This event will raise public awareness that preventing human trafficking cannot be accomplished alone. Instead, we must build partnerships across all sectors of society. We will also address the protection of exploited persons, prosecution of perpetrators and human trafficking policies.
Dr. Teresa Rachelle Merriweather, a human trafficking expert and survivor, will be the keynote speaker.
“Human trafficking at high rates affects the most vulnerable in our communities, such as youth and adults experiencing homelessness, substance abuse and domestic violence, persons in eldercare, Indigenous communities and other populations that have been overlooked,” said Tamar Swain, president of the Flint Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Swain added: “Our goal to bring awareness and the needed work to better equip us all to recognized the signs of human trafficking to prevent it.”
Based on the 2024 Human Trafficking Data Collection Activities report from the U.S. Department of Justice: A total of 1,912 persons were referred to U.S. attorneys for human trafficking offenses in fiscal year 2022. This was a 26% increase from the 1,519 persons referred in 2012. The number of persons prosecuted for human trafficking more than doubled from 2012 to 2022 (from 805 persons to 1,656 persons, respectively). The number of persons convicted of a human trafficking offense increased from 578 persons in 2012 to 1,118 persons in 2022.
Pastor Mark A Staton II of New Creation Church of God. said “The Church believes that every human has value because all humans are image bearers of God. Human trafficking has no place in our world as it violates the most basic human rights. Child predators and traffickers often use online gaming to groom their victims, so this is plaguing all of our communities. The Church must be an advocate and must take a seat at the table of unity to bring this fight out of the shadows into the light John 3: 20-21.”
Human Trafficking Forum
Saturday, February 22
11 A.M. – 3 P.M.
- Please contact the NCC church office at (810) 732-0500 for more details or to register for the event. Pastor Mark A. Staton II is the Pastor of New Creation Church of God.
- The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946 that is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations. The Flint Area (MI) Chapter of the Links Incorporated was chartered in 1979. Learn more by visiting flintarealinks.org.
- The Flint Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a public service sorority serving the Flint community for over 70 years. Learn more about the Flint Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at www.FlintDeltas.org.