Volume 13 | Issue 9

September 2022

Human trafficking in the news

My father trafficked me throughout my entire childhood. It looked nothing like people think.

People need to educate themselves on what trafficking can really look like. My father trafficked me from the ages of five or six until I was a teenager. Knowing this, I can say I was never once tied up in a dark place, as pictures suggest. On the contrary, even amusement parks were among the places I experienced trafficking.

Former owner of Springdale motel ordered to pay $25M to human trafficking victim

SPRINGDALE, Ark. — A Benton County judge found that the former owners of a Springdale motel helped facilitate the trafficking of a teenage girl. OM Hospitality, Inc., which owned the Economy Inn until August 2018, has been ordered to pay $25 million for not stopping the girl's trafficking within the motel for three years. The survivor's attorney says she believes this is one of the most significant judgments for a case filed explicitly against an individual, hotel, or motel.

Human trafficking survivor reconnects with the man who saved her life.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — Alicia Tappan shares her experience as she prepared to virtually reconnect with the man who, years ago, helped her when others shamed and silenced her. "I'm going to cry happy tears, I think, because I really am grateful for this man," said Tappan. "This man" stepped up when other school staff members tried to cover the story of the night Tappan, a teenager then, was raped.

Click here to read these articles on our website

Truckers Against Trafficking's Work with Multiple Sectors in Oregon Builds Momentum across the State

Five years ago, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) partnered with the Oregon State Trucking Association (OTA) and the Oregon Office of the Attorney General to co-host a Coalition Build in Salem, OR. Through that catalyst event, TAT began to train law enforcement from various agencies, including the Oregon State Police (OSP) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), on human trafficking and how to take a victim-centered approach. Engaging leaders in the trucking, truck stop, bus and transit industries also paved the way for deeper private sector engagement. Building on that foundation, TAT has seen partners in Oregon not only champion TAT's work but begin to build sustainable and effective long-term strategies to combat human trafficking.

2022 Oregon law enforcement training: Kelley Alsobrook, TAT Field Trainer and Survivor Leader.

"I was at the recent training in Salem, Oregon, regarding TAT. I just wanted to compliment everyone involved on a very striking presentation. This training entirely changed my view on the situation and opened my eyes to the reality of what is happening." -Richard, Motor Carrier Safety

Here is a snapshot of some of the progress made in Oregon since 2017 and TAT's role in coming alongside industry and government leaders to further this work and build lasting public-private partnerships to combat human trafficking.

TAT has trained 246 law enforcement officers from various agencies across the state.
ODOT hosted TAT for law enforcement trainings in 2018, 2019 and 2022.
In 2018, ODOT provided a human trafficking awareness presentation utilizing TAT's Busing on the Lookout (BOTL) training video at the Oregon Public Transportation Conference. As a follow-up in 2019, at ODOT's annual mandatory transit training, ODOT spoke to agency directors, transit managers and agency staff about the BOTL training resources and provided facilitator guides to the 100+ agency staff in attendance. As a result, approximately 1,000 drivers and agency staff have received training.
ODOT hands out TAT wallet cards at all weigh stations and ports of entry throughout the state.
ODOT shares TAT materials with professional drivers during periodic truck inspection details.
OSP officers visit truck stops, trucking companies, school districts and bus companies in their jurisdictions with TAT/BOTL materials.
ODOT began participating in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative.
OTA had TAT speak at their annual conference in 2017 and 2021.
In 2021, ODOT featured a session on human trafficking at its Fall Forum, a conference for all ODOT employees.

TAT supplied materials for a training presented by OSP to staff at the Seven Feathers Casino Resort, a shared location with the Seven Feathers Truck & Travel Center in Canyonville, OR. The Oregon Department of Justice and Portland Police Bureau co-presented alongside OSP.

Truckers Against Trafficking's Freedom Drivers Project Draw Significant Crowds at the Iowa State Fair

Picture of Sgt. Arbegast and the Iowa Secretary of State, Paul Pate

Truckers Against Trafficking's Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) attended the Iowa State Fair in collaboration with Iowa's Department of Transportation. Throughout the three days, 1,691 people walked through the exhibit to learn more about the realities of domestic sex trafficking and what the trucking industry is doing to combat it.

The event drew not only crowds but also government officials, including Governor Kim Reynold of Iowa, Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate. Secretary Pate even began handing out wallet cards and spoke to people about human trafficking as they came by our truck.

