News

The Honorable Robert R. Lung

District Court Judge, 18th Judicial Circuit of Colorado
Chair (2020) & Member (2018-2020)
U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
Castle Rock, CO

Judge Robert Lung currently serves as a District Court Judge in Colorado.  He also provides presentations nationally and internationally on issues such as human trafficking, childhood trauma and resiliency to an exceptionally diverse audience base including the military, the medical field, the educational field (including the U.S. Department of Education), various judiciaries, faith-based organizations, first-responders, mental health professionals and law enforcement.  In 2016 Judge Lung was appointed by then Colorado Chief Justice Nancy Rice to serve as the Judicial Representative of the Colorado Human Trafficking Council and he was elected the Vice-Chair from 2018 to 2020.  In 2017 Judge Lung was Presidentially appointed to the National Advisory Council on the Sex Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States on which he served from 2017 to 2022.  Judge Lung was also Presidentially appointed to the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking from 2018 to 2020 and was elected the Chair in 2020.

In 2021 Judge Lung served as an Adjunct Professor at St. Thomas University College of Law and taught Human Rights Lawyering. Judge Lung is also a consultant with Office for Victims of Crime under the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office on Trafficking in Persons under the U.S. Administration for Children and Families, the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons under the U.S. State Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In his “free time” Judge Lung works on writing his first book, a biography about hope and resiliency, and he endeavors to keep up with his two adopted sons in hiking and downhill mountain biking.

The Honorable Suleman Masood

Council Chair, U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
Fairfax, VA

Suleman Masood is a subject matter expert on domestic labor trafficking and male victimization. Since 2013, his advocacy experience allowed him to work exclusively with state and federal government agencies and non-profit organizations. Mr. Masood’s expertise includes collaborating with victim service providers and task forces on advocating for ways to improve the quality of services for trafficking survivors. This work emphasizes the need to build partnerships with survivors and ensure that strategies and implementation influence a survivor-informed approach. Mr. Masood currently serves as Council Chair for the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. Through Mr. Masood’s leadership, the Advisory Council provides recommendations on federal anti-trafficking policies to the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF).

Mr. Masood’s partnerships with service providers and first responders include serving as a program specialist on behalf of the Office on Trafficking in Persons and working as a consultant for various prosecutors’ offices across the United States. In 2017, Mr. Masood participated in the Human Trafficking Leadership Academy, a pilot leadership development fellowship under the Office on Trafficking in Persons and the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center. Mr. Masood’s cohort was tasked with creating a recommendations report and was credited with coining the phrase “survivor-informed,” which was adopted and published by the Administration for Children and Families. Mr. Masood graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Criminology/Victimology from Fresno State University and currently attends the University of the District of Columbia – David A. Clarke School of Law, where he aspires to create meaningful change within the criminal justice system.

The Honorable Bella Hounakey

Member, U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
Program Specialist, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, D.C.

Bella Hounakey is a Human Trafficking Survivor Advocate dedicated to supporting victims as they navigate life after victimization. As a member of the President’s U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, Ms. Hounakey contributed to the landmark Executive Order on Combating Human Trafficking and Online Child Exploitation and leads trafficking education and victim advocacy initiatives.

Ms. Hounakey is currently employed at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) serving children at risk of exploitation. She provides consulting services and technical assistance to NGO; domestic and foreign governments to achieve the goals of the TVPA. Ms. Hounakey received her Bachelor’s and Masters degree from Western Michigan University.

The Academy strongly encourages all participants to attend the Academy in-person at the St. Thomas University College of Law campus in Miami, Florida.  However, for those who cannot travel, the Academy may be viewed remotely.  Please note that the remote format will be a livestream of the event only (no discussion boards) and must be viewed by remote participants in real time.  A link for the live sessions will be provided to online participants to view each course synchonously via Zoom (no recordings will be available once the live session has ended).  The ability to ask questions of instructors or directly participate in working groups will be unavailable for those who choose the remote attendance option.

On January 11, 2019, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy in partnership with A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center (AVITWEC) offered a specialized training entitled Breaking Chains and Breaking Cycles:  The Intersection of Human Trafficking and the Opioid Crisis in Ft. Myers, Florida.  Over 100 participants – consisting of government officials, healthcare providers, law enforcement, attorneys, nongovernment organizations, and the community at large – came together to fight modern day slavery.

Professor Dr. Roza Pati, Founder and Director of the Academy, wrote to participants that the training was especially relevant given that the national opioid crisis claims 15 lives in Florida on a daily basis,¹ and Florida ranks third in the nation for reported incidents of human trafficking.²

The full-day training consisted of four distinct sessions tailored to issues facing southwest Florida.  The Academy’s managing director, Liza Smoker, gave opening remarks followed by an invocation by Pastor Marjorie Ford and district welcome from Ft. Myers Council Member Johnny W. Streets, Jr.  Ramona Miller, Founder of AVITWEC, and Kyla Massey, survivor of human trafficking, set the stage by presenting the Emmy-award winning documentary, Trapped, in which they both were featured.

Academy Graduate Fellows, Tessa Juste and Marina Rakopyan, candidates in the J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights at St. Thomas Law School, presented the first session on Vulnerabilities & Human Trafficking.  This was followed by Human Trafficking: Law Enforcement Perspectives by Corporal Alan Wilkett from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.  Afternoon sessions included The Relationship between Opioids & Trafficking by Professor Dr. Kanathy Haney, PhD, CHES, CPH, of Palm Beach State College, and A Trauma-Informed Approach to Trafficked Individuals, by Attorney Brenda Mezick, former Chief of Program Development & Public Policy for the Human Trafficking Unit in the Office of the State Attorney for Miami-Dade County.

By the end of the day, many participants had already begun to forge partnerships to end human trafficking in southwest Florida.  The Academy was thrilled to help empower this enthusiastic community to end modern day slavery.

¹ Press Release, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Attorney General Bondi Sues Major Opioid Manufacturers and Distributors (May 15, 2018), www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/pv/8AB6F9CB5A2F6C628525828E00630815.
² National Human Trafficking Hotline, Hotline Statistics (2018), https://humantraffickinghotline.org/states.

In January and February 2015, Professor Dr. Roza Pati, Founder and Director of the Human Trafficking Academy, and Executive Director of the LL.M./ J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights, visited India to participate in various seminars, symposia, distinguished guest lectures, roundtables as well as meetings with government officials and representatives of the Church of Malabar Syrian Catholics. She visited three States of Southern India, namely the State of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Before her arrival, India’s national newspaper The Hindu announced her visit on January 13, on page two, as it also did on its online edition. Several other newspapers published in Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil languages did the same.

During her visit, Professor Pati had the honor of sharing panels with three former Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of India on three separate occasions, as well as with the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of India, and the Director of the Indian Law Institute in New Delhi.

Professor Pati’s visit focused on three themes:

(1) the influence of culture in the application of human rights law;

(2) human trafficking law in the context of multi-cultural societies; and

(3) the role of academia and, more generally, civil society in combating human trafficking.

At her first appearance on January 16, 2015, at the University of Kerala, Department of Law in Thiruvananthapuram, at the international seminar on Human Trafficking and Exploitation of Children: Human Rights Dimensions, Professor Pati shared the panel with His Excellency P. Sathasivam, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India and present Governor of the State of Kerala (the South Western State with the highest human development index, highest literacy rate at 93.19, highest life expectancy in the country and the least corrupt state, as noted by Transparency International). Other speakers included the Honorable Justice Chauan of the High Court of Kerala and former judge of the Supreme Court of India, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kerala, Dr. Veeramanikandan, and Dr. K.C. Sunny, Dean of the Law Department. On the second day of the symposium, Professor Pati held the keynote address on Human Trafficking as Modern-day Slavery: The Doctrine and its Application.

On January 19, 2015, at the leading private law school in the state, the Kerala Law Academy, Professor Pati participated at the International Seminar on Human Rights Lawyering, organized by the Center for Advanced Legal Studies and Research and the Kerala Law Academy Law College. She shared the panel with Prof. Dr. Manoj Kumar Sinha, Director of the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, the most prestigious legal institution in the country, and Adv. Nagaraj Narayanan, High Court of Kerala.

Her activity in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, ended with a roundtable discussion with officials of the Department of Social Welfare of the Government of Keralaon issues related to Identification and Protection of Human Trafficking Victims in the context of the Indian culture as well as protection of children in state custody.

On January 21, 2015, in Changanacherry, Professor Pati was a distinguished speaker at St. Berchman College, an institution founded in 1922, and continuously regarded as a center of excellence in education at A+ level. The college is affiliated with the Mahatma Gandhi University. The event was organized by the Center for Human Rights Education. Professor Pati presented on The Notion of Intercultural Human Rights: Focusing on Cultural Dialogue While Implementing Human Rights.

