Michigan Anti Trafficking Project (MAP)

Freedom Coalition - "Policy Engagement 101: Crash Course for Non-Profits"
2022-12-06 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting, MI, United States
Virtual Freedom Coalition Meeting:
Our November 29th meeting has been rescheduled to
Tuesday, December 6th, at 5:30 pm (EST)
“Policy Engagement 101: Crash Course for Non-Profits”
Presented by: Alisa Bernard
Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for Thistle Farms
Are you a non-profit organization considering or currently involved in grassroots advocacy efforts but often unsure of where to start or how to effectively strategize? Have you ever felt like your organization lacks the capacity or professional skillset to truly make a difference? If so, we invite you to join us for this special “crash course for non-profits” with Alisa Bernard, the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for Thistle Farms.
During this featured presentation, Alisa will share the basics of political advocacy and grassroots lobbying including key terms, important tips and red tape for non-profits, how to engage survivors, and much more. In addition, we will share important updates on human trafficking legislation and other advocacy efforts throughout Michigan and will provide strategic messaging tools and resources for those interested in joining and enhancing our collective approach to anti-human trafficking policy engagement in Michigan.

Meet Alisa Bernard…
Alisa serves as the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for Thistle Farms where she works to address harmful practices and policies that promote the sexual abuse and exploitation of women. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of Education and Partnerships for the Organization for Prostitution Survivors, was appointed to the Washington State Attorney General’s CSEC Coordinating Committee, was a founding member of King County’s Ending Exploitation Collaborative, and has consulted to such organizations as Amber Alert, Demand Abolition, World Without Exploitation, NCMEC and NCOSE. Her writing has been featured in the Seattle Times, Crosscut, and Dignity Journal.

The purpose of MAP’s Freedom Coalition is to bring together experienced community advocates and professionals for a unified and comprehensive approach to addressing human trafficking in Michigan. Our vision is to eradicate human trafficking through collaborative efforts in the areas of demand abatement, survivor support, school outreach, and community awareness and engagement.
We plan to meet virtually the 4th Tuesday of every other month for the sharing of statewide updates, best practices, new research and resources, specialized training, and more. Attendees are also provided time to network and share updates with one another.

Join our network! Sign-up for the Freedom Coalition email list to have announcements and meeting invites sent straight to your inbox.

Holland Community Group - POSTPONED
2022-12-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Zeeland Biggby, 501 W Main Ave., Zeeland, MI, 49464, United States
Holland Community Group
If you live or work in Allegan, Ottawa, Muskegon, or Kent County, then consider joining our Holland Community Group! We are compassionate and motivated citizens who volunteer together to address human trafficking in our community. There is no previous experience or knowledge of human trafficking required to participate. We meet on a monthly basis for ongoing training and outreach/event planning – we would love to have you join us!
Monthly Meeting:
Monday, December 19th, at 7:00 pm
Meetings will be postponed until January 2023
Location: Biggby Coffee
501 W Main Ave, Zeeland, MI 49464

If you would like to stay connected with MAP’s Holland Community Group, consider joining their Facebook Group or sign-up for their email list (“Community Group: Holland”) to have invites to any future meetings and events sent straight to your inbox. For further questions, please contact the Holland CG Leader directly at holland@map-mi.org

MAP Community Groups consist of compassionate and motivated citizens who volunteer together to address human trafficking in their community. Community Groups meet regularly for ongoing training, conducting awareness activities, and engaging in service projects within the local community. Through Community Groups we seek to build a collaborative network that helps people use their gifts, talents, and resources to more effectively address human trafficking and its root causes.

*2023 ANNUAL STATEWIDE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SUMMIT* [Hybrid]
2023-01-26 08:30 - 14:00 | MSU Management Education Center, 811 West Square Lake Road, Troy, MI, 48098, United States
2023 ANNUAL STATEWIDE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING SUMMIT
Best Practices for Michigan
Thurs, January 26th, 2023
8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
[Hybrid] Attend Virtually or In-Person
MSU Management Education Center
811 W. Square Lake Rd., Troy, MI 48085
The Annual Summit brings together advocates from across the state of Michigan who are active in addressing human trafficking through prevention, education, law enforcement, and/or the provision of services to survivors and at-risk populations. The objective of this forum is to increase collaboration and effectiveness across Michigan communities by identifying barriers, building relationships, and strengthening partnerships.

