The Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force on Friday will host its eighth annual Alabama Human Trafficking Summit in an effort to promote public awareness of the issue.
More than 235 summit attendees are expected to be on hand at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel Convention Center at 201 Tallapoosa St. The event is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude at 4:45 p.m.
The summit will highlight a public awareness and video campaign for the Alabama Council of Developmental Disabilities and Alabama Department of Mental Health on Trafficking of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities.
Gov. Kay Ivey, who is a featured summit speaker, touted the collaborative effort of leaders across the state to address the critical issue of human trafficking.
“Unfortunately, human trafficking is happening around us, but I am proud that Alabama continues to fight back against it,” declared Ivey. “The first step in combatting this tragedy is education, and I am proud that folks from different professions will be gathering for the 8th annual Alabama Human Trafficking Summit. The fact that we have members of law enforcement, guidance counselors, teachers, nurses and others under one roof, putting their heads together on this issue, can bring us hope.”
The governor added, “I look forward to briefly addressing the group Friday and to once again reaffirm the fact that my Administration stands ready to support their efforts. We also cannot ignore what is happening on our Southern Border. There are changes that can be and should be made at the federal level so that we can put an end to trafficking. I am confident progress can be made, and I am certain Alabama is doing our part to help combat this.”
Attendees will learn of the efforts currently underway to combat human trafficking as the summit is set to feature the K-12 Human Trafficking Curriculum by the Alabama State Department of Education, the “TraffickingFree Zone” initiative, and the Alabama Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance.
A discussion on the topic of domestic minor sex trafficking will be hosted by a youth provider panel. Breakout sessions will address law enforcement, faith-based, medical, service provider, legal and educational responses to human trafficking.
The following speakers and presenters are scheduled to appear at the summit:
- Kay Ivey – Governor, State of Alabama
- Pat McCay – chair, Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force
- William Hough – special agent, Alabama ICAC Task Force
- Jeff Davis – producer, FowlerDavis
- Doug Gilmer – resident agent in charge, Homeland Security Investigations
- Jonathan Thompson – health & physical ed. specialist, Alabama State Department of Education
- Carrie Hill – co-chair, Child Trafficking Solutions Project
- Lynn Bius – executive director, Alabama Network of Child Advocacy Centers
- Jennifer Rash – editor in chief, The Alabama Baptist
- Ashley Hodges – professor, UAB School of Nursing
- Skylor Hearn – director of government relations, Clearview AI
- Cameron Perry – special agent, Alabama Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance
- Patrick Lamb – Assistant U.S. Attorney, Middle District Alabama
- Mark Colson – president, Alabama Trucking Association
- Sallye Longshore – director, Alabama Department of Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention
- Chris Ziebach – founder, Camille Place
- Carolyn Potter – CEO, The WellHouse
- Alexa James – CEO, Blanket Fort Hope
- Amy Lamb-Eng – program director, Alabama Head Injury Foundation
- Caroline Bundy – director of development, AIDS Alabama
- Audrey Jordan – Assistant Attorney General, State of Alabama
- Chris Lim – coordinator, Alabama Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance
Established in 2014, the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force holds quarterly public meetings.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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