Her visit to Changanacherry continued with a meeting with the Metropolitan Archbishop Mar Joseph Perumthottam, discussing issues of human rights education in Catholic schools and colleges.

On January 22, 2015, Professor Pati held an expert lecture on human rights at St. George’s College Aruvithura at the event titled Hominis Iura.

From January 23 to February 5, 2015, Professor Pati made the following appearances or presentations:

▪ Keynote Address at the seminar on Intercultural Human Rights in Indian Context: An Exploration at Marian College in Kuttikanam.

▪ Keynote Address on Role of Universities in Human Trafficking Law, Bharata Mata Institute of Management & Bharata Mata School of Social Work.

▪ Interaction with Higher Education Council Members of Syro Malabar Church at its Headquarters (having the tradition of 2000 Years, from AD 52).

▪ Meeting with the Head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, His Eminence Cardinal George Alencherry.

▪ Keynote Address at the seminar on Measures to Prevent Human Trafficking: International and National Perspectives at Government Law College, Trissur.

▪ Keynote Address at the Kerala Judicial Academy at the Meeting of Judicial Officer Trainees and Law Enforcement Agencies on Human Rights and Human Trafficking Law: What Judges Need to Know organized by the High Court of Kerala.

▪ Programme at Christ University School of Law, Bangalore, Karnataka: Preside over Valedictory and served as Judge of the Final Round of Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, India National Qualifying Rounds.

▪ Keynote Address at the National Conference on Human Rights: A Positive and Natural Edict at Karnataka State Open University School of Law.

Reflecting on her visit to India, Professor Roza Pati wrote and published an article titled: From the Graceful Sari to the Scourge of Dowry: Indian Women in the Crucible of Tradition, 8 Kerala U. J. of Legal Studies (2015).

At the request of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, St. Thomas Law and Professor Roza Pati recently welcomed a delegation of government officials from the Middle East and North Africa for a lecture on U.S. Human Trafficking Law and Policy.

Professor Pati delivered the timely lecture as part of the U.S. Department of State’s program – Combating Trafficking in Persons in the Near East and North Africa.

The Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons leads the United States’ global engagement against human trafficking

The delegation consisted of twelve officials hailing from Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Tunisia. Among the attendees were prosecutors, heads of legal and human rights departments, law enforcement officials, and journalists.

St. Thomas Law has long been a leader in the fight against human trafficking. We are committed to protecting human rights and social justice—and to teaching, training, and empowering the next generation of human rights advocates and decision makers through our globally unique LL.M. Program; and, committed to original research in the field through our J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights.

Through programs like our Human Trafficking Academy, we address the cutting edge of global issues of concern and train students to solve these problems responsibly. Through projects such as the Human Rights Institute we dedicate ourselves to helping those in need in our own community. Locally and globally, we are devoted to shining a light on current human rights issues through our annual conferences and symposia, our Intercultural Human Rights Law Review, ranked No. 9 in the world, and our International Moot Court Program.

St. Thomas Law and its highly-acclaimed Human Trafficking Academy just became the beneficiary of  a $2.5 million gift, generously donated by Mr. John Brunetti, Chairman of the Hialeah Park Racing & Casino.

Professor Pati, who has been working on the issue of human trafficking since the early 1990s described the multi-million dollar gift is a blessing that will help the academy accomplish countless desired goals, enhance the Academy’s presence throughout the State, and nurture its agility and profoundness.

“The ultimate beneficiary will be communities aspiring to be free of slave labor, products and services [and] survivors, whose lives we will help put back together,” stated Professor Pati. “Our work will assist human trafficking victims regain and own back their lives.”

The Academy’s reach will simultaneously empower Florida’s human resources, whose mission is to condemn and bring to justice those who appropriate people’s legal personality, their free will, labor and sweat.

“We are proud and humbled to be the recipient of this generous gift,” stated Dean Alfredo Garcia. “Our unstinting efforts, through the work of Professor Pati and our faculty, staff, and alumni, to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking will be enhanced.”

The Academy will also continue its cooperation with federal agencies that combat human trafficking, and with the State Attorneys’ offices, the private sector and civil society in order to expand synergies and take advantage of available resources to better understand the physiognomy and trends of human trafficking as well as the needs of national and foreign victims.

Founded and directed by Professor Roza Pati, the Human Trafficking Academy was established in 2010 with the support of a grant by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. A pioneer of its kind, the Academy is home to a variety of multi-disciplinary anti-trafficking initiatives that include conferences, symposia, trainings, presentations, workshops, research, and publications. Its impact crosses national borders.

At the invitation of the Ministry of Justice of Jamaica, the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP), Professor Roza Pati presented a Distinguished Lecture at the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean. In her lecture she focused on human trafficking in the supply chain. While in Kingston, Professor Pati has generated multiple media focus. She appeared live on radio and the national TV Jamaica and was interviewed by several newspapers. Smile Jamaica Twitter and Facebook noted: “Tackling Human Trafficking in the Caribbean with Human Trafficking Expert, Dr. Roza Pati.”

The Gleaner, Jamaica’s oldest national newspaper established in 1834, featured Professor Pati under the title “Gov’t Alone Cannot Fight Human Trafficking – Pati,” as well as The Jamaica Observer under the title “US Law Professor Urges Multi-National Approach to Fight Human Trafficking,” highlighted Professor Pati’s lecture at the UCC.

Professor Pati met with dignitaries of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of National Security: Ms. Sandra Graham, Chair of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons Prevention Subcommittee and Director of Corporate Services, with Ms. Diahann Gordon Harrison, Jamaica’s National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons as well as with the Head of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr. Carl Berry.

In a spirit of future cooperation with academic institutions in our region, Professor Pati had a fruitful meeting with members of the Executive Council of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, with the intention, as noted by Dr. Bernadette Warner, Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs of the UCC,  “to develop a tripartite collaboration for the purpose of curriculum design, development and delivery as well as relevant research,” amongst the UCC, the government of Jamaica (NATFATIP) and St. Thomas University’s Master of Laws and the Doctorate of the Science of Law in Intercultural Human Rights, and its Human Trafficking Academy.

On the 20th Anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy offered a critical assessment of the state of labor trafficking domestically and abroad.  Despite tremendous progress against human trafficking, there is presently an estimated 24.9 million people trapped in forced labor in industries including agriculture, construction, domestic work, and manufacturing around the world.  Whether proliferated by disreputable supply chains, propelled by vulnerability in migrations, condoned by culture, emboldened by unenforced laws or even in some cases sanctioned by governments, this year’s Summer Academy examined how to eradicate this modern slavery of epic proportions through a victim-centered approach.

The Summer Academy was offered in an online format due to COVID-19 and featured 15 cutting-edge courses taught by leading experts in the field nationwide.

“Our work in the field of combatting human trafficking is a natural extension of our commitment to teaching, service, and ethical leadership firmly grounded on the Catholic social teachings. Whether at the recruitment, transit, or at the exploitation site, concerted efforts are needed to address the root causes of trafficking, mainly vulnerability based on inequality and the demand side of trafficking,” said David A. Armstrong, J.D., President of St. Thomas University, in his address to the participants. Academics, attorneys, government officials, service providers, case managers, healthcare workers, investigators, students, and others from faith-based, public, and private sectors dedicated themselves to the rigorous curriculum and engaged in a rich dialogue with the course instructors and each other in the discussion forums. The diverse group of participants hailing from over 10 states and four continents was welcomed by the International Council on Human Trafficking Chairman, and President Emeritus of St. Thomas University, Rev. Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale, and by Professor Tamara F. Lawson, Dean of St. Thomas University School of Law.

“What makes our annual Academy so effective is the fact that in the Catholic intellectual tradition of higher education we deliver the highest value in education through a rock-solid array of front-line courses taught by remarkable experts of international acclaim. We are extremely honored to host so many trailblazers in this year’s Academy who fully and critically dissect the status of affairs in labor trafficking and address the values of good law and policy,” said Professor Dr. Roza Pati, Founder and Director of the Academy, in her opening remarks on A Human Rights Approach to Labor Trafficking.

This year’s expert instructors included one of the most influential legal scholars alive: Professor Dr. Catharine A. MacKinnon of Harvard Law School.  Prof. MacKinnon is among the most widely-cited legal scholars in the English language and over time the most widely-cited woman.  She is a forerunner on issues of equality “predicated on eliminating dominance and subordination … MacKinnon [is] an influential legal theorist, helping to transform legal education by calling attention to issues affecting women and transforming the law for women globally by opening the legal system to their injuries and exposing the gendered basis of sex crimes.” (Encyclopedia Britannica).  Prof. MacKinnon prepared a distinguished lecture specifically for the Academy focused on The Intersections of Sex and Labor Trafficking.