Powered by Vista Maria & the Michigan Abolitionist Project (MAP)
Co-sponsored by the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission
This course is approved by the NASW-Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative for 3 CEUs.
Registration required – Discounts available for survivors, law enforcement, and students!

Click Here to Download the Event Flyer

AGENDA
Thursday, January 26th, 2023
8:30 -2:00 PM (EST)

Session One: Panel Discussion
Guiding Principles for Those Serving Trafficked Persons in Michigan
Kelly Carter Michigan Human Trafficking Commission
Jeynce Poindexter Ruth Ellis Center
Lt. Wendy K Reyes Oakland County Sheriff’s Department
Rev. Karen Gray-Sheffield Ascension Michigan
Meredith Reese Vista Maria
Karen Moore Sanctum House
Do we really want to help, and do no harm? If we aren’t carefully assessing the reasons why we provide services the way we do, and the ways we interact with survivors, it can be easy to mimic the behavior of traffickers, even unintentionally. We need to ensure survivors are in the “driver’s seat” by making their own choices, and feeling supported in those choices.
The Michigan Human Trafficking Commission has worked to develop and deploy best practices for those serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and has identified and evaluated the “Guiding Principles for Agencies Serving Survivors of Human Trafficking” resource developed through the U.S. Administration of Children and Families. This session features a panel of Michigan experts who will explore lessons learned and practical ways to apply and implement these principles.

Session Two: Panel Discussion
Integrating Survivor Voices in Michigan’s Anti-Trafficking Movement
Leslie King-Friday Survivor, Advocate, Author
Alice Jay Neighborhood Legal Services
Brigette Henderson BSW
Persons with lived experience of human trafficking have a compelling role to play in combating human trafficking effectively throughout the world, as well as here in Michigan. The anti-trafficking movement needs the leadership of those experts with lived experiences to ensure our work is both survivor-centered and trauma-informed. They are in a unique position to enact change on policy, organization, and at individual levels. The voice of those with lived experience must not just be a final stamp of approval on a policy or program, but rather an integrated part of all stages of our work.

LUNCH: Keynote Speaker
“New” University of Michigan Human Trafficking Law Clinic & Lab
Bridgette A. Carr University of Michigan
For over a decade, the Clinic relied solely on legal tools and direct representation to fight human trafficking. The Lab, launched in 2022, endeavors to create change at policy, service, and industry levels through collaborative partnerships across the nonprofit, corporate, and governmental sectors. They believe the law is an incomplete, imperfect solution to reducing exploitation and that interdisciplinary, cross-industry collaboration is necessary. The vision for the Clinic + Lab partnership is that the work with individual survivors in the Clinic will help ensure the Lab is victim-centered and informed by lived experience.

Session Three: Panel Discussion
Creating a Standardized Data Reporting Framework for Michigan
Elizabeth Moon-Carter The Salvation Army
Kelly Carter Michigan Human Trafficking Commission
Kris McNeil Measurable Change
This interactive session will explore ways data might be used to meaningfully improve services to survivors. The Michigan Human Trafficking Commission is working to create a standardized data reporting framework specifically for victim services providers with categories for victim typology and services provided. Once the data set is identified, the Committee plans to collect data from providers across the state to provide a periodic snapshot of trends in human trafficking victimization and service provision across Michigan. The data could be a valuable resource, especially for organizations applying for grants and crafting policy and legislation.

________________________________________
NETWORKING:

During lunch and scheduled breaks, in-person attendees will have time to build connections with advocates from across the state, as well as have the opportunity to meet session panelists and other featured guests by visiting designated vendor tables throughout the conference lobby.

Special thanks to our lunch sponsor!

Freedom Coalition (virtual)
2023-02-28 17:30 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting, MI, United States
Virtual Freedom Coalition Meeting
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Featured presentation:
“New” University of Michigan Human Trafficking Law Clinic & Lab
Presented by:
Bridgette A. Carr, Founding Director of UofM Law School’s Human Trafficking Clinic
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this session was postponed during the 2023 Statewide Summit
and will now be presented during our February Freedom Coalition meeting.
Consider joining us for this special occasion!

