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Human Trafficking in the News
The connection between prostitution and sex trafficking
Most people recognize sex trafficking as a serious human rights violation, but what about prostitution? There is sometimes a perception of sex trafficking and prostitution as two separate and unrelated issues, with trafficking being viewed as forced, and prostitution as freely chosen. However, the two are intrinsically connected -- the demand for prostitution fuels sex trafficking.  
 
Sex trafficker sentenced to 122 years for using Facebook 
to recruit underage students
When it comes to porn and sex trafficking, secrecy and lies fuel these huge, toxic multi-billion-dollar global industries. We're all about breaking up taboos and changing the conversation from secrets and shame to openness and honesty, and that starts in every one of our communities. And one conversation may not seem like a big deal, but it can start a ripple effect of change and action that can make a visible dent on these issues and change the world in the process.
 
American Bus Association features Busing on the Lookout in series of articles
Editor's Note: In a series of articles in its online publication, The Insider, the American Bus Association has featured Busing on the Lookout (BOTL), working to dispel myths about human trafficking, show the effectiveness of the BOTL training, the impact busing employees can make toward ending this crime and the importance of their involvement in fighting it. All four articles can be accessed through the following link.
Truck Driver Arian Taylor receives 2018 Harriet Tubman Award  from Truckers Against Trafficking

Kendis Paris, TAT executive director, presented Arian Taylor the Harriet Tubman Award and the $2500 check.
Ballard Trucking driver Arian Taylor from Nicholasville, Kentucky has been named the 2018 Harriet Tubman award winner by Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) for helping a woman escape from an attempt to forcibly sex traffick her.
 
The award, which carries with it a $2500 check, is named in honor of famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman, whose courageous personal actions resulted in the transportation of 300 slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad and whose overall role in the freedom movement was instrumental in the freeing of thousands more. Born into slavery in 1820, Miss Tubman was the first African American woman buried with full military honors and the first to have the inaugural Liberty ship named after her - the SS Harriet Tubman - by the US Maritime Commission.
 
"Because of Harriet Tubman's connection to transportation through the Underground Railroad and her heroic work to free thousands of slaves, TAT believes she embodies the symbol of freedom a trucking anti-trafficking award represents," said Kendis Paris, TAT executive director. "This award was created to honor members of the trucking industry whose direct actions help save or improve the lives of those enslaved or prevent human trafficking from taking place. Arian Taylor's actions certainly epitomize that!"
 
In January of this year, Taylor pulled into a California business to make a  delivery at 3:30 a.m. Shortly thereafter, he received a knock on his cab door from a 19-year-old woman. He learned from her that her friend's older boyfriend was trying to force her into prostitution. After she had refused and argued with him, he dumped her in the parking lot and sped off. She was cold,  exhausted, had no money or identification, was carrying everything she owned in her arms and was desperate to get back home to a neighboring state. Taylor assured her of his help. After getting her warm and giving her water to drink, he looked at one of the two TAT stickers prominently displayed on his windows (which the victim had been eye-level with when she knocked on his door) and called the National Human Trafficking Hotline. They worked with him to secure the woman shelter for the night, a pre-paid cab ride to get her to that shelter and a chaperoned train ride back to her home the next day, where she was reunited with a family member. Taylor took care of the young woman until she was placed in the cab, and even gave her his personal cell phone number in case she needed anything else.
 
Taylor stated, "Freedom is a privilege that every human being should have and  being identified with a freedom fighter like Harriet Tubman has totally enriched my life to keep that fight alive at all costs." 
 
Taylor received the Harriet Tubman Award and check from Kendis Paris, TAT executive director, at the Protective Insurance Protective 500 Event in Indianapolis, IN, on May 26. Protective Insurance partners with TAT.
 
