Vista Maria Meredith Weill—University of Michigan Law School Human Trafficking Clinic
Patrice Suggs—Vista Maria—She is the Foster Care Recruiter for Vista
Maria. Vista Maria is a non-profit organization offering specialized treatment programs, community programs and foster care. Since 1883, Vista Maria has been working towards the betterment of at-risk children and their families. Vista Maria is a leader in specialized and general foster care for ages, newborn to 17.
Meredith Weill—Human Trafficking Clinic at Uof M—She is an attor-
ney and Clinical Fellow at the Human Trafficking Clinic (HTC) at the University of Michigan Law School. The HTC is the first clinical law program solely dedicated to the issue of human trafficking. At the Clinic, Meredith has been working on state-level legislative reform and an international anti-trafficking project, along with providing direct legal services to trafficking victims.
Questions & Answers Call to Action