United Abolitionists: May 2024 Highlights and Achievements

June 14, 2024 | BY TOMAS LARES

Greetings Abolitionists,

This May has been another impactful month for us at United Abolitionists. From critical meetings to expanding partnerships, here are some highlights from our recent activities and what they mean for our ongoing mission to stop human trafficking.

UA May Accomplishments, Meetings, Presentations, Trainings & Partnerships:

Met with Attorney for Upcoming Civic & Criminal Case on Human Trafficking

Due to the sensitivity and scale of this case, minimal information can be shared with the public at this time.

United Abolitionists Advocates Trained on the New Hotline System

We’ve partnered with Protocol Technologies as we expand the capacity of our 24/7 hotline, which has been officially active since March 2010.

Met with Advent Health

Discussions included the history of training offered to their employees and potential new customized training for various departments.

Cinco de Mayo Event at the Mexican Consulate in Orlando, FL

An award and recognition were given to one of the United Abolitionists survivors whom UA was able to assist via our hotline.

UA Hosted and Facilitated the United Nations Women’s Delegation

A group of stakeholders from Tajikistan came to Orlando to learn about various shelters and programs in Central Florida. The four-day visit covered child abuse/welfare, domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking vetted services.

Strategic Conference Call with Carrie Grace Lopez (Fort Worth, TX)

Discussed next steps in creating the ‘Raising the Standard’ conference to equip individuals and stakeholders in the anti-trafficking movement to serve, work, and collaborate with high standards and from a place of self-care and healing.

Men Against Human Trafficking Meeting

Discussion of next steps included creating a video series of ex-buyers and a toolkit for those seeking to get involved with the ‘Ending the Demand’ campaign.

Created Blueprint for the Design and Decoration of the New Orlando International Airport Human Trafficking Victims ‘Soft Office’

Opening date to be determined.

University of South Florida Trafficking in Persons TIP Lab BRIGHT Program Launched in St. Petersburg, FL

UA is a lead partner in the development of this program.

The Villages of Florida Presentation

United Abolitionists and Homeland Security Investigations presented to a large group at The Villages community.

Lake-Sumter Counties Human Trafficking Task Force Meeting

Great attendance and collaboration as we gathered for our quarterly meeting and planned through January 2025.

Meeting with World Orlando Delegation from Madagascar and Comoros

The Honorable Florida Judge Wilfredo Martinez, Dr. Jessica Wickey, Director of the University of Central Florida Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, and I presented best practices in the anti-human trafficking movement.