April 2024 Update: Expanding Impact and New Partnerships – United Abolitionists

April 2024 Update: Expanding Impact and New Partnerships - United Abolitionists

May 09, 2024 | BY TOMAS LARES

April was been a month full of action, learning, and new beginnings for us at United Abolitionists. Here are some highlights from our recent activities and what they mean for our ongoing mission to stop human trafficking.

Accomplishments, Meetings, Presentations, Trainings & Partnerships:

University of South Florida’s Trafficking In Persons Lab: We are a frontline partner for the mandatory human trafficking data collection in the state of Florida under Senate Bill 7064 and a frontline partner with the BRIGHT project to create a statewide vetted resource directory.

University of Central Florida’s Center for the Study of Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery: We are a founding member for the Center and has been tasked as a main consultant developing curriculum and academic efforts.

Florida Statewide Human Trafficking Legislative Working Group: Our group met this past month to dissect the 2024 legislative session and began to plan for the 2025 session.

Stay With Me Launch

We have a history of supporting new and emerging organizations in the fight against human trafficking. Stay With Me is a new organization in the Orlando area that will be focusing on the ladies/guys working the streets in the ‘Red Light’ districts.

Save the Children Conference

One of our trainer’s Cpl [RET] Alan Wilkett presented at this conference on behalf of United Abolitionists.

Nicole’s Housewarming Celebration

We celebrated with Survivor Leader Nicole at her housewarming party and will be assisting her in getting furniture and other needed household items.

Frontier Airlines Presentation

We presented to all the Frontier managers the need for training their staff and secured their partnership for the new Transportation Coalition at the Orlando International Airport.

Liberty Bell Award

I was nominated by State Attorney Andrew Bain and was the recipient of the Orange County Bar Association ‘Liberty Bell’ Award for all my efforts in the fight against human trafficking specially assisting law enforcement and being a founding member of the Diversion Program for survivors of human trafficking.

Daytona Dream Center Presentation

UA Team members Brenda Cloud & Dr. Anthony Davis presented at the 1st Annual Trafficking event at the Daytona Dream Center.

Mexican Consulate Partnership

We have officially partnered with the Mexican government in the fight against human trafficking. We will continue to assist victims identified as Mexican citizens who are being brought over the border and trafficked.

Tri-County Jail Meeting

We met with jail ministries/organizations working in the jails and specially with survivors of human trafficking. Both men & women are being identified. Our team will assist them in their transition out of the jails.

Central Florida District Rotary Presentation

I was named the New District 6980 Rotary Chair to Stop Human Trafficking and presented to 45 Rotarian Leaders on how they can get involved to stop human trafficking. Special thanks to elect Chair Sonya Hightower LaBosco!

Ongoing Programs

New Hotline System

Our New Hotline System which will enable us to answer more calls, multiple lines, more secured and multi-faceted. Our New # is 888-88-HOPE-1

UA New Human Trafficking 101 Training Course Promo Video: Our modules for HT 101 are being edited and looking at completion this Spring.

UA New Learning Management System Platform

We have partnered with Vig for our Training & Learning Center as our Learning Management System to manage professionally all our training courses, modules, etc. Here is a draft of the New Training Portal. This platform will enable us to train multiple individuals and groups at any given time.