"I am so grateful to have been able to come to the Iowa State Fair this year and educate over 1,600 people from all over the United States. I met many families who wanted to know what they could do to keep their children and neighborhoods safe, as well as governors and government officials who are backing our mission to combat human trafficking. Representatives from the trucking industry showed their support by stopping by the trailer, talking about how proud they are to have TAT training and showing their TAT window decals on their trucks. I am grateful to have been able to help educate this community, state and visitors to the state about human trafficking and what it can look like in their own backyards." - Brandy Belton, TAT Freedom Drivers Project Director

The Iowa State Fair is an annual state fair held in Des Moines, Iowa. It began in 1854 and has been held on the Iowa State Fairgrounds since 1886. This event draws a significant crowd each year, and it is clear that TAT's involvement in the event has provided a great opportunity to educate many.

"It's imperative to spread the awareness to everyone we can touch. TAT's FDP gets attention/awareness out to thousands of people every time it comes to the Iowa State Fair. It doesn't matter what profession you're in; if we can educate people on the issue of Human Trafficking, that's one more set of eyes and ears that could change someone's life." -Sergeant Jason Arbegast, Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement

Creating Local Partnerships to Combat Human Trafficking:

January 2022 – August 2022 Coalition Build Mid-Year Progress

The TAT Coalition Build program brings together industry stakeholders, law enforcement and government agencies to work jointly to close loopholes to traffickers. TAT is thrilled to provide a mid-year update on this program’s progress and where TAT is helping to build local partnerships to combat human trafficking.

With their assistance and expertise, TAT Coalition Builds inspires key decision-makers to act while equipping them with the practical tools they need to become force multipliers in the anti-human trafficking movement.

"I thought it was the perfect way to drive home the importance of taking action any way we can. Tremendous thoughtfulness and insight helped make the survivor's plight one that could universally be supported and break down stereotyping for a wide audience." - Ministry of Ontario Transportation

Thus far in 2022, TAT’s Coalition Build co-hosts have included the Montana Trucking Association, the Montana Attorney General's Office, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, the California Trucking Association, the California Association for Coordinated Transportation, California Highway Patrol, ConocoPhillips, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office, Ontario Office of the Attorney General, the TAT Canada Committee, the Ontario Motor Coach Association, the Indiana Motor Truck Association, the Indiana Office of the Attorney General, the Indiana State Police, the Nevada Resort Association, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, the Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and the Department of Homeland Security / Homeland Security Investigations.

"I believe the strongest defense against this is to make sure our frontline workers (drivers), as well as our law enforcement personnel, are versed in human trafficking and have the necessary resources to address the issue." - Kokomo City Transit Manager

After seeing all the information provided, 94% of participants said they are now better equipped to recognize and report human trafficking.

XPO Logistics Implements Employee Donation Campaign

as part of DEI Initiatives

XPO Logistics' involvement with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) began in 2016 when the company implemented TAT training for its staff. Since then, they have increased their level of engagement commendably, moving to a platinum-level sponsorship of TAT in 2021 and 2022.

Additionally, at the beginning of 2022, XPO's Less-Than-Truckload HR team reached out to TAT to discuss ways they could engage their employees around donation and volunteerism as part of their DE&I initiatives. TAT and XPO began working on an August employee donation campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking and how victims of human trafficking are disproportionately women and girls of color. The information highlighted how traffickers often prey upon vulnerabilities and rely on systems of racism and discrimination to help facilitate opportunities for exploitation.

LaQuenta Jacobs, XPO’s chief diversity officer, said, “The transportation industry is uniquely positioned to help prevent modern-day human trafficking through education. XPO is proud to stand with TAT in raising driver awareness.”

Additionally, the campaign showed how members of the trucking and truck stop industry are driving change in this area and can be points of recovery and safety for victims of human trafficking. From August 1-12th XPO Logistics notified their teams of the opportunity to donate to TAT through a co-branded donation page or payroll deduction. In two weeks, XPO employees raised $6,075 to further TAT's work and mission. XPO's foundation contributed another $10,000 to TAT for a total contribution of $41,075.

"To see XPO Logistics taking the TAT message deeper into the heart of their company while also deepening the conversation around human trafficking by intentionally highlighting how many communities of color are disproportionately affected by trafficking is very encouraging. By educating corporate employees about systemic and societal factors contributing to trafficking, we can help mobilize them, both behind desks and behind wheels, on what this crime looks like in our communities and how to be part of the solution." - Esther Goetsch, TAT Executive Director.