For over a decade, the Clinic relied solely on legal tools and direct representation to fight human trafficking. The Lab, launched in 2022, endeavors to create change at policy, service, and industry levels through collaborative partnerships across the nonprofit, corporate, and governmental sectors. They believe the law is an incomplete, imperfect solution to reducing exploitation and that interdisciplinary, cross-industry collaboration is necessary. The vision for the Clinic + Lab partnership is that the work with individual survivors in the Clinic will help ensure the Lab is victim-centered and informed by lived experience.
To learn more about Bridgette Carr, you can view her biography on our 2023 Statewide Summit landing page.

Consider joining our network! Sign-up for the Freedom Coalition email list to have announcements and future meeting invites sent straight to your inbox.
The purpose of MAP’s Freedom Coalition is to bring together experienced community advocates and professionals for a unified and comprehensive approach to addressing human trafficking in Michigan. Our vision is to eradicate human trafficking through collaborative efforts in the areas of demand abatement, survivor support, school outreach, and community awareness and engagement.
We meet virtually 4x a year for the sharing of statewide updates, best practices, new research and resources, specialized training, and more. Attendees are also provided time to network and share updates with one another.
*If you have specialized training you would like to present to the Freedom Coalition network,
please email your request to info@map-mi.org

Volunteer Interest Meeting (virtual)
2023-03-02 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-05-04 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-07-06 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-09-07 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-11-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Meeting, MI, United States
Looking for ways to get involved?
MAP and Vista Maria have many ongoing volunteer opportunities that are in need of passionate community members just like you!
During our virtual Volunteer Interest Meetings, staff from MAP and Vista Maria provide a brief overview of our programs in order to help you find the volunteer opportunity that is right for you. Join us in learning how you can use your unique gifts and talents to help make a difference in your community!

Can’t make it this month? No worries, these meetings are held on the first Thursday of every other month. Click the button to register for the meeting that fits your schedule best. (*Please note: The same content is shared during each of these meetings with the exception of holiday-related activities)
We look forward to connecting with you!

Holland Community Group (*RESCHEDULED)
2023-03-13 19:00 - 20:00, 2023-04-13 19:00 - 20:00, 2023-05-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Zeeland Biggby, 501 W Main Ave., Zeeland, MI, 49464, United States
Holland Community Group
MAP’s Holland Community Group is proud to be part of the Ottawa County Human Trafficking Task Force and the larger movement to end human trafficking in Michigan. We hope you will join us and become part of this amazing community!

Are you passionate about fighting human trafficking in your area? Do you want to join a group of caring and dedicated volunteers who are making a difference? If you live or work in Allegan, Ottawa, Muskegon, or Kent County, we invite you to join our Holland Community Group! We are a friendly and supportive group of people who learn and work together to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking in our community. No previous experience or knowledge is required to join. We have regular meetings throughout the year where we offer training and plan outreach events.
We are currently making plans for our upcoming Holland Freedom Marketplace on Saturday, August 19th! If you love to shop, this is a great opportunity to support fair trade businesses and local artisans while learning about labor trafficking and how to shop ethically (+lots of fun kids’ activities!). We are accepting vendor applications ($35) and also looking for volunteers who may be available to help. If you would be interested, we would love to hear from you!
COMMUNITY GROUP MEETINGS:
Starting in April, our Holland Community Group meetings will be combined with the Ottawa County Human Trafficking Task Force meetings, as our CG Leader, Ashleigh O’Donnell, is the new co-chair of the task force! These meetings are open to the public and are held on a quarterly basis. The next one will be on Wed, July 26th, at 12:00 pm (virtual). If you would be interested in joining us, please send us an email to receive the Zoom link.

If you would like to stay connected with MAP’s Holland Community Group, consider joining our Facebook Group or sign-up for our email list (“Community Group: Holland”) to have invites to future meetings and events sent straight to your inbox. For further questions, please contact the Holland CG Leader directly at holland@map-mi.org

MAP Community Groups consist of compassionate and motivated citizens who volunteer together to address human trafficking in their community. Community Groups meet regularly for ongoing training, conducting awareness activities, and engaging in service projects within the local community. Through Community Groups we seek to build a collaborative network that helps people use their gifts, talents, and resources to address human trafficking and its root causes more effectively.

