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Human Trafficking in the News
These three industries are cracking down on sex trafficking as never before 
21 million. According to Anka Rising, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to combat and eradicate modern-day slavery, that is the estimated number of men, women, and children who daily find themselves exploited sexually for the commercial benefit of others.
 
New committee on human trafficking includes trucking voice
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has appointed 15 people, including representatives of the trucking industry, to serve as members of the new Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking.  The committee, required by the bipartisan Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act, includes leaders of organizations that fight modern slavery, academics and representatives of the trucking, bus, rail, aviation, maritime and port industries.  From the trucking industry, American Trucking Associations Vice Chairman Sherri Garner Brumbaugh and Truckers Against Trafficking Executive Director Kendis Paris were selected.
 
Beshear, TARC teaming up to report human trafficking in Louisville
Transit employees will be trained to better identify and report human trafficking in Louisville Metro with the help of a new initiative between TARC and Attorney General Andy Beshear's office. Beshear and TARC Executive Director J. Berry Barker rolled out human trafficking awareness training and reporting protocols focused on the needs of nearly 400 TARC managers, dispatchers and bus drivers.
Avoid the crowds and rush of Thanksgiving;
donate to TAT now during our Giving Tuesday campaign


You know the truth; shopping in the days after Thanksgiving is a headache. Too many people; websites have problems; items sell out. And, sometimes, in the melee, you forget something.
 
That's why we encourage you to get ahead of the game and donate to TAT before the Giving Tuesday crowds begin the charitable giving rush. Give now! TAT's Giving Tuesday campaign is running now through Giving Tuesday!
 
TAT has a proven track record. We're driving change in the fight against human trafficking in systems, policies, corporate culture and coalition building. Mission driven, TAT empowers members of the trucking and busing industry to aid law enforcement by discovering and disrupting human trafficking networks, while bringing freedom to those who need it most.
 
Our goal for this Giving Tuesday campaign is $10,000. Partner with us to help us grow this mobile army of transportation professionals. Check out our new Individual Donor page , which lists the ways you can give and the new levels of giving with benefits for individual donors.
If you're a member of the oil and gas industry,
don't miss the Pecos coalition build Nov. 14

Because oil and gas employs high populations of men with disposable income to spend (and where law enforcement may not always be present), it is one of the industries targeted by traffickers with victims to sell. Trained to recognize and report this crime, these same employees are in a powerful position to fight this crime.
 
On. Nov. 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., TAT will hold a coalition build in Pecos, Texas with the goal of helping oil and gas companies understand how to combat human trafficking as part of their everyday jobs. In this briefing, attendees will learn about the realities of domestic sex trafficking (or forced prostitution) and the role trucking and oil and gas workers can play in ending it.

The Pecos coalition build is co-hosted by the Office of the Texas Attorney General, Apache Energy, Noble Energy, The Texas Trucking Association and TAT. It will be held at the Reeves Convention Center, 1520 S. Cedar St.

Sex trafficking crimes often occur in places where oil and gas employees, as well as those in trucking, might frequent (truck stops, gas stations, rest areas, busy city streets, bars, adult entertainment establishments, loading docks, hotels/motels and other locations where law enforcement may not always be present). Oil and gas companies who contract with trucking companies that deliver sand, water, equipment and other materials can use their influence to encourage those trucking companies to become trained on human trafficking.
This four-hour meeting is intended to result in the formation of a network that will bring the resources, wisdom and leadership of oil and gas companies to the aid of state and local law enforcement to protect exploited men, women and children.

Participation at the build is by invitation only. If you're interested in learning more and/or being invited, please contact Esther Goetsch, TAT coalition build specialist, immediately, at egoetsch@truckersagainsttrafficking.org .
Busing on the Lookout continues 
to gain exposure coast to coast

Annie Sovcik, BOTL program director (far right, seated), spoke on a panel at a BOTL press event in Houston. Also on the panel, from L to R (seated):Jason Lewis, vice president of safety at Coach USA; Texas Governor Greg Abbot; State Senator Joan Huffman (Dist 17). Back row are members of the Texas State Senate and House delegation from the greater Houston area.
As Busing on the Lookout (BOTL) approaches its first anniversary, momentum is building across the country and throughout the major segments of the United States bus industry (motor coach, school and public transit). BOTL's October activities exemplify this progress as Annie Sovcik, BOTL program director, and Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, traveled to Texas, Florida, New York, California and Missouri to speak at key industry events, and bus leaders in the state of Maine participated actively in the TAT coalition build held in Bangor.
 
"Human trafficking is among the worst human rights abuses of our time, but I am filled with hope that we will win this fight, because for every perpetrator out there, there are a hundred times as many heroes and good Samaritans who aren't willing to tolerate it," said Sovcik. "More and more, I'm seeing members of the industry being champions for the cause, which is truly inspiring, as the bus industry is embracing its role as an extra set of eyes and ears for law enforcement in combating this heinous crime."  
 