September 2022 | Calendar of Events

September 5 | New York State Police Forest Rangers 2-hour LE briefing, Kylla Lanier, TAT Deputy Director/Senior Director of Public Sector Engagement and Liz Williamson, TAT Training Specialist presenting.

September 7 | Beaver County PA Task Force presentation, virtual, Liz Williamson, TAT Training Specialist presenting.

September 7-9 | Guardianes del Asfalto press conference with CANACAR, El Pozo de Vida, SICT and Consejo Ciudadano, Cancun, Mexico, Kylla Lanier, TAT Deputy Director/Senior Director of Public Sector Engagement attending and presenting.

September 7 | Tri-State Task Force presentation, virtual, Liz Williamson, TAT Training Specialist presenting.

September 8 | Florida Bus & Casino Coalition Build, virtual, Louie Greek, CB Specialist, Liz Williamson, Survivor Leader/Training Specialist and Annie Sovcik, Senior Director of Programs & Strategic Initiatives, presenting.

September 10 | McKesson Regional Private Fleet Annual Meeting, Houston, TX, Chris Moreno, Industry Training Program Specialist, presenting.

September 13 | Illinois Public Transportation Association Fall Conference, O'Fallon, IL, Lexi Higgins, BOTL Deputy Director, presenting.

September 13 | FDP at Bridgestone/TA corporate event, Nashville, TN, Brandy Belton, FDP Director, attending.

September 14 | North Carolina Department of Public Instruction webinar, virtual, Lexi Higgins, BOTL Deputy Director, presenting.

September 15 | Oklahoma Department of Education Office of School Safety and Security webinar, virtual, Lexi Higgins, BOTL Deputy Director, presenting.

September 15 | Volvo University's "Real Conversations" Series: Connecting the Dots, virtual panel discussion with Esther Goetsch, TAT Executive Director, Liz Williamson, TAT Training Specialist/Survivor Leader, with guests Wade Arvizu, Associate Director of Employment Pathways, Survivor Alliance, Courtney Baldwin, Survivor Leader and TAT Advisory Committee member.

September 15-18 | Richard Crane Memorial Truck Show and stakeholder briefing, St. Ignace, MI, Brandy Belton, FDP Director and Laura Cyrus, Senior Director of Industry Training and Outreach, attending.

September 18-22 | Rapid City, South Dakota, CVSA Fall Conference, Kylla Lanier, TAT Deputy Director/Senior Director of Public Sector Engagement attending, presenting at Human Trafficking Prevention Program and General Assembly Award Presentation, Dylan Wecht, TAT Public Sector Engagement Specialist, attending.

September 21 | Honda Sustainability Symposium, Dublin, OH, Laura Cyrus, Senior Director of Industry Training and Outreach, presenting.

September 21 | 2022 Tire Industry Safety Leadership Summit, Nashville, TN, Esther Goetsch, TAT Executive Director, presenting.

September 21-22 | Automotive Logistics Global event, Detroit, MI, Laura Cyrus, Senior Director of Industry Training and Outreach, attending.

September 22 | Colorado CDL Examiner Recertification Seminar, virtual, Chris Moreno, Industry Training Program Specialist, presenting.

September 22 | Iowa Bus & Casino Coalition Build, virtual, Louie Greek, CB Specialist, Liz Williamson, Survivor Leader/Training Specialist and Annie Sovcik, Senior Director of Programs & Strategic Initiatives, presenting.

September 27 | Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) Foundation Pipeline Construction Safety Roundtable Conference, Houston, TX, Annie Sovcik, Senior Director of Programs & Strategic Initiatives, presenting.

September 28 | FDP at Ryder Systems corporate event, Miami, FL, Brandy Belton, FDP Director, attending.

Thank you to our copper level and above individual donors!

Platinum:

Andy and Karin Larsen

Gold:

Jonathan and Jill Lim, Bob Paris, Douglas Kegler, Anna McCoy

Silver:

Scott and Terry Koch, Anne & Merlin Namuth, Nicholas and Jane Nagel

Bronze:

Mark and Julie Mihevc, Chris Ripani, Stephanie Guindy, Runbeck/Mowat Fund, Ted Glickley, Grinnell Family, Mike Poirer

Copper:

Patti Gillette, Linda Burtwistle, Mike and Karen Kuykendall, Don Blake, Scott Perry, Dan and Emily Dykstra, Michael Nelson, Jacqueline Daves Isser, Tod Kroon, Lou and Rhonda Leeburg, Charlton & Laura Wimberly, Judith Ridgley, The Moroun Family

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