Washtenaw Area Council for Children: Luncheon Lectures
2023-03-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Washtenaw Intermediate School District Office, 1819 S. Wagner, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, United States
Luncheon Lectures
Hosted by Washtenaw Area Council for Children

Experience 4 engaging lectures that support you as the professionals and community members working with children and families, to create safety, security, and stability. This year’s series topics include:

A Safe Place for Mind, Body, and Soul (Oct. 21, 2022 – 12-2 PM)

Students, Social Media, Cyber Safety; Navigating the Treacherous Waters (Jan. 23, 2022 – 12-2 PM)

Finding Your Way Through Conflict: Strategies for Early Childhood Professionals (Feb. 10, 2023 – 1:30-3:30 PM)

Human Trafficking (Mar. 17, 2023 – 12-2 PM)
Ft. Rachel Rowe, from MAP’s Ann Arbor Community Group!

Purchase individual tickets for $25
Personal box lunch is included.
Each lecture is eligible for 2 Social Work Clock Hours, upon NASW approval.

Mid-Michigan Community Group
2023-04-24 20:00 - 21:00 | New Life Vinyard Church, 1014 E. Ashman St., Midland, MI, United States
Mid-Michigan Community Group
If you are a Midland, Saginaw, or Bay City resident, consider joining our Mid-Michigan Community Group! We are compassionate and motivated citizens who learn and work together to address human trafficking in our community.
Monthly Meeting:
Monday, April 24th, 8:00 pm
New Life Vinyard Church
1014 E. Ashman St. Midland, Michigan 48642
Join us as we provide training and prepare materials for our SOAP Hotel Outreach event on May 6th. We are in need of volunteer groups to help deliver Missing Child Posters, soaps/makeup wipes labeled with the National Human Trafficking Hotline #, and other important information to local hotels to educate staff on how to identify potential trafficking situations and help victims. Consider joining us!
The Mid-Michigan Community Group typically meets on the 4th Monday of every month. If you would like to stay connected, consider joining their Facebook Group or sign-up for their email list (“Community Group: Mid-Michigan”) to have invites to future meetings and events sent straight to your inbox. For further details or questions, please contact midland@map-mi.org
———————————————————————————————————————
MAP Community Groups consist of compassionate and motivated citizens who volunteer together to address human trafficking in their community. Community Groups meet regularly for ongoing training, conducting awareness activities, and engaging in service projects within the local community. Through Community Groups we seek to build a collaborative network that helps people use their gifts, talents, and resources to address human trafficking and its root causes more effectively.

Freedom Coalition (virtual)
2023-04-25 17:30 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting, MI, United States
Virtual Freedom Coalition Meeting
Tues, April 25th, 2023 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Featured Guest:
Sylvia Blythe
Executive Director/Founder of Prism Project
Join us as we learn all about Prism Project, a non-profit with a two-fold mission to provide preventative education and support child survivors of sex trafficking. Sylvia Blythe will be sharing about the services they provide, what a typical day looks like, how they get their referrals, and the overall goal of the program.

Sylvia Blythe has a Bachelor of Science in nursing and has worked as a nurse for 22 years. The majority of her career has been working in the ER and with Pediatrics. 12 years ago while working in the ER, Sylvia pursued training to become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). Sylvia’s experience as a SANE and becoming an adoptive parent led her to join the fight against human trafficking.
Sylvia is the Executive Director/Founder of Prism Project, a non-profit organization that is shining the light on the darkness of sex trafficking, so survivors can walk in the light of hope, faith, and love. Prism Project educates the community on the realities of human trafficking and has recently opened the doors of their Safe House program! This program is the first of its kind, a long-term safe house in MI that provides trauma-informed, wrap-around restorative services for child survivors of sex trafficking.
In her free time, you will see Sylvia spending time with family. She has been married for 21 years and has 4 boys. She enjoys serving at her church and going on mission trips.

Join our network! The purpose of MAP’s Freedom Coalition is to bring together experienced community advocates and professionals for a unified and comprehensive approach to addressing human trafficking in Michigan. Our vision is to eradicate human trafficking through collaborative efforts in the areas of demand abatement, survivor support, school outreach, and community awareness and engagement.
We meet virtually 4x a year for the sharing of statewide updates, best practices, new research and resources, specialized training, and more. Attendees are also provided time to network and share updates with one another. Sign-up for the Freedom Coalition email list to have announcements and future meeting invites sent straight to your inbox.
*If you have specialized training you would like to present to the Freedom Coalition network, please email your request to info@map-mi.org

Troy - SOAP Up Hotel Outreach
2023-05-06 09:30 - 13:00 | Bridge Community Church, 5700 Rochester Rd., Troy, MI, United States
SOAP Up Troy
Hotel Outreach Event
Hosted by MAP’s Troy Community Group!
Date and time
Saturday, May 6th, 2023
9:30 am – 1:00 pm

Location
Bridge Community Church
5700 Rochester Road Troy, MI 48085
*We will be visiting hotels throughout Auburn Hills and Pontiac.

