MAY 2014                                                                            Vol 2, Number 14
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Nola for personal letter

Dear HTAP Friend,

It's been a busy Spring here. We've held Train the Trainer programs, made Point of Contact, Point of Rescue presentations, participated in large community events in Marathon and locally and are getting ready for 6 ARTREACH programs this summer which is more than we usually do all year. 
HTAP is growing and we are introducing our newest employee in this issue.
 I will be speaking at the Zonta International Convention to the Golden Z Clubs in June in Orlando and The Trafficking in America Conference in July in West Palm Beach, FL. 
We have multiple Point of Contact, Point of Rescue presentations scheduled and are working on a new target group.
We continue to need volunteers and support and appreciate all the help we have been given recently through generous private donations. 
 
Sincerely,
Nola Theiss
Executive Director
Trafficking in American Conference. 
I met Yvonne Williams, the Executive Director of Trafficking in America, in New York in March at the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women where she spoke on educating youth, girls and boys. We both realized that we had similar missions and interests and soon I was scheduled to speak at their upcoming conference.

West Palm Beach, FL
July 16-18, 2014

Click on the link below for more information:


At the U.N event, I attended many workshops and presentations on the importance of involving men and boys in our efforts to combat trafficking and realized that many countries have so much to offer us in programs. It's all about collaboration and sharing insights!!
Point of Contact, Point of Rescue
Recently, Nola Theiss and Yaro Garcia of ACT were invited to speak at the monthly Lee Memorial Health Care System Board of Directors' Meeting. In a packed room, the program was described and questions were answered. Following the meeting, additional trainings were set up through September for safety officers and other personnel at all 4 hospitals in the system.
We also conducted a training program for representatives of all the libraries in the Lee County Library System. 
We hope to expand the program next year to hotels and have been working with a number of organizations around the country which have prototypes of successful programs.
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 WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

 

 

ARTREACH Train the Trainer in Ft. Myers and Milwaukee

 

 

The women of SalusCare of Fort Myers, T.L.C Center and the wonderful staff of the Neu-Life Community Center in Milwaukee came to all day Train the Trainer programs that condense the elements of ARTREACH into an all-day workshop to prepare the participants to conduct or volunteer at ARTREACH programs. The ladies from SalusCare were introduced to an explanation of human trafficking and shared some of their own experiences. Inspired,the women created 3 paintings. One group painted two profiles: one gray and one orange. The dark profile represents the trauma and the darkness of a human trafficking victim. The orange profile, and the rest of the painting represents how healing and hope comes after such darkness. Another group wanted to depict how our choices can affect our future. One girl chose a light door, filled with promise and purpose where she eventually becomes a businesswomen. The other girl chose a dark door with bars and a lock, where her purpose is to be trafficked. The last group, wanted to depict how human trafficking is a global issue and decided to paint the Earth with two hands wrapped in chains. The ladies did a wonderful job in their paintings and we will be using them in future presentations and demonstrations and hope some of them will be volunteering with us. 

We have included the finished versions of the two paintings which were created at the Neu-Life Community Center in April in Milwaukee. 

   

  

June 19th Special Community Event  
 
8:30am to 12 pm at Life Church: CEU's available
As a service of the Southwest Florida Regional Human Trafficking Coalition's outreach and education efforts for the community, we are conducting this free training.  Local experts and authors will present. Community members and professionals are welcome. There is no charge for this training. 
 
The Coalition is the outgrowth of the original human trafficking task force in Lee County, Florida, begun in 2005. It serves as the unifying group that joins the grass roots non-profits and the governmental and non-governmental organizations which work together to fight trafficking regionally. Through collaboration of its many partners, it has a 24-hour hotline, provides victim services, runs prevention programs and active outreach efforts and provides trainings like this and other large community efforts like Slave Free Southwest Florida events on a regular basis. It is dependent on donations from community members, grants and the support of its member organizations.

For more information, please email: swflhtcoalsec@gmail.com
 
 

 

 

BLING BASH TO SMASH SLAVERY UPDATE!

 
Nola Theiss Presenting Yaroslaba Garcia with the Human Trafficking Partner of the Year Award
Thank you to all those who donated, volunteered, and came out to our second Annual Bling Bash to Smash Slavery Fundraiser. At the event, we presented Yaroslaba Garcia with the Human Trafficking Partner of the Year award for her amazing service not only as a partner with HTAP but to the community at large. 
With all the money counted, we are proud to say that we made $9,400.00! At last year's Bling Bash we made $8,000.00. Professional Auctioneer Jean Baer was a big hit. Thanks to all the businesses which contributed items and help, especially Cip's Place and Eileen Fisher.

Bling Bash has been a tremendous success in not only spreading awareness of human trafficking but funding our prevention programs. We are currently planning where and when we will hold the next Bling Bash as we may have outgrown the current location. 