The Academy also featured Martha Mendoza, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and 2019 finalist, whose investigations into slavery in the seafood sector and use of technology led to the freedom of more than 2,000 men; Martina E. Vandenberg, who spent two decades fighting human trafficking, forced labor, rape as a war crime, and violence against women and who led novel pursuits of civil litigation against diplomats who exploited women in domestic servitude; Susan French, a former federal human trafficking prosecutor with the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, who has successfully brought high impact landmark labor trafficking cases such as U.S. v. Calimlim and U.S. v. Kil Soo Lee; Professor Kathleen C. Kim of Loyola Law School, LMU in Los Angeles, the co-author of Human Trafficking Law and Policy, the leading casebook on human trafficking; Professor Dr. Mohamed Y. Mattar, the founding Executive Director at The Protection Project of the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins University, and an international expert on anti-trafficking legislation with over 15 years of experience in more than 75 countries; Dr. Elizabeth K. Hopper, Director of Project REACH at The Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute; Dr. Hilary Chester, Associate Director of Anti-Trafficking Programs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration and Refugee Services; and Professor Nora V. Demleitner, Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law.

Courses were also taught by Miami attorneys Barbara Martinez, Former Chief of Special Prosecutions in the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDFL and Global Compliance and Investigation Team at Holland & Knight LLP; Ana Vallejo, Co-Director & Attorney at VIDA Legal Assistance, Inc.; Alicia Priovolos, Director of the Human Trafficking Unit of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office; and Liza Smoker, Managing Director of the Human Trafficking Academy.

The Academy’s work is well-grounded on the life, experience, perseverance, courage, and wisdom of survivors of human trafficking who offer most important insights and expertise to guide the Academy’s ongoing efforts.  The Academy was honored to host survivors of human trafficking both as expert instructors as well as participants.  The Honorable Suleman Masood, a Council Member on the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, and The Honorable Evelyn Chumbow, a survivor of child labor trafficking turned anti-trafficking activist and public speaker who has focused her life’s work on ending modern-day slavery, guided all who attended in the path to empowerment toward an effective fight for human dignity.

On July 30, 2020, the World Day Against Trafficking in Person was honored at the Summer Academy with courses aimed at examining the impacts of tradition and culture in labor trafficking.  In addition, The Honorable Katherine Fernandez Rundle of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office greeted participants at the Academy with a video message.

The Academy extends its appreciation to all who participated in this year’s Summer Academy, and to our most generous benefactor, the late Mr. John J. Brunetti.  We look forward to offering an entirely new lineup of dynamic courses taught by the foremost experts at next year’s Summer Academy on July 26 – 30, 2021!

The full list of expert instructors at the 2020 Summer Academy is available here.

In January and February, 2020, Dr. Roza Pati, Founder and Director of The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy, traveled to India to educate and train higher-level students and faculty, coming to Kerala from 40 law schools and colleges from all over India, on human rights and human trafficking. She was officially invited by esteemed professor of law — Dr. K.C. Sunny, Vice Chancellor of the National University of Advanced Legal Studies Kochi, and Head of the Department of Law and Dean School Legal Studies of Central University of Kerala. In her presentations and lectures, Dr. Pati focused on academic leadership towards a culture of lawfulness, the value and meaning of the struggle against human trafficking, and the significance of one’s ability to challenge the cultural constructs that have destined certain groups to remain vulnerable and susceptible to human trafficking.

Efforts were particularly focused at The National University of Advanced Legal Studies in Kochi, Emakulam, Kerala, India (“NUALS”) and The Central University of Kerala School of Legal Studies (“CUK”) in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.  In addition, Dr. Pati participated in discussions and roundtables with other faculty, from various law schools in Kerala, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, with whom there is an established relationship thanks to Dr. Pati’s prior lectures tour on human trafficking in the region in 2015. Dr. Pati’s activities included inter alia, a Certificate Program in Human Trafficking Law and Policy in International and Domestic Legal Framework at The National University of Advanced Legal Studies; the Barrister M. K. Nambyar Law Lecture 2020, a named lecture before legal professionals and the Kerala Bar members, on Rights and Their Limits in Comparative Jurisprudence; Keynote Address The Unmet Challenge: Women’s Rights on the Eve of Beijing+25 at the two-day International Seminar on Realization of Human Rights of Women: Changing Dimensions, Challenges and Recourse; Keynote Address Neoliberalism and Human Rights at the International Interdisciplinary Seminar on State, Civil Society and Human Rights: Neoliberal Reflections, organized by the Central University of Kerala School of Legal Studies; as well as daily lectures and discussions with students and faculty from various parts of the country.

“An objective of this work was to train students and interested faculty who focus on research on local dimensions of human trafficking.  These initiatives are novel in these schools, as there is little to none done so far on this subject matter.  This valuable cooperation between St. Thomas University School of Law and Indian universities will lead to significant advancement in the curriculum of law schools, and other colleges to incorporate so much needed international standards of the protections of human rights, including prohibition of modern slavery. The Indian counterparts welcomed the cooperation, and we have already started planning more certificate programs, symposia, conferences and publications on human rights, human trafficking law, policy and practice. India, the world’s largest democracy, is an amazing country with a rich, multi-religious culture and extraordinary people, and it is but natural that our Academy, located in the world’s greatest democracy, the U.S.A., expands this cooperation with the legal academy as well as the civil society. Indian students are some of the most perceptive and intelligent students I have had the honor to teach, and I look forward to many more encounters with them.” said Dr. Pati, reflecting on her visit to India.

The Academy looks forward to further fruitful cooperation with academic institutions in India as it strives to exchange thoughts and ideas with India’s future leaders against human trafficking and assist in empowering faculty to disseminate this knowledge throughout the country.

On December 10, 2020, the International Council on Human Trafficking of The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy at St. Thomas University College of Law held its inaugural meeting with the Founding Members.  Members of the International Council on Human Trafficking serve as worldwide ambassadors of the Academy aimed at shaping anti-trafficking law, policy, and practice.  During the meeting, they offered their wisdom, knowledge, and expertise to guide the Academy in its programs and initiatives.

The meeting was led by Rev. Monsignor Franklyn M. Casale, Chairman of the Council and President Emeritus (retired Aug. 2018) of St. Thomas University, whose pioneering commitment against human trafficking spans decades including having testified before the United States Congress on the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.  In attendance was also David A. Armstrong, J.D., President of St. Thomas University to welcome the Founding Members and discuss how the work of the Council promotes the mission of St. Thomas University.

“We look forward to being on the receiving end of the benefits of the guidance and wisdom of this esteemed Council, spanning over continents, cultures, races. Our Council is representative of our human family, which is heavily impacted by modern slavery,” said Prof. Dr. Roza Pati, the Founder and Director of the Academy. “The illuminating and diverse expertise of the Council Members, their life and leadership experiences are second to none. ”

The distinguished Founding Members of the Council are:

Rev. Monsignor Franklyn M. Casale
Chairman
President Emeritus (Retired Aug. 2018)
St. Thomas University
Miami, Florida

John J. Brunetti Jr.
Member
President, Hialeah Park
Miami, Florida

Dott.ssa Flaminia Giovanelli
Member
Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development
The Vatican
Vatican City, Rome, Italy

Willie Montgomery III
Member
Chief Supply Chain Officer, Sam’s Club eCommerce
Walmart, Inc.
Bentonville, Arkansas

Professor Francis Campbell
Member
Vice Chancellor
The University of Notre Dame Australia
Sydney, Australia

Professor Kathleen C. Kim
Member
Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion
Professor of Law & Rains Fellow
Loyola Law School
Los Angeles, California

Professor Dr. Roza Pati
Ex Officio Member
Founder & Director
The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy
Professor of Law & Executive Director
LL.M./J.S.D. in Intercultural Human Rights

The event series was designed to focus on the four actions presented in Pastoral Orientations on Internally Displaced People:  Welcome, Protect, Promote and Integrate in furtherance of this year’s theme of the Migrants and Refugee Section of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development at the Vatican.

“The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy and the LL.M./ J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights continue to lead on the issues that touch the lives of the most vulnerable in our human family, in worldwide solidarity. We encourage the local and global community, all people of good will: to know in order to understand, to be close in order to serve, to listen in order to be reconciled, to share in order to grow, to be involved in order to promote, and to cooperate in order to build, as the Holy Father urges us to do,” said the Academy’s Founder and Director, Prof. Dr. Roza Pati, former member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Welcome:  The series opened with Welcoming People on the Move:  Our Moral Calling to Serve the Most Vulnerable.  Moderated by Dr. Roza Pati, the distinguished panel explored the transformation of local paradigms from rejection to welcoming of the stranger.  Myriam Mézadieu, Chief Operating Officer of the Catholic Legal Services of the Archdiocese of Miami, and co-founder the G.W.L. Legal Project, which subsequently was restructured as the CLS, shared about her lifelong work to serving the immigrant community in South Florida, and her efforts with the internally displaced people in Haiti, caused by the 2010 earthquake, as well as her work with thousands of Haitian refugees.