Did you know human trafficking is the second leading criminal industry in the United States? The average age of entry into trafficking in the U.S. is only 13 years of age and many survivors of trafficking are not aware of how to get help. Join us to educate hotels on how to spot signs of human trafficking and hand out bars of soap with the national human trafficking hotline number along with missing children posters. 80% of all trafficking occurs at hotels/motels and many victims will see a bar of soap in their room which may be a lifeline to freedom.
Please join us to learn about the signs of human trafficking in our community. We will label hotel bar soaps to deliver to select area hotels and deliver critical information and missing children’s posters to hotel staff.
Must be trained (provided on-site) and at least 16 years of age to attend the outreach with parental permission.
Click here to download and share the flyer!

Midland - SOAP Up Hotel Outreach
2023-05-06 10:00 - 13:00 | New Life Vinyard Church, 1014 E. Ashman St., Midland, MI, United States
SOAP Up Midland
Hotel Outreach Event
Hosted by MAP’s Mid-Michigan Community Group!

Date and time
Saturday, May 6th, 2023
10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location
New Life Vineyard Church
1014 East Ashman Street Midland, MI 48642
*We will be visiting hotels in Midland, Saginaw, and Bay City.

Did you know human trafficking is the second leading criminal industry in the United States? The average age of entry into trafficking in the U.S. is only 13 years of age and many survivors of trafficking are not aware of how to get help. Join us to educate hotels on how to spot signs of human trafficking and hand out bars of soap with the national human trafficking hotline number along with missing children posters. 80% of all trafficking occurs at hotels/motels and many victims will see a bar of soap in their room which may be a lifeline to freedom.
Please join us to learn about the signs of human trafficking in our community. We will label hotel bar soaps to deliver to select area hotels and deliver critical information and missing children’s posters to hotel staff.
Must be trained (provided on-site) and at least 16 years of age to attend the outreach with parental permission.

Downriver - SOAP Up Hotel Outreach
2023-05-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Shielded Souls Clubhouse, 21038 Middlebelt Rd, New Boston, MI, 48164, United States
SOAP Up Downriver
Hotel Outreach Event
Hosted by MAP’s Downriver Community Group!
Date and time
Saturday, May 13th, 2023
10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location
Shielded Souls Clubhouse
21038 Middlebelt Rd New Boston, MI 48164
*We will be visiting hotels in Allen Park, Melvindale, Taylor, and Southgate.

Did you know human trafficking is the second leading criminal industry in the United States? The average age of entry into trafficking in the U.S. is only 13 years of age and many survivors of trafficking are not aware of how to get help. Join us to educate hotels on how to spot signs of human trafficking and hand out bars of soap with the national human trafficking hotline number along with missing children posters. 80% of all trafficking occurs at hotels/motels and many victims will see a bar of soap in their room which may be a lifeline to freedom.
Please join us to learn about the signs of human trafficking in our community. We will label hotel bar soaps to deliver to select area hotels and deliver critical information and missing children’s posters to hotel staff.
Must be trained (provided on-site) and at least 16 years of age to attend the outreach with parental permission.

Ann Arbor - SOAP Up Hotel Outreach
2023-05-20 10:30 - 14:00 | Ann Arbor District Library: Westgate Branch, 2503 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103, United States
SOAP Up Ann Arbor
Hotel Outreach Event
Hosted by MAP’s Ann Arbor Community Group!
Date and time
Saturday, May 20th, 2023
10:30 am – 2:00 pm

Location
Ann Arbor District Library: Westgate Branch (Community Room)2503 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
*We will be visiting hotels in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Chelsea, and possibly Whitemore Lake and Milan (depending on the number of volunteers!)

