March – 2009 – Not For Sale: End Human Trafficking and Slavery

Archive for March, 2009

Introducing the Abolitionist Academy

March 11, 2009 Posted by Kilian Moote

Attention College Leaders

The Abolitionist Academy hosted by the Not For Sale Campaign this summer in San Francisco is now accepting applications. For more information or to apply for the Academy email theacademy hailing from notforsalecampaign from the TLD of org. Also, see below the contact information on the “freeze-in” and how you might be able to contribute to your local task force.

Abolitionist Summer Academy:

The Abolitionist Summer Academy in San Francisco is an intensive two-week course for individuals who have a desire to become “Backyard Investigators”. Attendees will be educated on how to properly record, document, and map the various types of human trafficking. Through hands on education, training, and meetings with expert’s individuals will learn how to identify probable cases of human trafficking, how to properly record cases of human trafficking, and how to confront slavery in supply chains. Attendees will be equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to become the investigators in their backyards.

Upon completing the Academy Attendees will:

Understand the various forms of human trafficking inside the United States
Have personal experience and knowledge on how to work with victims and those at risk for trafficking
Know how to best document cases and map human trafficking in their area
Have an understanding how to effectively address forced labor in supply chains
Be able to investigate forced labor in specific product and supply chains
Be certified as an investigator who can document cases nationally and internationally for Not For Sale

Mapping Cases Abroad:

Participants who complete the course and receive a certificate verifying their completion of the mapping program will be provided with the opportunity to work with one of Not For Sale Campaign’s international projects.

Academy Dates:*

Session One: May 25th-June 5th (Arriving 24th; leaving 6th)
Session Two: June 22nd-July 3rd (Arriving June 21st; leaving July 4th)
Session Three: August 3rd-August 14th (Arriving Aug. 2nd; leaving August 15th)
*Housing space is limited for each session. Housing will be allocated on a first-come first-serve basis.

Cost:

Academy: $499

Southerners Fight Slavery! Georgians featured on CNN

March 10, 2009 Posted by David Batstone

Georgians Advocate to Fund Services for Survivors

Not For Sale – Georgia has teamed up with State Senators Jack Murphy & Renee Untermann to fund needed services for children who have been victims of sex slavery on the streets of Atlanta and around the state. Volunteers representing Not For Sale – Georgia were at the Gold Dome last week passing out white roses and reminding legislators that it is time to stand up for Georgians who are victims of modern-day slavery. Sen. Murphy introduced legislation that would add a $5 surcharge to those who enter the numerous strip clubs in the state. All of the money would go to fund counseling, educational, and restorative services for sexually exploited children.

Check out Not For Sale Georgia reps Brendan Horgan, Cara Holland, Liz Hibbard and Faith Riley in this week’s CNN piece on advocating for victims’ rights. Click here to watch the clip!

If you’d like to help Not For Sale – Georgia pass SB 91, please take three quick steps:

Sign your name to the petition at www.weurgeyou.com
Call Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle’s office (404.656.5030) and tell him you’d like him to support the bill
Contact our Georgia State Director at markh hailing from notforsalecampaign from the TLD of org“>markh hailing from notforsalecampaign from the TLD of org

Not For Sale TEXAS Gives Their Update!

Hey Y’all!

The Houston team is working in conjunction with a couple of other non-profit organizations and coalitions in the area to advocate for more effective laws concerning human trafficking in Texas. We currently have 11 State and House bills directly and indirectly addressing human trafficking prevention, prosecution and protection of victims including legislation introducing age specific curriculum to inform educators, counselors and students to the risks and vulnerability of children.

We have established solid contacts in the Beaumont area and participated in an event in Beaumont in January and are working with the contacts to schedule the Backyard Abolitionist Tour in the Golden Triangle area in 2009.

We have established solid contacts in the San Antonio area and met with them in early March. We are working with these contacts to schedule the Backyard Abolitionist Tour in San Antonio soon.

We are planning a trip to El Paso within the next couple of months to try to establish contacts and workers in that area. One of our contacts in San Antonio has volunteered to go with us as she is from El Paso and knows quite a few people there. She feels confident she will be able to help us get some training going and get some work going on there.

We are bringing the Backyard Abolitionist Tour to The Woodlands the end of April and are working on bringing the tour back throughout 2009 to visit local churches and universities.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the South!

- Dennis & Bobbie Mark
Co-Directors, Houston, TX

GHANA: We Did It!

March 4, 2009 Posted by David Batstone

We did it in Ghana!

Several weeks ago we alerted you to the urgent need to build a safe house for children near Lake Volta in Ghana. Due to your generosity, we have been able to open a Freedom Center in Tema and start the construction of a vocational center in Kete-Krachi. A group of 7 volunteers went to help with their labor and during their stay 6 children were rescued. Your support makes a big difference in the lives of these children!