Prof. Dr. Siegfried Wiessner, Founder and Director of the Intercultural Human Rights Program at St. Thomas University School of Law, discussed the impact of the Syrian conflict and the differential reactions in Europe. He also shared his experience in contributing to the development of standards regarding the due process rights of asylum seekers through a novel interpretation of the country’s constitution in the 1980s, which was, in essence, adopted by the country’s Federal Constitutional Court.

Lastly, Thear Suzuki, a Presidential Leadership Scholar and Americas Advisory Talent Leader at Ernst & Young, shared her powerful story of fleeing the Cambodian genocide as a refugee after her family was forced to spend four years in a Khmer Rouge labor camp.  Ms. Suzuki also honored the impact of those who welcomed her family and helped them rebuild their lives in the United States, including their sponsor, U.S. Catholic Conference Migration & Refugee Services.

Protect:  The Academy partnered with the Immigration Law Student Association to offer From Crisis to Crossroads: Protections in Law for Migrants and Refugees, an event focused on various forms of protections in law for migrants and refugees, including those that protect against human trafficking.  The panel of distinguished attorneys was moderated by Minglu Michele Guo, a St. Thomas law student and Graduate Fellow of the Academy.  Prof. Michael S. Vastine, Director of the Immigration Clinic at St. Thomas University School of Law, discussed immigration policy and the difficulties that victims of a violent crime, including human trafficking, may face during the application process.  Ignacio J. Vázquez Jr., Chief of the Special Prosecutions Section at the U.S. Attorney’s Office SDFL, focused on his work in effectively prosecuting the crimes of human trafficking and human smuggling, as well as the challenges faced by victims of human trafficking in the process of survival.  Johanna Oliver Rousseaux, a Presidential Leadership Scholar, president of Americans for Immigrant Justice, and attorney with Jones Day, inspired attendees with her experiences providing pro bono services to refugees and asylum seekers in U.S. detention facilities, and highlighted the need for, as well as the rewarding experience of the pro-bono work to benefit the most vulnerable in the community.

Promote:  The Academy was proud to cooperate with U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration and Refugee Services and SHEPHERD (Stop Human Trafficking and Exploitation. Protect, Help, Empower, and Restore Dignity) on Promoting the Well-Being of Migrants and Survivors of Human Trafficking: The Role of Local, Community, and Faith-Based Organizations.  “Migration is as old as civilization and has enriched our world tremendously creating nations and bringing cultural differentiation throughout the globe.  Our Academy hones in on the issue of human trafficking, but there is certainly an intersection between migration, refugees, and human trafficking,” said Rev. Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale, Chair of the International Council on Human Trafficking and president emeritus of St. Thomas University, in his opening remarks.  The national panel was moderated and spearheaded by Lisa Lungren, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s National Education and Outreach Coordinator of Immigration and Anti-Trafficking.  Presenters who champion this work in their respective communities included Mary Anne Silvestri, Co-founder of Esther Ministry; Dr. Shima Rostami, Executive Director of Gateway Human Trafficking and Professor of Sociology at University of Missouri; Susan Patterson of SoCal Faith Coalitions Against Human Trafficking, and Jordan Bruxvoot, Founder and Director of The Naomi Project.

Integrate:  The event series concluded on September 27, the 106^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, with a Reflection and Prayer Mass celebrated by Father Rafael Capó, Vice President of Mission at St. Thomas University. Participants from various countries and of multiple different faiths came together to reflect and pray for host communities, migrants, and survivors of human trafficking.

The Academy thanks the hundreds of academics, students, faith-based, and public and private actors from across the nation who joined with us to turn the tide in this most important battle for human dignity for all.

Ramona D. Miller
Founder & Visionary
A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center

A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center is committed to educating the community and empowering individuals by eradicating human trafficking, ending homelessness, and preventing overdoses. We are committed to helping Florida see no new cases of HIV and Hepatitis C.

A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center is an innovative CLIA Waived grassroots organization providing temporary emergency shelter, preventative medical services, and life-saving support services throughout South and Southwest Florida.

Ramona D. Miller is the visionary and founder of A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center, and she is a proud United States Army Veteran. Ms. Miller is a regional leader and a change agent with over 25 years in Human Service and is an active advocate on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.  As such, Ms. Miller assisted Legal Momentum and other advocates in the closing of Backpage.com.

Ms. Miller creates and spearheads strategies to accomplish positive outcomes. A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center has successfully recovered victims of human trafficking locally, nationally, and targeted victim recovery during the Super Bowl. Success in these efforts is found through essential networking and partnerships with law enforcement and service providers throughout the United States.

A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center was the first grassroots Non-Governmental Organization to train and distribute Narcan under the Department of Children and Families Harm Reduction Response to Opioid program. We are distributors of Narcan, but we are recognized among leaders in reversing overdoses beyond the walls of a medical facility.

Under Ms. Miller’s leadership, A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center is a sought-after member of Voices for NonOpioidChoices, a nonpartisan coalition dedicated to preventing opioid addiction before it starts, by increasing patient and provider access to non-opioid therapies and approaches to manage acute pain.

Our efforts are featured in an Emmy Award-Winning investigative report by Producer and Investigative Reporter Michele Gillen, TRAPPED: Lessons from the Trenches.

Our efforts were also featured in the News-Press and USA Today for our efforts in combating the Opioid Crisis and helping those who have fallen through the cracks.

Detective Krysten Ridenour
Lee County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit

Detective Krysten Ridenour has been a sworn law enforcement officer for nine years, and is presently a Detective within the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, more specifically within Innocent Images.

Detective Ridenour began her career at Lee County Sheriff’s Office on patrol in “South District,” in the Fort Myers, San Carlos Park, and Bonita Springs area. Detective Ridenour later joined the Bonita Springs Community Policing Unit for several years and participated in various community events, while answering calls for service in the City of Bonita Springs.

Detective Ridenour has been a member of various investigative divisions to include: Criminal Investigations (Property Crimes), Violent Crimes, Intelligence, and Special Victims. Detective Ridenour is currently a member of the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.  The ICAC Task Force was created to help Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to offenders who use the Internet, online communication systems, or computer technology to sexually exploit children.

Detective Ridenour is also currently assigned as a Task Force Officer to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force in Fort Myers, Florida. The Task Force is a component of the FBI’s Violent Crimes Program, an intelligence-driven, proactive, multi-agency investigative initiative to combat the proliferation of child sexual abuse/child sexual exploitation facilitated by online offenders. Detective Ridenour holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Florida, and a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.

Francine Donnorummo, Esq.
Special Victims Unit Chief
Office of the State Attorney Twentieth Judicial Circuit

My commitment to working with abuse victims began in law school, preparing protection from abuse petitions for victims of domestic violence which lead to my employment as staff attorney with Northern Pennsylvania Legal Services.  In northern Pennsylvania, my practice ranged from representing indigent clients in landlord tenant disputes, family law, dependency matters as well as other civil court concerns.  When I moved to Wisconsin, I became a member of the Wisconsin Bar and in a non-lawyer position worked for a company that managed the foreclosure process and was fortunately I was able to relocate with my family to Fort Myers, FL.

I had the good fortune to begin working with the Office of the State Attorney, 20^th Judicial Circuit in December of 1998.  During my tenure at the SAO I have tried well over 100 jury trials including several domestic violence murders, sexual batteries, human trafficking, child exploitation, child abuse and child homicides.   I am the Special Victims Unit Chief Unit and Victim Services Director for the 20^th Judicial Circuit.  This supervisory role keeps me involved in cases throughout the five counties as well as provides me with the space to educate and continue involvement in the community in which I serve.  This involvement includes participation on several task forces associated with the women’s shelter, child abduction, child death review, elderly abuse fatality review and human trafficking.  Leading the Human Trafficking Task Force has been a great privilege.   The task force is a multi-disciplinary effort to best meet the needs of the victims subject to human trafficking and trauma. I also provide training and presentations for law enforcement and professionals in the field at the police academy, summits and workshops on related topics.

The Honorable Amira D. Fox
State Attorney for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit

AMIRA FOX is the State Attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida covering Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties.  She graduated from American University in Washington D.C.  in 1987 with degrees in International Studies and Economics and received her law degree from The George Washington University in 1990.  Ms. Fox began her career as an Assistant State Attorney with the 20th Judicial Circuit in 1990.  She worked in the misdemeanor, juvenile and felony divisions of the State Attorney’s Office before becoming head of the Hendry and Glades office in 1998.  In 1999, she became the first female head of the Collier County office.    She entered private practice in 2002, and formed her own practice in 2004, where she specialized in criminal defense and family law and was a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent-rated lawyer. She rejoined the State Attorney’s Office in 2012 as Chief of the Homicide and Economic Crime Units and in 2015 she became Chief Assistant State Attorney overseeing the day to day legal and administrative functions of the office, including the operation of grand juries throughout the circuit.

