A Year of Impact – Stop Human Trafficking 2023 in Review

A Year of Impact - Stop Human Trafficking 2023 in Review

December 29, 2023 | BY TOMAS LARES

As we close out 2023, let’s take a moment to reflect on the remarkable strides we’ve made together in the fight against human trafficking. Your support has been instrumental in every achievement. Here’s a look at our impact:

We also assisted in multiple Sting Operations across Florida, rescuing numerous victims:

Polk County (September): 21 victims recovered
U.S. Marshals Sting (April-May): 33 victims recovered
Polk County (February): 24 victims recovered
Putnam County (December): 9 victims recovered

Thank you to First Presbyterian Church of Orlando for generously providing us with office space and storage. This crucial support has enabled us to operate more efficiently and focus our resources on direct services.

In addition, we’ve made significant strides in partnership and community outreach:

Valencia College Collaboration: We were named the primary partner by Valencia College, School of Public Safety, enhancing our training, conference, and meeting capabilities.
Awareness and Outreach: Our 15th Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Month events reached over 1,083 participants.
Holiday Initiatives: We provided Thanksgiving meal baskets to 35 survivors and organized a Christmas drive for 10 survivors at our safe house shelters.

Legislative Advocacy and Policy Development:

FL Human Trafficking Legislative Working Group: Co-chaired with Cpl. Alan Wilkett, we prepared human trafficking bills for the upcoming January 2024 legislative session.
Safe Housing Standards Certification Bill SB 1690: Co-chaired with the FL Department of Children & Families, this bill was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on May 16, 2023, marking a significant advancement in safe housing for trafficking survivors.

Vision for 2024

16th Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Days: A Hybrid Conference scheduled for January 23-25, 2024, in partnership with Valencia College School of Public Safety, and the University of Central Florida. [Registration Link]
14th Annual Polaris Star Awards Gala: On January 26, 2024, in collaboration with UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management and It’s A Penalty (NFL Super Bowl outreach group). [Secure Your Seat or Table]

Expanding Our Reach and Impact

UCF Rosen College Office: In October 2023, we opened our office at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, continuing our partnership to facilitate various trainings for industries like hospitality, tourism, transportation, sports, and events.
Partnership with Orange County Government: We’re establishing a direct partnership with the Orange County Government and will have an official office at the adult women’s crisis shelter. This evolves from our previous agreement with Aspire Health Partners, which operates the shelter under the Orange County Government contract.
Orlando International Airport ‘Soft Office’: We will also open a ‘Soft Office’ at Orlando International Airport, where we’ll be conducting training for all airport employees.
USF Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Risk to Resilience Research Lab: As the primary NGO partner, we’re helping to build this statewide repository for anonymous human trafficking data, a project under Senate Bill 7064 passed this year.
Human Trafficking 101 Video Library: Our video library, thanks to Kingdom Strategies’ sponsorship, will be completed by early Spring 2024. These professional videos, designed for onboarding staff across various sectors.

Continued Leadership and Collaboration:

Co-chairing the FL HT Legislative Working Group with Cpl. Alan Wilkett, Vice-Chair, Florida Alliance On Human Trafficking.
Joining a national training team alongside Carrie Lopez, Freedom Shields, including Homeland Security Investigations and other leaders.
Developing the Florida Commission On Human Trafficking sub-groups:
Tri-County Alliance On Human Trafficking (covering Orange, Osceola & Seminole Counties).
United Against Human Trafficking Lake County.
Annual Florida Joint Forum On Human Trafficking, uniting all 26 human trafficking task forces in Florida, scheduled for November 6, 2024.

Your support and partnership make these advancements possible. As we continue to expand our reach and impact, we are grateful for your continued commitment to our cause.

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey towards a world free from trafficking.

Freedom 4ALL,