2020 Round Table Event
On January 28, 2020 over 125 people, representing dozens of organizations and agencies, gathered for MAP’s annual Round Table event. This annual event is for experienced advocates and professionals who are active in addressing human trafficking in Michigan through prevention, education and/or the provision of services to survivors and at-risk populations. The objective of this forum is to increase collaboration and effectiveness of the anti-trafficking community by identifying barriers, building relationships, and strengthening partnerships.
This year our co-sponsor and Key Note presenter was The Joseph Project. Jennifer Grieco (immediate past President of the State Bar of Michigan) and Nate Knapper (Founder and CEO, The Joseph Project) provided a great overview of this new organization and their services. Trafficking survivors often face legal obstacles that arise from the circumstances of their exploitation. Yet, they often do not have the knowledge or the financial means to secure skilled legal representation. Known as the “justice gap,” this inability to secure legal assistance often impedes survivors from moving toward a brighter future. The Joseph Project provides survivors of trafficking access to a group of legal “first responders” who offer legal assistance and a commitment to service survivors’ legal needs on a pro bono basis.
The Joseph Project is a 501c3 recognized Non Profit organization. LEARN MORE…
Angela Aufdemberge (President and CEO of Vista Maria) presented a summary of her 2019 Eugene Miller Fellowship project in which she interviewed experts and stakeholders in our state and around the country. Some of her suggestions for Michigan’s way forward are:
- Create new awareness and prevention campaigns in Michigan
- Establish demand reduction strategy
- Expand the definition of those protected by safe harbor and ensure state funded treatment is available
- Meet with survivors, advocates, and leaders from Michigan’s AG, DHHS and legislature
Angela emphasized the need for us to continue to expand our training, moving beyond human trafficking 101 and specifically addressing parents and teens on the dangers within social media/Apps, of online pornography, of the subtle acts of traffickers, and the need to change the mindset of sexual exploitation. She also explained the harms of legalization and the need for statewide demand reduction efforts. She encouraged stakeholders to establish a legislative framework that provides safe harbor for former or current survivors of sex trafficking (creating alternatives to incarceration), establish state contracted funding for specialized services, treatments and skills training for survivors, and the need for service provider standards and credentialing.
Vista Maria is excited to break ground this spring on a new human trafficking stabilization center to improve and expand services for young female victims. READ MORE…
Kelly Carter (Assistant Attorney General) closed the evening out with a very information update on the the latest news from our state government and an overview of the newest legislation package that the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission is working to move forward. READ A SUMMARY. Kelly answered some questions from the audience and the event ended with time to network and meet personally with our speakers.
Participants Feedback…
A survey collected from participants indicated that most all attendees were very satisfied with the event and indicated they grew professionally, exchanged ideas with others, and increased their networks. Most all attendees indicated they learned more than they expected and overwhelmingly would recommend the Round Table event to other advocates to attend in the future.
The top suggestions received were to provide more time, and perhaps structure, for networking. Suggestions such as assigned seating and time for individual introductions also indicate a desire to improve opportunities to meet others and network more effectively.
The main take-aways for those who responded were the opportunity to connect with others, the printed resources list that was provided, and the informative content that our speakers provided during their presentations.
MAP staff and our co-sponsors review feedback in order to improve our efforts to provide collaboration and networking opportunities that help stakeholders and advocates in our state to grow the anti-human trafficking movement in Michigan. Thank you to all sponsors, speakers, and attendees that join us in this important work!