In November 2018, Ms. Fox was elected State Attorney, becoming the third State Attorney, and the first female State Attorney, in the history of the Circuit.  She has prosecuted hundreds of cases including numerous first-degree murder death penalty cases.  Ms. Fox serves as the Secretary of the Florida Prosecuting Attorney’s Association.  She also serves on the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking and the Supreme Court of Florida Criminal Court Steering Committee.    She is the recipient of the GEM award for excellence in public service, a Leader in the Law award by the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, the Commitment to Justice award from the Fallen Officers Foundation and the Woman of the Year award from the Ladies Leading Right.

Ms. Fox is a member of the Fort Myers Rotary Club, serves on the board of the Shelter for Abused Women and Children, the board of The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, the board of the PACE Center for Girls and has been a Captain and Event Lead for Relay for Life.  Amira’s husband Mike served with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office for 30 years and they have four children.

Juliana Diaz, LMHC
Foster Care Clinician, CHANGE Program
Citrus Health Network

Juliana Diaz is a licensed mental health clinician who serves as a clinician at the CHANCE Program for Citrus Health Network. Prior to this position, Juliana was a part of the Project GOLD at Kristi House. Project Gold is a Drop In Center program for underage girls who are overcoming child sex trafficking. In 2014, Juliana worked with the LIFT (Learning Independence from Trauma) Program with Henderson in Broward County, where she provided Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for cases of sexual abuse, human trafficking and domestic violence. Juliana volunteered with Glory House of Miami from 2015- 2019, where she mentored adult survivors of human trafficking, provided orientation trainings for volunteers, and co-facilitated the Hands that Heal Training. Juliana is trained in Risk Reduction Family therapy, a substance abuse and trauma-focused modality. She has also been recently trained in Alternatives for Families Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an evidence-based practice to improve the relationships between children and caregivers in families involved in frequent conflict, physical force/discipline, or child physical abuse. She was also part of a year-long training collaborative on the TF-CBT adaptation for CSEC. Juliana received her Bachelor degree from Nova Southeastern University, and her Masters of Science in Mental Health from Florida International University.

Crystal Lee Hamilton
Consultant, CrisLee Consulting Firm
Survivor Leader

After surviving sexual exploitation, Crystal Lee is fighting back by empowering others as she combats against the exploitation of people. Specializing in helping children, young adults, and single mothers in the sex industry.

As a young mother coming out of the aftermath of a destructive relationship, Crystal believed she had found a more promising future with a medical doctor, who courted her and her infant son when she was only 21. However, over the next four years, she was forced into sex trafficking by him under the guise of an ‘escort’ service he operated. After escaping and staying in hiding for a decade, she now lives bold and empowered.

Through deep healing and truly connecting to a higher source of power, she found a calling to impact the lives of others trapped in the industry. She assists and equips young women who have been sexually exploited through domestic sex trafficking by actively going into juvenile detention centers, county jails, mental health facilities, group homes, and working with the local Department of Children and Families to speak the truth about the vulnerability and danger these population face daily.

Crystal has made a direct impact in the community through resilience sharing, living by example, and coaching survivors back into society and into living into their potential. She is currently awaiting her dream of running a nonprofit with the hopes of making an even greater impact with strides to help to heal, connect, enrich, and serve this population by decreasing the vulnerabilities they face. Crystal is completing her Chaplaincy to reach the populations in our state prison systems.

In her downtime, Crystal loves adventuring with her children and cooking variety of foods.

Erika Pineros, LMHC
Human Trafficking Program Coordinator
Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice

Erika Pineros is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the Director for the Anti- Human Trafficking Program at Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Psychology and obtained a Master of Arts is in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida Gulf Coast University.  Her clinical work has focused on trauma victims including domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Throughout the past seven years, she has managed the Anti- Human Trafficking Program at Catholic Charities, which offers case management assistance to survivors throughout 10 counties. Ms. Pineros works collaboratively with community partners to ensure access to resources and services to survivors of human trafficking. She also conducts outreach events and trainings to raise awareness about human trafficking.

M. Kazam Hashimi

Afghan SIV in the U.S.
Mentee & Interpreter, Hello Neighbor
Pittsburgh, PA

Kazam Hashimi moved to the United States as an SIV (Special Immigrant Visa) in December 2015 after working the United States military in Afghanistan.  He has been involved with Hello Neighbor since 2017, and currently lives just outside of Pittsburgh in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Maryem Reyes

Venezuelan Asylee in the U.S.
LL.M. Candidate, Intercultural Human Rights Program
St. Thomas University College of Law
Miami, FL

Ms. Maryem Reyes is a Venezuelan attorney and current LL.M. Candidate in the Intercultural Human Rights Program at St. Thomas University College of Law.  In 2013, Ms. Reyes fled Venezuela in order to seek protection and security for herself and her family.  Since then, Ms. Reyes has shown a commitment to her education, thus achieving her long-awaited stability and quality of life.

Professor Michael S. Vastine

Professor of Law & Director, Immigration Clinic
St. Thomas University College of Law
Miami, FL

Jennifer Reyes Lay

Executive Director
U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking
St. Louis, MO

Jennifer Reyes Lay has served as the first Executive Director of U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking since 2019. She believes strongly in the vision of a world without slavery and exploitation. Jennifer has attended many conferences both internationally and nationally on the subject of human trafficking and is a frequent presenter on the topic. Prior to this role Jennifer served as the Assistant Director of the JPIC Office for the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word – San Antonio, a congregation she first connected with as a lay missionary in Peru. She has a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary, and an honors B.A. in Theology and International Studies from St. Louis University.

Sloane Davidson

Founder and CEO, Hello Neighbor
Pittsburgh, PA

Sloane Davidson is the Founder and CEO of Hello Neighbor. Hello Neighbor works to improve the lives of recently resettled refugee and immigrant families through mentorship. Their ultimate goal is to help families feel more comfortable and confident in their new lives in Pittsburgh. What started as Sloane inviting a Syrian family in her neighborhood to Thanksgiving Dinner in 2016 has blossomed into a nonprofit organization that has matched 72 families from 11 countries of origin with caring Pittsburghers to help guide and support them through events, life skills, and cultural exchange. Currently over 4,000 mentoring hours have been spent together.

Sloane was named to the 2018 Pittsburgh Magazine 40 under 40 and was included on The Incline’s Who’s Next Philanthropy. That same year she was also named an Immigrant Advocate of the Year by Global Pittsburgh, a finalist for the Distinguished Individual Leadership Award at Coro Pittsburgh’s Martin Luther King Jr. Awards, and received recognition from Park Place AME Church and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for her community service and dedicate to Pittsburgh

Previous to starting Hello Neighbor, Sloane spent 15 years in the nonprofit, international development, and social impact sector. She is perhaps most well known for her cause-based blog, The Causemopolitan, which she operated from 2008-2015. An active philanthropist and advocate, Sloane currently sits on the Council for the Women’s Philanthropy Institute and Resolve Network. In 2009, Sloane served as a Kiva Fellow in the Philippines.

Sloane received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Vermont and a Masters in Public Policy and Management from The University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She lives in Highland Park with her husband and two young sons.

FAQs for Health Academy

Is this year’s Academy offered online?
Yes, this year’s Academy is offered exclusively online from October 18 at 9:00 a.m. through November 1 at 11:59 p.m. (EST).

How long does it take to complete the Academy?
The curriculum consists of 15 distinct courses that are approximately 90-minutes in length each. In addition, participants will have access to reading materials and the ability to interact with each other and the distinguished instructors via the Discussion Boards.

Will I be able to work at my own pace?
The Academy is an intensive training designed for participants to complete one full Module (consisting of three courses that are approximately 90-minutes in length each) per day from October 18 through October 22. However, in order to allow some flexibility for the working professionals, access to the Academy will be available 24/7 from October 18 at 9:00 a.m. through November 1 at 11:59 p.m. (EST) for participants to work at their own pace. Access to the Academy will promptly close at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on November 1.

Who attends the Human Trafficking Academy?
This Academy is an intensive, advanced “train-the-trainer” curriculum. Participants consist of academics, attorneys, government officials, service providers, case managers, healthcare workers, investigators, students, and others from faith-based, public, and private sectors hailing from across the nation and around the world.

How often is the 15-course Academy offered?
The Academy is typically offered on an annual basis. Each year a brand new, cutting-edge curriculum taught by the top experts in the field is offered.