"As a company deeply rooted in transportation, we firmly believe in Truckers
Against Trafficking's mission to harness the power of trucking industry personnel to end human  trafficking," said Matt Thompson, executive vice president of sales and marketing at  Protective Insurance.   "Our annual Indianapolis 500 weekend celebrates many traditions -- the race, our longstanding partnerships with our customers, and the spirit of Indianapolis. We thought it would be an incredible opportunity to also celebrate Arian's heroic efforts and all of the lives that have been saved thanks to truckers making that call to the National Human Trafficking Hotline."
TAT invited to speak to global purchasing managers 
by Ford Motor Company

In front of the Freedom Drivers Project at the Ford event, Laura Cyrus, TAT operations director, spoke to people individually about how they could be involved in the fight against human trafficking.
Speaking to approximately 400 purchasing managers brought together from around the globe by Ford Motor Company for education, empowerment and ideas to drive ethics, transparency and impact, Laura Cyrus, operations director for Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), asked the buyers in the room to consider having casual conversations with their suppliers about TAT and how those suppliers -- acting as shippers -- may be able to encourage the carriers moving their products to become trained with TAT materials. 
 
The event, titled Driving a Better Tomorrow, and held at Ford Motor Company World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan on May 14, featured, along with TAT, a panel on business ethics, with Hua Thai-Tang, Ford's executive vice president of product development and purchasing, John Viera, Ford's global director of sustainability and vehicle environmental matters; and Becky Burtless-Creps, specialist leader compliance and ethics at Deloitte and Touche LLP. Leah Butler, vice president of the Responsible Business Alliance, also presented on responsible sourcing and conflict minerals.
 
"Ford recognizes the responsibility it has as a global company to advocate for human rights and a more sustainable supply chain," said Jackie Watt, director of supply chain sustainability at Ford Motor Company. "We are proud to support the work that organizations like Truckers Against Trafficking do to help companies and consumers make a real difference."
 
"This was an incredible opportunity to bring the TAT message to global leaders in automotive purchasing. It's my hope these buyers will take our message to everyone they know that moves product from Point A to Point B and encourage them to get involved in this important work," Cyrus said. "A huge thank you to Ford Motor Company for inviting us to be a part of this special meeting and empowering their folks with this information."
 
TAT's Freedom Drivers Project trailer was also on hand, prominently displayed in the front parking lot of the Ford World Headquarters building. Employees from a wide variety of jobs within Ford -- from security guards and engineers, to statisticians and human rights and sustainability folks -- took the time to walk through the exhibit and consider the topic of human trafficking.

California Trucking Association announces 
partnership  with anti-trafficking group 
Sacramento Together

At the press conference, trucking and law enforcement representatives chatted about their enhanced partnership fighting human trafficking. Here, Eric Sauer, left, of the California Trucking Association, talks with California Highway  Patrol Captain Sean Duryee. 

With more than 1,100-member companies, operating more than 400,000 trucks within California, the California Trucking Association (CTA) announced its partnership with "Sacramento Together," a coalition of law enforcement, state and local agencies, and community-based organizations working together to combat human trafficking and exploitation in the Sacramento community. Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), along with CFI driver and Harriet Tubman award winner Kevin Kimmel, presented at the press conference.
 
"Combating human trafficking is a top priority for our members," said CTA's President Lynnette Brown. "Through our ongoing work with Truckers Against Trafficking, we've been able to provide training and resources to the men and women in the trucking industry who, as the eyes and ears of our nation's highways, are able to play an important and unique role in helping to identify and end human trafficking.
 
"Through this partnership with Sacramento Together, we are expanding our efforts to raise awareness, and funnel critical information from our members to appropriate law enforcement agencies and DA's offices and put an end to human trafficking," added Brown.
 
Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, was one of the speakers at the press conference.  Others, L to R, were Kevin Kimmel, CFI driver;  Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert ; Y olo County District Attorney Jeff Riesig; and California Highway Patrol Chief Brent Newman.
"Traffickers move victims around to make sure they are never in one place long enough to get help," said Kevin Kimmel, truck driver for CFI. "The training I received from TAT allowed me to recognize the signs of human trafficking, report suspicious activity and ultimately help a victim during one of my stops."
 
For several years, CTA has been a proud sponsor of Truckers Against Trafficking. "The combination of TAT's training and materials and the structure that Sacramento Together provides is critical to identifying and stopping human trafficking activities in California," said CTA CEO Shawn Yadon.
 
