It’s been almost a month since the 2023 Statewide Human Trafficking Summit. The Michigan Abolitionist Project and Vista Maria co-hosted this event with the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission. What an impactful day it was to gather virtually and in-person with over 250 professionals, organizations and advocates for the same mission of coming together to learn Best Practices for Working with Trafficked Persons in Michigan.

We began with a warm welcome by MAP’s new Executive Director Dawn Ames. Next, Kelly Carter (Chair of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission) gave an update on the Commission and introduced a document that the Commission reviewed and approved titled “The Guiding Principles for Agencies Serving Survivors of Human Trafficking.” Kelly moderated a discussion between service providers about how they implement these Guiding Principles in their work. We heard from Healthcare, Law Enforcement, the Ruth Ellis Center, Vista Maria and Sanctum House. We were grateful for the many insights and challenging thoughts that were brought up during this panel.

Handout: The Guiding Principles for Agencies Serving Survivors of Human Trafficking

After a quick break Session Two began. Leslie King-Friday moderated the discussion between fellow Survivor Leaders Alice Jay and Brigette Henderson on “Integrating the Survivor’s Voice in Michigan’s Anti-Trafficking Movement.” They shared openly and honestly about their experiences with service providers and advocates. They helped shed light on and define re-victimization. They brought up many good and thought-provoking questions for us to continue conversations about after the conference. Thank you Leslie, Alice and Brigette for the love and care you have for people who are trafficked in Michigan and the ways you are using your experiences to make a difference!

Handout: Principles of Survivor Engagement in the Anti-Trafficking Field 

Lunch break gave space for networking. We hope that you were able to come away having met someone new.

Here is the Attendee Roster for this year.

The last session was moderated last minute by Kelly Carter as Elizabeth Moon Carter was unable to attend. We were thankful to hear about the new Data Collection Categories sheet that the Commission has put together in order to begin collecting data on Human Trafficking in Michigan. Kelly was joined by Kris McNeill from Measurable Change. Though the project is still in it’s infancy we are encouraged to see that Michigan has created a Framework to collect data and help us better understand the scope of trafficking here and how we can best help prevent trafficking, offer exit strategies and aid in the recovery process.

Handout: Data Categories

*Please submit forms to: Data Collection (michigan.gov)

Then Dawn wrapped the Summit up with an encouragement to continue conversations afterwards and exhorted us as professionals, organizations and advocates working in the Anti-Trafficking Field to continue to work hard and use the Guiding Principles and what we have learned this year to impact our work and those around us.

Thank you for joining us!

*As a follow-up to the Summit we are hosting the 1st Freedom Coalition meeting of 2023 on February 28th and will be hearing from Bridgette Carr of the University of Michigan Law Clinic and Lab.

Register here.