How do I access the online Academy?
Participants will access the Academy through an online platform. As the event nears, participants will be emailed instructions on how to access the system. Participants will need internet access and the ability to play videos on their device.

Will I receive a Certificate from St. Thomas University College of Law?
Certification will be granted to those participants that meet the minimum attendance requirement of 80% of class time. In November 2021, Certificates awarded by St. Thomas University College of Law will be mailed to participants who successfully complete the Academy to the address provided on the participant’s Registration Form.

Will I have access to the Academy after November 1, 2021?
No individual or entity may record, upload, share, broadcast, copy, store, distribute, etc., any portion of the Academy’s video presentations, curriculum, PowerPoints, discussion board content, etc. (“Academy Materials”) without the Academy’s prior written consent. Unauthorized use of any Academy Materials without the prior written consent of the Academy is strictly prohibited. Participants are encouraged to take notes during the Academy for their personal use and learning. The use of third-party Reading Materials referenced in the Academy are governed by their own respective copyright obligations. Participants may not retain or access any other Academy Materials beyond their personal notes or that which is already in the public domain after the conclusion of the Academy on November 1 at 11:59 p.m. (EST).

Is the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy a nonprofit organization?
Yes, the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy is a nonprofit organization. To learn more or make a donation, please visit www.humantraffickingacademy.org/give.

Are group discounts available? How can I register a group at a discounted rate?
Yes. A 25% discount is available for organizations/institutions that register three or more participants. To register your group at a discounted rate, contact humantrafficking@stu.edu or call (305) 628-6688.

Are student discounts available? How can I register at a student rate?
Yes. A 25% discount is available for students with proof of valid student I.D. To register at the student discounted rate, contact humantrafficking@stu.edu or call (305) 628-6688.

What is the minimum age requirement to attend the Academy?
Due to the sensitive subject matter, participants must be over 18 years old.

Will Continuing Legal Education (CLE) be offered?
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) is pending with The Florida Bar. Participants seeking CLE in states outside of Florida may contact their respective state bars to determine if reciprocal CLE credit is available to them.

Xinia Bermudez, Esq.

Staff Attorney
Catholic Legal Services
Miami, FL

Xinia Bermúdez is a Supervising Attorney at Catholic Charities Legal Services in Miami, Florida. Most of her clients are seeking asylum, victims of crime and/or trafficking. Xinia was also CLINIC Separated Families Fellow, where she focused on representation for families who were separated under the “Zero Tolerance” policy at the southern border. Additionally, Xinia supervises the Immigration Court Help Desk program, which provides pro se assistance to unrepresented individuals in immigration proceedings at the Miami Immigration Court.

Prior to joining CCLS, Xinia was a Legal Fellow at the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), providing assistance to victims of human rights violations in Latin America. She also worked in the House of Representatives in the U.S. Congress and Street Law, a nonprofit organization that promotes civic education, democracy, and human rights.

Xinia obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Latin American Studies from New York University and a Juris Doctor with a concentration in international law with honors from Boston University School of Law.

Ana I. Vallejo, Esq.

Co-Director & Attorney
VIDA Legal Assistance, Inc.
Former Coordinator, Human Trafficking Academy
Miami, FL

Ms. Ana Isabel Vallejo is co-director of VIDA Legal Assistance, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the rights of immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking in persons and other violent crimes.  Ms. Vallejo has been representing immigrant survivors of violence for over 15 years.  She has represented trafficked persons and has worked in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security.  In addition to direct legal representation, Ms. Vallejo has been part of the faculty and a panelist in numerous national and international trainings and conferences. Ms. Vallejo has a law degree and a Master of Laws degree from St. Thomas University College of Law, Miami, Florida.

The Honorable Suamhirs Piraino-Guzman

Behavioral Health Specialist, MPsy
Presidential Appointee, U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking (2015-2018)
Seattle, WA

Suamhirs Piraino-Guzman currently oversees King County’s largest publicly funded behavioral health initiative, the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Tax Fund at the King County Department of Community and Human Services. Suamhirs was the Senior Program Coordinator at the International Rescue Committee and led the Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network.

Suamhirs graduated from the University of California San Diego with a Master’s in Psychology. He has years of experience developing curriculum and providing training on trauma-informed care, mental health, human trafficking, evidence-based practices, and more to Child Welfare Systems and non-profit organizations across 38 states. Suamhirs’ professional experience also includes direct services to vulnerable youth, program management, policy advocacy around foster care and human trafficking, and co-coordination of the National Survivor Network. As a male survivor and an expert in behavioral psychology, Suamhirs has been an active consultant for the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, a subject matter expert Consultant for the Department of Health and Human Services National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistant Center, and the International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators, and is a member of the National Council for Community Behavioral Health.

He was appointed by President Barack Obama to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking and has worked with the United Nations and Vital Voices International to develop curriculum and training on engaging men in gender-based violence initiatives.

Caroline Chisholm

Unaccompanied Children Caseworker
International Rescue Committee
New York, NY

Caroline Chisholm is an Unaccompanied Children Caseworker with the International Rescue Committee in New York, NY. She has been serving in her current role since December 2019, providing Home Study and Post Release Services to minors following their reunification with sponsors to support them in connecting with appropriate social services and resources throughout the city.

Prior to her current role, Caroline served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala from 2017-2019. As the inaugural Youth in Development Facilitator in her town, Caroline worked with teenagers in schools across the district to promote the practice of healthy lifestyle habits, life skills and youth leadership skills as well, while contributing to overall capacity building within those schools, nonprofits, the local health district and local municipal office for youth. She spent the last few months of her service launching a Peer Health Education Program in partnership with student leaders from eight local schools, the local health district, the municipal office for youth along with other community partners to educate youths on sexual and reproductive health. These experiences have all contributed to a passion to empowering youth by providing them with the space to realize their full potential and finding effective ways to leverage these opportunities for them, in countries throughout Latin America and in New York as well.

Caroline Chisholm earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Latin American Studies and Sociology from the University of Virginia in 2017.

Imelda Medina, MD, MPH

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
President, Familias Unidas International, Inc.
Miami, Florida

Imelda Mercedes Medina, MD MPH graduated from Ponce School of Medicine, PR, USA (MD Degree) and University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences (MPH Degree). She was born to serve and practices Health Promotion and Disease Prevention with a focus on Person and People Centered Care at the local and global level. Dr. Medina is a proud member of Rotary Club Miami Airport, Founder and Chair of the Rotarian Public Health Fellowship, and her 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is called Familias Unidas International, Inc.

Dr. Brook Parker-Bello

Founder and CEO/ED of More Too Life, Inc.
Survivor of Human Trafficking

Dr. Brook Parker Bello, Founder and CEO/ED of More Too Life, Inc., and a sought-after international speaker, and champion against human trafficking and teacher in what she calls “Digital Integrity, Intelligence and Safety. She has been recognized with countless achievement awards, fellows and appointments, and most recently was named a Google Next Gen Policy Leader, with the ability to learn from leading Google executives and other leaders in profound aspects that deal with world issues in relation to tech and tech policy. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the 44^thPresident of the United States and the White House in December 2016.

She also received the advocate of the year in the state of Florida from the Attorney General Pam Bondi, Human Trafficking Council held by the A.G. and Governor Rick Scott and his cabinet. Dr. Bello is also the author of innovative root cause focused successful curriculum’s such as, RJEDE™ (Restorative Justice End Demand Education) a court appointed and volunteer course for violators of sexual violence, prostitution and human trafficking prevention in Miami/Dade, Sarasota and Manatee counties. In addition, LATN™ and LATN D2 (Living Above the Noise) educational mentoring curriculum for victims and prevention of sexual violence and human trafficking and SOS U for college campuses, military bases, churches and others.

She holds a PH.D in pastoral clinical counseling and accreditation in pastoral clinical and temperance based counseling and currently holds a bachelor in biblical studies, masters in pastoral clinical counseling  and two honorary doctorates one in humane letters, theology and biblical studies from Covenant Theological Seminary, National Christian Counseling Association, CICA University and Seminary and Richmond Virginia Seminary. Her dissertation defends the urgency in spirituality in mental health and the profound pain caused by shame. Bello is also a licensed chaplain and ambassador with CICA (Canadian Institute of Chaplains and Ambassadors, the only university accredited by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, UN-ECOSOC and she is an alumni of the Masters Series of Distinguished Leaders by Skinner Leadership Institute.  Dr. Bello was chosen 1 of 10 national heroes in a series by Dolphin Digital Media and United Way Worldwide called, The Hero Effect.” Her expertise is evident in many ways. More Too Life is an anti-sexual violence, human trafficking and youth crime prevention organization that was named by United Way Worldwide as one of the best in the nation.

