June is internet safety month. Are your children safe while online? Michigan families, especially minors, are becoming inundated with advertisements from alcohol, tobacco, pornography and gambling marketers through different internet and cell phone in-boxes. Texting their advertisements is the newest marketing effort that many of these companies are using. Thankfully the State of Michigan offers a […]
I became involved in the Genesee County Human Trafficking Task Force (GCHTTF) because of the work that I was doing with disconnected youth ages 16 to 24 and homeless clients at the time through the organization, Resource Genesee. Both of these populations are vulnerable to being trafficked and joining the task force was a logical extension […]
Farmworkers Legal Services is a legal aid office that protects migrant and seasonal farmworkers throughout the state of Michigan. They have sounded the alarm on a dangerous new precedent in Michigan law which threatens the safety and dignity of piece-rate hand harvesters in Michigan who are at risk of exploitation. Below is an excerpt from […]
This post is the third in a 3 part series that seeks to dispel some common myths about human trafficking that are frequently stated but always wrong.Myth #7: Average Age of Entry into the Sex TradeIt is often repeated that the average age of entry into the sex trade for girls is between 12-14 years […]
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better do better.” – Maya AngelouThese words by poet Maya Angelou should be a source of inspiration for the […]
When we know better we do better. When we perpetuate myths about human trafficking we harm victims. This post is the first in a 3 part series that seeks to dispel some common myths about human trafficking that are frequently stated but always wrong. Myth #1: Human Trafficking = Sex Trafficking Truth: The phrases […]
THE STORY BREAK THE CHAIN is a feature-length documentary film that addresses the often “hidden-in-plain-sight” issue of Human Trafficking within Michigan communities and the United States. The film chronicles two survivors of Human Trafficking within Michigan communities – providing a detailed look at how trafficking goes unnoticed within our backyards. Kwami, a child survivor of […]
As the Promoter of Justice for the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids, I am charged with organizing my efforts and those of our Sisters, Associates, and friends around several justice issues including immigration, care of earth, human trafficking and others, while keeping in mind the root causes of racism, poverty, and violence. As I write […]
We all know that awareness of human trafficking is increasing. It’s about time. Let’s talk about a population that has long known what Human Trafficking is all about: inmates at a women’s prison. I began my career as a corrections officer for the Michigan Department of Corrections in 1989. I worked at Huron Valley Men’s […]
I’m a professor. I’m used to standing at the front of a classroom full of students and guiding them through the material that I want them to master. I decide what is important for students to learn, what they will read and how to run the classroom – whether to lecture or have class discussion. […]