 

 

 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SUMMER ARTREACH PROGRAMS!
Artreach Logo

Calling out to our wonderful volunteers! Summer is here again, and it's time to work with kids on our ARTREACH program. We have six ARTREACH programs scheduled for the summer, and we are going to need all the help we can get. If you are interested in volunteering for ARTREACH, please send an email stating which dates you are available. You do not have to cover each class. This summer we are experimenting with the format and including boys in some of the programs. Volunteer or get more information at:

info@humantraffickingawareness.org

  

MAY 2014 

Our Mother's Home: May 27th-31st
Location:  San Carlos Park in South Ft. Myers. 
Times: 10:00am-12:00pm (all girls)
 
JUNE 2014
Second Haitian Baptist Church: June 16th-20th
Location: 3106 Broadway, Fort Myers FL, 33901
Times: 10:00am-12:00pm (boys and girls)
 

JULY 2014

Boys and Girls Club: July 7th-11th

Location: 1633 Joust Street, Fort Myers FL 33912

Times: 10:00am-12:00pm (boys and girls)

 

Heights Center: July 21, 22, 24, 25

Location: 15570 Hagie Drive Fort Myers FL, 33901
Times: 9:30am-11:30am (separate boys and girls programs)

 

AUGUST 2014

Cypress Lake Center for the Arts:

Location: Panther Lane, Ft. Myers, FL

Times: TBA

 

NOLA THEISS SPEAKS IN MARATHON, FLORIDA ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
 
On Tuesday May 13, 2014, the Zonta Club of Marathon, FL sponsored an all day event for law enforcement and the community. This is the second bi-annual event held in Marathon. Among those speaking were Human Trafficking and PSC Coordinator at the Miami U.S. Attorney's Office Barbara Martinez and FBI Special Agent Amanda Detterline. Nola Theiss spoke about community education efforts to identify and assist victims of expoloitation and to facilitate reporting of suspected activity. The importance of providing education on human trafficking is essential to eradicating modern day slavery and preventing children from being trafficked.  Law enforcement, city officials and community members participated in the conference. The organizer, Judy Langley and the Zonta Club of Marathon have been actively involved in anit-trafficking efforts in Monroe County for years.
Congratulations to them!
  
  
NOLA THEISS: RECIPIENT OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION SILVER GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARD 


Recently, Nola Theiss was awarded the Silver Good Citzenship Award by the Sons of the American Revolution Caloosa Chapter for her work combating human trafficking. Nola gave a presentation on human trafficking at their April meeting and was surprised by the presentation of the medal. The President of the chapter, Lee Matson, stated that Theiss's organization and efforts are "consistent with the mission of the Sons of the American Revolution." 


NEW EMPLOYEE, NEW UNIVERSITY GRADUATE

 

We are pleased to introduce Jacklynn Rivera as H.T.A.P's new Communications Liaison. She will be working with volunteers, the ARTREACH Program, social media outlets and the Newsletter. Jacklynn began at HTAP as a student intern and did such a great job that we decided to hire her full time.  Jackie has worked with the ARTREACH program, using her artistic talents to inspire and guide the participants.

 
Jacklynn recently graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a degree in Forensic Studies and is excited to work for us. During the commencement ceremony, Director of Development of the Alumni Association, Paul Allen, made a speech about those who had graduated earlier from Florida Gulf Coast University and made an impact in the community. To Jackie's great surprise, Paul Allen mentioned Nola Theiss as a graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University who built Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships from the ground up and is continuing the battle of ending modern day slavery. It's great to know that those at Florida Gulf Coast University recognize our efforts. To read Jackie's story of her graduation day, click on the link below.

 
RESOURCES


In the media, Human Trafficking is often portrayed as girls being the only victims in the multi-billion dollar sex trafficking industry. However, studies have shown that boys are also vulnerable to be taken and forced into labor trafficking and sex trafficking. EPCAT recently published a report "And Boys Too" which documents the prevalence of boys and men as victims and as traffickers and part of the demand in both sex and labor trafficking as are girls and women. The link below will give you the complete report.  We will be doing 6 ARTREACH programs this summer and will be trying some new formats to include boys. We also hope to do some additional program development for boys over the course of the next six months. 
 

 
Georgetown Law also produced a new report on marginalized girls that is important to read.


HTAP IN THE NEWS!


Nola Theiss was featured in a "Sanibel Secrets" article in the Sanibel Captiva Islander Newspaper for her efforts over the past 10 years on Sanibel and in Southwest Florida. To read more of her interview with the Sanibel Captiva Islander, please follow the link below:

 

 

                                                  
                                           

#BRING BACK OUR GIRLS

 

 

 In light of the recent events  in Nigeria, we send our sincerest prayers and wishes for the Nigerian young women to make a safe return to their families. Children are targets globally and locally and we support the efforts of all those working to help them regionally and around the world. 

 

 

Contact Us: info@humantraffickingawareness.org

 

239-415-2635      
fax: 239-292-0230    239-292-3834    877-395-1737  

 

 

Mailing address: PO Box 1113   Sanibel, FL 33957

 

Our Ft. Myers Office is located in South Ft. Myers. For directions, please email: info@humantraffickingawareness.org

  

 

                                                    

 

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