"Truck drivers are a key resource in spotting and reporting crimes as they are taking place," said Kylla Lanier, deputy director for TAT. "We are pleased to work with CTA and members of the public safety community so that more calls are made and more victims are recovered."
 
As a partner with Sacramento Together, CTA will work with Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, Yolo County District Attorney Jeff W. Reisig and their respective offices, as well as the California Highway Patrol to maximize ongoing efforts to train truck drivers and truck stop personnel to identify signs of trafficking and report suspicious activity. This partnership will strengthen efforts to better serve victims of sexual and labor exploitation and increase public awareness of human trafficking.
TAT presents at the Travel Centers of America Leadership Expo

Esther Goetsch, TAT coalition build specialist, presented to a large audience at the TAT Leadership Expo in Ohio.
More than 900 people listened to presentations by TAT Field Trainer Beth Jacobs and Coalition Build Specialist Esther Goetsch at the Travel Centers of America Leadership Expo in Sandusky, Ohio on May 16. Jacobs and Goetsch spoke first to store managers and general managers of truck stops and C Stores from across the country and, secondly, to service center managers, directors and corporate staff.
 
"The audience was engaged, supportive and enthusiastic about TAT's work and the part they can play in helping law enforcement identify and recover victims of human trafficking," commented Goetsch. "Thank you TA/Petro for their continued partnership with TAT!"
TAT Board of Directors adds Stephanie Wicky 
from Ryder System Inc.

Stephanie Wicky
The Truckers Against Trafficking Board of Directors has recently added Stephanie Wicky, group director of marketing, supply chain solutions and dedicated transportation for Ryder System, Inc., to its number.
 
"Living in the state of Florida, which is listed as having the third highest reported cases of human trafficking and being part of the transportation industry has made this crisis near and dear to my heart," said Wicky. "I am honored to join the Board of Directors of TAT. I hope to be as involved as possible in the continued success of this organization."
 
At Ryder, Wicky is responsible for leading her team in development and execution of a focused business-to-business marketing strategy for two of Ryder's key business segments: supply chain solutions and dedicated transportation solutions. Prior to that, she served as director of marketing for the rental, used vehicle sales, fleet products, insurance and fuel divisions, working closely with business-unit leaders to drive growth and increase customer loyalty.  She and her team were responsible for the growth of Ryder RedZone, the commercial transportation industry's only customer loyalty rewards program. In 2015, Loyalty 360 awarded Ryder with the Platinum Award for Best Measurement in Customer Experience, the Gold Award for Most Customer-Centric Culture, and the Gold Award for 360-Degree Customer Experience.

Before joining Ryder in 2014, Wicky served in lead marketing and advertising roles for companies including WCI Communities and J. Walter Thompson Advertising.

She has been a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters since 2015. She has also volunteered with B.E.S.T, Building Empowerment by Stopping Trafficking, in Miami, working on fundraisers to fight human trafficking.

Wicky holds a bachelor of science degree in both marketing communications and broadcast journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.
Upcoming Events

June 7-8 - Freedom Drivers Project at Great Dane, Statesboro and Savannah, GA, Helen Van Dam, FDP director, presenting

June 11-12 - Bridgestone training, Seattle, WA, Annie Sovcik, BOTL director, presenting

June 13-14 - National Underground Railroad Freedom Center board meeting, Cincinnati, OH, Laura Cyrus, operations director, presenting

June 14 - Coalition build, Billings, MT, Esther Goetsch, coalition build specialist, and Tajuan McCarty, TAT field trainer, presenting and FDP present

June 22-23 - Washington State Patrol Inspector's Challenge and Truck Driving Championships, FDP and Helen Van Dam, FDP director, presenting

June 25 - Praxair Employee Forum, Danbury, CT, Laura Cyrus, TAT operations director, presenting

June 27 - American Bus Association/ Bus Industry Safety Council, Baltimore, MD, Annie Sovcik, BOTL director, presenting

June 30 - Indiana Truck Driving Championships, Indianapolis, IN, FDP and Helen Van Dam, presenting
Truckers Against Trafficking 
PO Box 816 | Englewood, CO 80151
tat.truckers@gmail.com

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