Did you know human trafficking is the second leading criminal industry in the United States? The average age of entry into trafficking in the U.S. is only 13 years of age and many survivors of trafficking are not aware of how to get help. Join us to educate hotels on how to spot signs of human trafficking and hand out bars of soap with the national human trafficking hotline number along with missing children posters. 80% of all trafficking occurs at hotels/motels and many victims will see a bar of soap in their room which may be a lifeline to freedom.
Please join us to learn about the signs of human trafficking in our community. We will label hotel bar soaps to deliver to select area hotels and deliver critical information and missing children’s posters to hotel staff.
Must be trained (provided on-site) and at least 16 years of age to attend the outreach with parental permission.

St. Joseph - SOAP Up Hotel Outreach
2023-06-03 17:00 - 20:00 | MI, United States
SOAP Up SW-Michigan
Hotel Outreach Event
Hosted by MAP’s St. Joe Community Group!
Date and time
Saturday, June 3rd, 2023
5:00 – 8:00 pm

Location
First Church – Saint Joseph Campus
2627 Niles Avenue, Saint Joseph, MI

Did you know human trafficking is the second leading criminal industry in the United States? The average age of entry into trafficking in the U.S. is only 13 years of age and many survivors of trafficking are not aware of how to get help. Join us to educate hotels on how to spot signs of human trafficking and hand out bars of soap with the national human trafficking hotline number along with missing children posters. 80% of all trafficking occurs at hotels/motels and many victims will see a bar of soap in their room which may be a lifeline to freedom.
Please join us to learn about the signs of human trafficking in our community. We will label hotel bar soaps to deliver to select area hotels and deliver critical information and missing children’s posters to hotel staff.
Must be trained (provided on-site) and at least 16 years of age to attend the outreach with parental permission.

Family-Friendly Human Trafficking Awareness March, Forum, & Fun (Detroit)
2023-07-29 11:00 - 15:00 | Alternatives for Girls, 903 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI, 48208, United States
The Detroit Human Trafficking Task Force presents:

STAMPING OUT
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Date: Saturday, July 29, 2023
Time: 11 AM – 3 PM
Location: Alternatives for Girls
903 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit

In conjunction with World Day Against Trafficking in Persons — Detroit families, community members, advocates, survivors, professionals, and everyone in between are invited to join us for a FREE family-friendly event as we bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking in Michigan and beyond!

11 AM – March to #EndHumanTrafficking
Gather with us as we march to stamp out human trafficking in Detroit! We will be meeting at the Alternatives for Girls campus in Detroit at 11 AM for line assembly. The march will depart at 11:30 AM and return to AFG at 12 PM. *Some pre-made signs will be available to share but making your own is encouraged!
12:15 PM – Educational Forum for Parents & Youth
After the march, everyone is welcome indoors for an informational & engaging session on human trafficking, including a special message for kids on internet safety and how to stay clear from online predators!
1:30 PM – Food & Outside Fun!
Walking tacos and assorted refreshments, live music and dancing with DJ Semaj, BOUNCE HOUSE, conductor train, resource tables for parents, and lots of other FREE activities for youth and families to enjoy as we come together to learn and take action against human trafficking in our communities.

Click here to download and share the flyer!
Questions? Email Thomaesa Bailey, thomaesa.bailey@detroitmi.gov
Hosted in partnership with the Office of Detroit Councilwoman Angela Whitfield-Calloway, The Detroit Police Department, Crime Stoppers of Michigan, Alternatives for Girls, Neighborhood Legal Services, Michigan Abolitionist Project, and Covenant House.

Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind. To end human trafficking, we cannot allow this crime to be met with increasing indifference and impunity. We must strengthen resilience against exploitation and the underlying socio-economic and cultural issues that are conducive to trafficking. We must sensitize everyone to the topic of human trafficking and thus push attention towards those who can make a difference in terms of changing policy and national resource management to strengthen prevention measures, improve identification of victims, increase support of survivors and end impunity. >> Click here to learn more about World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Beyond the Shadows: Raw Facts About Human Trafficking in Michigan (Southfield)
2023-10-12 18:30 - 20:00 | Hampton Inn by Hilton Detroit Southfield, 26080 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI, 48076, United States
Beyond the Shadows: Raw Facts About Human Trafficking in Michigan
Discover the truth behind human trafficking in Michigan directly from experts.