Her innovative curriculum and direct and indirect services at More Too Life that affect thousands of victims, hundreds of thousands of national community, as well as prevention education to hundreds of youth and young adults annually has been said to be ground-breaking. More Too Life operates an Education and Assessment Crisis Care Center in Sarasota county with new services to 4 counties under the new sub-contract with Voices for Florida. Dr. Bello is a sought after motivational speaker, a keynote lecturer and minister whose story has been seen in ESSENCE and EBONY magazine with articles in over 100 magazines, newspapers and e-zines. Her speaking engagements include, the White House, Federal HHS, Regent University, Virginia Commonwealth, Miles College, Alabama University, USF, Ringling College of Art and Design, Shared Hope International, Wheelock College of Boston, Georgetown University, Festival Cannes, UCLA, Cal-State Dominguez Hills, Cal-State Irvine, Alabama’s UAB,  Miles College, United Way Worldwide, and various United Ways, the prestigious Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Frederick Douglass Family Initiative, Joshua Dubois-Values Partnerships, Rotary International Conference and so many more, with a passion, intelligence and grace from someone who has thrived far past the trauma.

Michael J. Osgood

Deputy Chief of NYPD (Retired)

Deputy Chief Michael J. Osgood is a thirty-five year veteran of the NYPD. He served as the Commanding Officer of the Special Victims Division for over 8 years which included the Hate Crimes Task Force. Prior to that he served directly for 8 years as the Commanding Officer of the Hate Crime Task Force.  In both roles Deputy Chief Osgood has delivered the Right to Identity Safety and the Right to Identity Equity to tens of thousands of victims. Deputy Chief Osgood retired from the NYPD in December 2018.

In his assignment with the Special Victims Division Deputy Chief Osgood led all adult sexual assault investigations; child physical abuse investigations, child sexual abuse investigations, transit sexual assault investigations, registered sex offender investigations and sexual assault cold case investigations in the City of New York. The NYPD’s Special Victims Division investigated over 16,000 Special Victims cases in 2018. The Division has over 300 investigative personnel. Deputy Chief Osgood   was also responsible for the monitoring of over 15,000 Registered NYC Sex Offenders. The Special Victims Division is comprised of 20 separate Special Victims operational units placed throughout New York City. During his 16 years as a NYPD Detective Bureau Commander Deputy Chief Osgood has led over 100,000 investigations and has led over 500 detectives.

Deputy Chief Osgood has the distinction of solving every homicide assigned to him;  of solving every gang assault assigned to him; solving over 700 stranger rapes; solving hundreds of New York City’s most complex cases and investigating hundreds of New York City’s high-profile cases.

In his assignment as the Commanding Officer of the  Special Victims Division Chief Osgood has led the creation and establishment of a Data Science/Machine Learning Group, a Bronx Child Abuse Squad, Special Victims Night Watch Squad, Transit Special Victims Squad, Complex Case Squad, Stranger Rape Cold Case Squad, Stranger Rape Predictive Modeling Group, Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Team, a Sex Crime Report Classification Unit and a Quality Assurance Group.

During his 8 years as SVD Commanding Officer  Deputy Chief Osgood has implemented the Survivor Centered Model,  You Have Options, Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) method, Advocate Closed Sex Crime Case Review,  an Attempted Rape rule, an Unfounded Rape rule, Hospital Response Protocol,  an Investigative Framework and a mental model of  Investigative Process Discipline

In his assignment with the Hate Crime Task Force Deputy Chief Osgood has managed the investigation of over seven thousand hate crime cases. In his role as the Commanding Officer he has formalized the concept of Right to Identity Predictability, developed a General Behavioral Analysis of NYC Hate Crime Offenders and has developed and utilized a Major Case Violent Hate Crime Offender Predictive Model and has developed and utilized a Local Crimeogenic Network Model to solve hate crimes.

Deputy Chief Osgood, in addition to championing the improvement of Special Victims investigative services throughout the county, has also been an outspoken on the national homicide clearance rate being a National Crisis.

Kutisha T. Ebron

Ph.D. Candidate, Institute for Ethical Leadership
St. Thomas University

Ms. Kutisha Ebron is a passionate social inclusion professional with over 15 years of career experience within the United Nations system. She served on the United Nations Secretary-General High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment. The programs she has worked on span the world’s regions, covering social innovation areas that include ending violence against women, gender equality, women, peace and security, and social integration. In addition, she is a Fellow with WEI Forward and Urban Health 360 working on issues pertaining to GBV and the intersection of Urban Health.

Ms. Ebron holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Towson University as well as a master’s degree in Management from St. Thomas University. She is currently working on her Ph.D., Ethical Leadership at St. Thomas University.

The Honorable Kwami Adoboe-Herrera
Member, U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
Eastlake, Ohio

Kwami Adoboe-Herrera is an anti-trafficking advocate, a consultant and a speaker. As a survivor himself, he understands the unfortunate impact of human trafficking around us. His lived experience guided his career and interests to support policies that help support victims as they navigate life after experiencing trafficking. Kwami was featured in a documentary called Break the Chain. The film provides a detailed look at how trafficking goes unnoticed within our backyards. Break the Chain was developed to provide an accurate and educational entertainment resource that can be utilized in training and community awareness events throughout the United States. Kwami is currently a member of Not for Sale: One Step at a Time, an organization that brings awareness and hope to this hardly seen issue in communities across Ohio, America, and around the world. With the help of God we will defeat this heinous crime against human life.

Kwami’s goals are to raise awareness, reduce the risk of victimization, educate members of the government and the general public, and advocate for victim protection and wellness. Kwami received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Walsh University. His ultimate goal is to work for the Department of Justice as an FBI agent to rescue victims from their trafficker.

Rebekah Charleston
Strategic Initiatives Director
The Jensen Project
Irving, Texas

Bekah Charleston is a nationally respected leader and a dynamic public speaker whose story of survival, triumph, and determination has been featured in communities across the United States and at the national level by numerous media outlets including Deadline Crimes, Daystar, Dallas Morning News, and the New York Post. After enduring a decade of abuse and exploitation, she built a career dedicated to the empowerment of Survivors and focused on community collaboration at all levels. In 2013, she launched Bekah Speaks Out to provide customized training and consultancy services to law enforcement, service providers, and community leaders alike. Since then, she has earned degrees in criminal justice and criminology, filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Nevada over the legalized prostitution industry, and worked with senators to advocate for the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act which provides victims the opportunity to vacate or expunge federal convictions resulting from their victimization. She previously served as the executive director of a non-profit that provided emergency housing, advocacy, and customized care to sexually exploited individuals and their families where she managed daily operations, programming, and community outreach initiatives. She has been an active member of the Fort Worth and Dallas Human Trafficking Task Forces for several years, has been publicly recognized for her critical work in the antitrafficking field, and has delivered a passionate talk at TEDx entitled “Tragedy to Triumph” that focused on the importance of resilience.

In her current role, Bekah serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director at The Jensen Project, where she manages projects, partnerships and strategic initiatives that help fuel the end of sexual violence by identifying best practices and leveraging resources to raise the bar at a local and national level. Through her personal and professional platforms, she provides guidance and coaching for program development, strategic planning, and economic empowerment initiatives for survivors of trafficking. Dedicated to creating sustainable changes in policy, culture, and victim-centered responses, Bekah continues to educate audiences on the evolving dynamics of survival, from trauma to healing to community reintegration, and all of the challenges in between. In 2020, her advocacy efforts came full circle when Bekah herself was granted a full pardon by the President of the United States for crimes she was forced to commit during her victimization, reminding us all to hold steadfast to hope and to never stop fighting for justice. Speaking from the heart, she delivers a message of hope rooted in science, empathy, self-empowerment, and transferable skillsets that every audience can grasp. Bekah’s goal is not only to change perceptions, but to leave a legacy that demonstrates the dignity and strength of Survivorship.

Maria Florencia Cornu Laport, Esq.
Assistant Professor of Academic Success
Member, Catholic Identity Committee
St. Thomas University College of Law

Maria Florencia Cornu is an Assistant Professor of Academic Success at St. Thomas University College of Law. She is a foreign attorney, graduated as a Doctor in Law and Social Sciences in Montevideo, Uruguay, where she served as a Professor Candidate in Civil Law Torts and Contract. She was a member of interdisciplinary academic organizations working on consumer and patients’ rights. She researched, authored, and co-authored publications on consumer and patients’ rights, access to health as a human right, and judicial ethics. As a private practitioner, she focused on litigation on access to medical treatment on constitutional grounds. In 2016, she earned an LL.M. in Intercultural Human Rights at St. Thomas University College of Law and the J.D. degree in 2020.