Through these speaking engagements, TAT estimates that in the month of October alone over 550 industry leaders heard the BOTL message and learned how they can get involved in the fight against human trafficking. Also, in October, the Louisville, Kentucky transit system announced they would be training all their drivers and employees with BOTL materials. This news was covered on local television, and BOTL received additional media coverage from the partnership announcement from Coach USA/Megabus in Atlanta as well as a BOTL press event in Houston featuring Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Student Transportation News also featured the training and offered insights into its value through interviewing some of BOTL's student transportation partners. 
Dow presents Laura Cyrus of TAT 
with special humanitarian award

Laura Cyrus, (far left), TAT operations director, displays the award. With her in the photo, from left, are: Janelle Cooper, road logistics manager; Kristin Beck, road logistics modal leader; and Lori Pavlish, Dow global supply chain transportation safety, security and sustainability leader.
For the second year in a row, Laura Cyrus, TAT operations director, spoke to executives and owners that haul for Dow at the Dow Core Carrier Conference on Oct. 3-4 in Midland, Michigan. Because all of them are already training with TAT materials, Cyrus was able to update them on recent success stories, thank them for being a part of the work and strongly encourage them to implement anti-trafficking-in-persons policies at their companies with a demand reduction focus.
 
Following her presentation, Kristin Beck, Dow Road Logistics modal leader, highlighted Highway Transportation for their Gold Level ($10,000) TAT sponsorship, asked every carrier in the room to consider making a donation as well and then presented Cyrus a special award for Humanitarianism Appreciation on behalf of Dow Road Logistics.

"Laura Cyrus is one of the most caring and kind-hearted individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing," said Beck. "She has committed her life's work to improving the safety and security of our communities to help protect and save individuals who fall victim to the horrific crime of human trafficking. Laura's selfless work has made a tremendous impact -- not only in my life personally -- but to Dow Chemical, its partners, and both the transportation and chemical industries. As a whole, all of these impacted organizations now have a great focus geared towards helping to end the growing crime of human trafficking. It was with great pride that I was able to award Laura with the 2018 Humanitarianism Appreciation Award for all of her dedication helping to gain support for the Truckers Against Trafficking program nationwide." 
 
"TAT is so grateful for the platform Dow has given us to spread the word and engage more companies in this work" stated Cyrus. "I would especially like to recognize Kristin Beck for the leadership and influence she used within and outside of Dow to champion our mission. We are proud to have partners like Kristin within companies like Dow and hope to continue affecting change together. Thank you, too, to the fantastic leaders we have had a chance to connect with at these carrier conferences. I am excited to continue to explore ways we can maximize corporate engagement for social good."
Upcoming Events

Nov. 6 - Law enforcement training, Des Moines, IA, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, and Beth Jacobs, TAT field trainer

Nov. 7-8 - South Central Motorcoach Association Annual Operators meeting, Biloxi, MS, Annie Sovcik, BOTL director, presenting

Nov. 7-8  - Nebraska Safety Management Council Lunch and Learn, Lincoln, NE, Kendis Paris, TAT executive director, presenting

Nov. 7 - Roehl Transport, Marshfield, WI, Laura Cyrus, TAT operations director, presenting

Nov. 7 - Human Trafficking Awareness Night co-hosted by  Schneider  and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay, WI, Laura Cyrus, TAT operations director, presenting 

Nov. 12-14 - American Trucking Associations Safety and Security Human Resources Conference, Long Beach, CA, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, presenting and manning booth

Nov. 11-12 - Ontario Motor Coach Association Marketplace, Ontario, Canada Annie Sovcik, BOTL director, presenting

Nov. 14 - West Texas coalition build, Pecos, TX, Esther Goetsch, TAT coalition build specialist, Amber Claire, survivor-leader, and Ashley Smith, TAT oil and gas program manager, presenting, with FDP and Helen Van Dam, FDP director, attending

Nov. 12-15 - Apache events in Houston, San Antonio, Pecos and Midland, TX, FDP and Helen Van Dam, FDP director, and Ashley Smith, TAT oil and gas program manager, attending and presenting

Nov. 15 - Tennessee Highway Patrol, Nashville, TN, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, and Amber Claire, survivor-leader, presenting
TAT's work is made possible through the generous support of our corporate sponsors, foundation partners and individual donors. Our education, training, legislative engagement, and advocacy efforts would not exist without those who invest in the change that we work towards each day. If you are interested in learning more about how you can provide financial support, please visit our corporate engagement webpage 
or contact Laura Cyrus at 612-888-4828 or lcyrus@truckersagainsttrafficking.org to explore our giving opportunities.
Thank you to our copper level and above individual donors!
Douglas Kegler -  platinum level
Bob Paris -  silver level
Andy and Karin Larsen  - silver level
Lou and Ronda Leeburg - silver level
Ruby Dineen-Silvestrini  - bronze level
Ryan and Lindsay Bogatie  - bronze level
Mark and Julie Mihevc  - bronze level
Dan and Emily Dkystra - bronze level
Michael Mowat -  copper level
Grayling Klunker - copper level
Anna McCoy -  copper level
George Cravens -  copper level
Mike and Karen Kuykendall - copper level
Scott Perry - copper level
Dewayne and Becky Jennings  - copper level
Wayne Watkins - copper level
Lindsey England - copper level
Truckers Against Trafficking 
PO Box 816 | Englewood, CO 80151
tat.truckers@gmail.com

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