Date and time:
Thursday, October 12 · 6:30 – 8pm EDT

Location:
Hampton Inn by Hilton Detroit Southfield
26080 Northwestern Highway Southfield, MI 48076

Hosted by:
Sparrow Freedom Project + Michigan Abolitionist Project
Sparrow Freedom Project, MAP, and many other anti-trafficking organizations have recently received a number of calls and emails regarding the movie “Sound of Freedom.”The calls center around questions about human trafficking and/or how they can help in combatting human trafficking. The movie depicts human trafficking from one perspective experienced internationally, which is different from what is typically experienced domestically in the United States.

About this event

Join Sparrow Freedom Project (SFP) and Michigan Abolitionist Project (MAP) in an expert panel discussion on the actual facts around human trafficking in Michigan: what it is, myths & misconceptions, how to protect oneself & loved ones, what is happening locally, what resources are available, and what one can do to help combat human trafficking.
Our expert panelists are as follows:

Chrissy Hemphill, Human Trafficking Specialist & Sparrow Freedom Project (SFP) Board Trustee;

Valentina Seeley, Deputy Assistant Director – Office of Partnership and Engagement from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI);

Sara Pettey, Special Agent – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI);

Kimberly M. Blackwell, Commanding Officer of Major Crimes – Detroit Police Department;

Kevin E. Outland, Speaker, Writer and Founder of “The Dark Side of the Web” Seminars.

Moderator: Darren Cunningham, WXYZ Channel 7 Reporter
Agenda
6:15 pm – 8:30 pm Resource Tables & Light Refreshments
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Panel Discussion (with last 15 minutes for Q&A)
We hope you will join us for this insightful discussion. Attending such an event is the first step in combatting human trafficking.

This is a FREE EVENT. Please RSVP to ensure we do not exceed room capacity.
Donations are welcomed and much appreciated.

Mid-Michigan Community Group
2023-11-27 20:00 - 21:00, 2024-01-22 20:00 - 21:00 | New Life Vinyard Church, 1014 E. Ashman St., Midland, MI, United States
Mid-Michigan Community Group
If you are a Midland, Saginaw, or Bay City resident, consider joining our Mid-Michigan Community Group! We are compassionate and motivated volunteers who learn and work together to address the root causes of human trafficking in our community.

Monthly Meeting:

The Mid-Michigan Community Group typically meets on the 4th Monday of every other month from 8-9 pm. Meeting locations vary.

If you would like to stay connected with the Mid-Michigan Community Group, consider joining their Facebook Group or sign-up for their email list. For further questions, please contact midland@map-mi.org

———————————————————————————————————————
MAP Community Groups consist of compassionate and motivated citizens who volunteer together to address human trafficking in their community. Community Groups meet regularly for ongoing training, conducting awareness activities, and engaging in service projects within the local community. Through Community Groups we seek to build a collaborative network that helps people use their gifts, talents, and resources to more effectively address human trafficking and its root causes.

Freedom Coalition Meeting ft. Polaris and the National Survivor Study (virtual)
2023-11-28 17:30 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting, MI, United States
Freedom Coalition Meeting:
Tuesday, November 28th, 2023
5:30 – 7:00 pm (*virtual)
Featured Presentation: In Harm’s Way, the National Survivor Study by Polaris
Sara Woldehanna, Director of Learning, Innovation and Data Systems (LIDS) at Polaris Project, will be joining our Freedom Coalition meeting along with a panel of lived experience experts to dive into the National Survivor Study which is the largest and most significant effort to date to learn directly from survivors of sex and labor trafficking. The study “In Harm’s Way: How Systems Fail Human Trafficking Survivors” was released in January 2023. The panel will present on their experience designing a participatory action research project with diversity and inclusion as the most important pillars, the impact of survivor leadership on the study, and a focus on the data showing system failures before, during and after trafficking.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to participate virtually on Zoom on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (EST).
This event WILL NOT be recorded.
Please click the button below to register:

Join our network! Sign-up for our Freedom Coalition email list
to have future meeting invites sent straight to your inbox.
The purpose of MAP’s Freedom Coalition is to bring together experienced community advocates and professionals for a unified and comprehensive approach to addressing human trafficking in Michigan.
We hold virtual meetings every quarter for the sharing of statewide updates, specialized training, best practices, emerging research, resources, and more.
