Human Trafficking Community Forum held in Douglas County

Contact

Brenda Hillman (678) 715-8177 PH • (678) 812-3633 FX

VoicesforSafeHavens@YouthEmporium.com

For Immediate Release

August 24, 2016

ATLANTA (Douglasville) GA – On Saturday, August 20, 2016 at the Day Star Tabernacle International, 8200 Highway 166, Douglasville, GA30135, a community forum on human trafficking convened. Youth Emporium, Inc., Founders of the human trafficking initiative, Voices for Safe Havens, in collaboration with Day Star Tabernacle International presented its Community Forum which provided attendees with unique perspectives on trafficking and protection from a diverse panel of presenters.

Among the presenters was Douglas County’s own District Attorney Brian Fortner, who highlighted the need for the community to work with law enforcement and the judicial system in supporting the effort to protect children and aid in identifying the criminals victimizing them. His robust presentation brought a rousing response from the audience of parents, religious leaders and children from Douglas and surrounding areas.

Among the presenters were Investigator Christina Clark, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Child Protection Unit; Tarance F. Drafts, Retired, Department of Homeland Security, Division of Customs & Border Patrol; Douglas County District Attorney Brian Fortner; T. David Lester, Executive Director of CLAWS, Civil Lawyers Against World Sex-Slavery; Sedgrid Lewis, Internet Safety Expert; and, Sara Riesing, Outreach Coordinator for Georgia Cares. Additional resources and information was provided by Sarah Koeppen, Executive Director of The Hope Box, which is an organization that supports and nurtures infants who are abandoned or used in sex trafficking transactions, as well as Georgia Cares, CLAWS and Youth Emporium’s Voices for Safe Havens initiative.

Attendees received both a visual and verbal presentation from presenters and gained a greater understanding of online predators from Sedgrid Lewis who interacted with young people in the audience regarding their use of various apps and social media programs. David Lester of CLAWS, shared the unique approach his organization is taking to recover assets in civil court from those preying upon trafficked persons. Tarance Drafts a Retired Border Patrol Homeland Security expert, gave attendees a frightening view of how easy it is for a child to be abducted, stripped of their identify and transported outside of the United States. This information along with protective techniques presented by Hanshi Joseph Sessums, left attendees much to think about and suggestions on how to change daily behaviors. Investigator Clark from the Douglas County Sheriff’s office, provided helpful tips for parents on what behaviors to look out for and be aware of in their children, which are often the first signs that they are being trafficked. Sara Reising from Georgia Cares shared resources now available in the State of Georgia for trafficked victims and where to go for help. Parents in attendance were at times emotionally impacted by the information provided, but left with a stronger grip on the crime of human trafficking and how wide spread the reach of the enterprise.

Top L-R: Pastor Alicia Horton, Day Star Tabernacle, Brenda Hillman, Youth Emporium

Bottom L-R: Joseph Sessums, Sara Reising, Sedgrid Lewis, T. David Lester, Brian Fortner, Tarance Drafts, Christina Clark

Each presenter received a Certificate of Recognition from Congressman David Scott, of Georgia’s 13th District for their work in the human trafficking field. Congressman Scott sent his message of the importance of remaining vigilant in combatting the crime and how critical it is for communities to be engaged.

Brenda Hillman, President and Executive Director of Youth Emporium and the Voices for Safe Havens initiative stated, “I wanted families, religious leaders and children to leave the forum feeling empowered and to change their views of how the trafficking criminal enterprise actually works. I believe that happened Saturday. That makes me feel good that the community forum did its job.” Each child was given a red bracelet that read “I am priceless – I’m not for sale.” This was a small symbol of what the event was meant to instill in our children. “They are valued and appreciated” said Hillman. “It’s important that they know what they mean to us and that the dollars they represent to those who seek to sell their innocence pales in comparison to the value they should have for themselves”.

For more information on the Voices for Safe Havens initiative, or to make a donation toward the expansion of its programming to include a shelter and additional resources, visit online at www.voicesforsafehavens.org. “The combined effort of the community, parents, law enforcement and the judicial system is needed in order to put a dent in this crime and to keep it from taking hold in our county”, said Brian Fortner. “Community forums such as the one presented Saturday is a step toward a commitment to the safety of our children”, said Ms. Hillman. “Education, preparation and resources will provide the most vulnerable of our citizens the best chance at avoiding abduction and entrapment,” she said.