The Freedom Coalition brings together experienced community advocates and professionals for a unified approach to addressing human trafficking in Michigan. Our vision is to eradicate human trafficking through collaborative efforts in the areas of prevention, training, demand abatement, survivor support, and community awareness and engagement. The Freedom Coalition plans to meet virtually the 4th Tuesday of every other month for the sharing of new research, best practices, case studies, education, and specialized training. Consider joining our network!
Virtual Zoom Meeting
February 23, 2021
5:30 – 7:30 pm (EST)
MEETING AGENDA
Avalon Healing Center: Transition & Expansion of Programs
Presented by Benita Robinson
Avalon Healing Center (formerly known as Wayne County SAFE) has experienced tremendous growth, including increased staffing and expansion of programming. This presentation will explore a brief history of the organization and how it became Avalon Healing Center, services available to survivors of sexual violence and the larger community, and plans for the future related to opening a healing center and expanded programming. We will also explore the Avalon Institute, a virtual educational platform planned for launch in April 2021.
Human Trafficking Toolkit for Domestic and Sexual Violence Agencies
Presented by Layla Elabed & Merkeb Yohannes
The Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence (MCEDSV), in partnership with the Human Trafficking Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School, is pleased to introduce the Human Trafficking Toolkit for Domestic and Sexual Violence Agencies. The goal of this toolkit is to offer a comprehensive assessment of how agencies and advocates can improve the services provided to survivors of the related and often co-occurring traumas of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. By presenting an overview of human trafficking and its relationship to domestic violence and sexual assault the toolkit offers advocates the ability to better plan for, recognize, and support survivors of human trafficking, whom they are often already serving, although sometimes unknowingly. The toolkit supports intersectionality, survivor-centered, and trauma-informed practices that prioritize the reduction of harm.
Our presenters will lead a brief discussion about the toolkit and how it might be used to assist with advocacy for Human Trafficking survivors. The toolkit is free to those interested, and can be downloaded through the following link:
Human Trafficking Toolkit for Domestic and Sexual Violence Agencies
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Meet our Presenters:
BENITA ROBINSON serves as the Director of Crisis Services and Education for Avalon Healing Center (formerly Wayne County SAFE). In this role, she oversees the First Responder and Human Trafficking programs and specializes in ensuring quality, comprehensive, trauma-informed services to survivors of sexual violence. She is also involved with outreach, education, and training efforts around topics related to sexual violence such as myths and facts, trauma responses, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered care, and working with survivors from marginalized communities. Benita is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn where she majored in Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies. A lifelong Detroiter, she a passionate activist for equal rights and opportunities for underserved populations. Benita is currently pursuing her Masters of Social Work at Wayne State University.
LAYLA ELABED (she, her, hers) is a Program Specialist and Community Organizer with the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. Layla has worked eight years in the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention movement and has dedicated advocacy efforts to specialize in serving Arab American and Muslim survivors. She serves her role as a community engagement specialist by collaboratively working with programs and grassroots agencies across Metro Detroit to provide technical assistance, resources, and training on serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, etc.
MERKEB YOHANNES joined MCEDSV in 2017 and is an Associate Director. She joins MCEDSV after nearly 10 years of working in advocacy and program management at a non-profit organization serving those with disabilities. Prior to that, she lived in Atlanta, Georgia primarily working in social services amongst Immigrant and Refugee families and was an active member of various social justice community groups. Merkeb has vast experience working in developing countries with international non-profit organizations, local governments, and faith-based organizations in areas of woman and girl empowerment, grant management, HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention, media material development for public health issues, and workforce training and development. As a Lansing resident, she continues to volunteer in her community with local agencies that advocate and support survivors as well as with the Refugee community.
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