Sambra Zaoui, LCSW, CCTP, Certified EMDR

Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
Center for Human Rights & Social Justice: Lead Faculty Human Trafficking Initiative
Barry University

For the past twenty years Sambra Zaoui has practiced and studied the relationship childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has on adult intimate interpersonal functioning; and for the last ten years, its direct relationship to domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE).  In fall 2016, The Lighthouse Effect: A therapeutic conversation about childhood sexual abuse and its relationship to commercial sexual exploitation/sex trafficking was published in Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia of Trends and Controversies in the Justice System, and in summer 2018, Mrs. Zaoui completed a chapter: Humanizing Sex Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation through a Trauma Informed Person-In-Environment Lens for Social Work Practitioners in the Gender, Sexuality and Peace Education: Issues and Perspectives in Higher Education. 

As an active licensed clinical social worker, certified clinical trauma professional, and an EMDR therapist, she actively engages individuals and couples with complex sexual trauma histories in her private practice. She further served as an advisory board member to The Life of Freedom Center (an anti-trafficking organization that serves adult women), as well as an educational consultant, community trainer, and crisis phone and community outreach specialist to women affected by commercial sexual exploitation and domestic sex trafficking. In broadening her anti-trafficking efforts, for a season, she also served as an advisory board member to Ark of Freedom Alliance (an anti-trafficking non-profit organization that serves males and the LGBTQ community). Mrs. Zaoui is often invited to present locally and nationally on the aforementioned population from a trauma informed care and trauma intervention stance, as such, Mrs. Zaoui was asked to join the Florida Human Trafficking Clinical Treatment & Intervention sub-group charged to identify research based best practices for DMST, CSEC and adults.

In her most recent accomplishment, Mrs. Zaoui successfully piloted the first Advanced Clinical Trauma Informed Human Trafficking Certification Program designed to equip practitioners working with survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation at Barry University, where for the past ten years she has served as a faculty member in the School of Social Work. Currently, she is working on a phenomenological research study which focuses on the resilience of both female and male survivors who use their lived experiences (survivor leaders/thrivers) to serve, mentor, counsel and/or guide other survivors on their restorative healing journey.

ACCREDITATION:

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and St. Thomas University Human Trafficking Academy and Familias Unidas International Inc. The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CREDIT DESIGNATION:

The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This course is fully online. Fulfills the Florida Board of Medicine and Florida Physician Assistants requirement for human trafficking: The purpose of this course is to increase awareness among Medical Doctors and Physician Assistants of the reality of this phenomenon, how victims can be identified and the resources available for health care practitioners.

DISCLOSURE AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST RESOLUTION:

All conflicts of interest of any individual(s) in a position to control the content of this CME activity will be identified and resolved prior to this educational activity being provided. Disclosure about provider and faculty relationships, or the lack thereof, will be provided to learners.

NURSING (FLORIDA):

This program has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Florida Board of Nursing for Continuing Education. Provider #50-2105. Credit Designation: The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies designates this seminar series for a maximum of 1.5 CEU credits for Florida Licensed Nurses only.

Prof. Juan Mezzich, MD, MA, MSc, PhD

Tenured Professor of Psychiatry
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York

Juan Enrique Mezzich was born in Lima and graduated from Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University Medical School.  He then completed Psychiatric Residency Training, a M.Sc. degree program in Academic Psychiatry and M.A. and Ph.D. degree programs in Mathematical & Statistical Psychology at Ohio State University, as well as certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

He served as chair of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Section on Classification and Diagnostic Assessment, member of the World Health Organization ICD-10 Mental Disorders Workgroup and the American Psychiatric Association DSM-IV Task Force, and chair of the US NIMH Group on Diagnosis and Culture. He has authored over 350 scientific journal articles and book chapters and over 30 books, and received seven Doctor Honoris Causa degrees from universities in the Americas and Europe.

He has been President of the World Psychiatric Association and Founding President of the International College of Person Centered Medicine. Currently he is Tenured Professor of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, Hipolito Unanue Chair of Person Centered Medicine at San Marcos University School of Medicine in Lima, and Editor of the International Journal of Person Centered Medicine.

Virginia Akar, Esq.

Founder & President
Strong Girls Inc.
Miami, Florida

Virginia M. Akar is an attorney and human rights advocate who is dedicated to bringing about positive social change in her community, with particular focus on disrupting the cycle of poverty.  Her vision of eliminating poverty through education led to the founding of Strong Girls, Inc., an anti-poverty initiative whose mission is to eliminate the obstacles to higher education and career faced by girls in disadvantaged communities.  Ms. Akar has had a career in the public interest sector since her early days of practicing law as an Assistant State Attorney for Miami-Dade County in 1994.  From there, she took a few years off to raise her family, and gradually returned to a service-oriented career.  In 2013, she co-founded her first non-profit organization Young Musicians Unite, which currently provides free in-school and after-school music programs throughout Miami-Dade County.  She maintains an active role on the Executive Committee and Board of that organization. In 2016 she earned her Master of Laws in Intercultural Human Rights from St. Thomas University School of Law, which was in large part the catalyst for the founding of Strong Girls, Inc.

Ilaria Borrelli

Italian Actress and Activist

Illaria Borrelli started her career as an actress in film and television. She evolved into writer, screenwriter, actress, and director. Born in 1968, she graduated in piano at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia. She attended the Academy of Dramatic Art and later studied in the United States where she attended the Actors’ Studio. Soon after, studied Directing & Screenplay at New York University. She starred in several Italian and French television series and films. Her first novel, “Scosse”, awarded by the Italian Literary Club, received an honorable mention from the Florence Prize and the Prévert Prize, and was a finalist in the Calvino Prize. Her other novels include Tremblings, Luccatmi, Tomorrow We Shoot, and Much Noise About Tullia, which are mainly autobiographical stories from her personal experience dealing with gender discrimination in Italy–with just a touch of irony.

Her artist works and passion led her to work on Our Italian Husband was born, with Brooke Shields, Mariagrazia Cucinotta, Pierfrancesco Favino and Chevy Chase. She wanted to do a feminist comedy that showcased women making it out on their own. Light and funny, easy to digest, but still an antithesis to the environment she grew up in. Her second Film Wine with Kisses starring Murray Abraham and Bernadette Peters hit the same mark, but everything changed creatively when she made The Girl from the Brothel. Ms. Borrelli explored the darker aspects of humanity and touched upon the subject of child trafficking. Her first real taste in visual advocacy.

Dr. Cheyenne Luzynski

Affiliate Faculty, Institute for Ethical Leadership
St. Thomas University
Teaching Assistant Professor, Leadership Studies
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

Dr. Cheyenne Luzynski received her PhD in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University. Her dissertation was a historical analysis of women’s emergence into intercollegiate athletic leadership at a Normal institution. While at EMU, she was the catalyst in creating and directing the Interdisciplinary LEADership minor and taught in the higher education student affairs master’s program. Prior to EMU, she was a head volleyball coach and assistant athletic director at Alma College. She has a rich playing, coaching and mentoring background with NCAA Division I and III intercollegiate athletic programs. Dr. Luzynski graduated Magna Cum Laude from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Sport Administration. In her graduate pursuits, she was a 2014 NCAA Research Grant recipient, a 2013 ASHE policy seminar graduate fellow and honored as “Lecturer of the Year” by the Eastern Michigan University Honors College. With passions in athletics, leadership and student development, her research agenda includes issues related to equity and culture within the organizational context of higher education.

Maria Vega

Instructor, Institute for Ethical Leadership
St. Thomas University
Miami, Florida

Maria Vega serves as the Graduate Assistant for the Institute of Ethical Leadership. She earned her B.A. in Business Management from St. Thomas University in 2019 with a cumulative GPA of 3.83. She is now pursuing her Masters in Ethical Leadership while continuing her soccer career at St. Thomas.

Ms. Vega brings a unique perspective of leadership to the team as she is the St. Thomas University Women’s Soccer Team Captain. She has been an invited Guest Speaker at Captain’s Summits for Student Aces for Leadership and contributes to building better student-athletes by coaching at Mater Lakes High School. Ms. Vega is the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at St. Thomas University where she serves to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity for all student-athletes; protecting student-athlete welfare; and fostering a positive student-athlete image.

As a senior, Ms. Vega participated in the International Leadership Association’s 21^st Annual Global Conference in the Undergraduate Case Competitions in Ottawa, Canada where the team placed 3^rd globally. The case that they created addressed the cognitive, emotional, and physical wellness of student-athletes through a three-phase leadership development initiative with the NAIA.

Ms. Vega brings a vast amount of experience from previous internships that she has worked in. In 2019, Maria worked with CONCACAF as the Women’s Football Intern under FIFA Legend, Karina Leblanc. CONCACAF is one of FIFA’s 6 continental governing bodies for football. It governs 41 countries throughout North America, Central America & the Caribbean. She assisted in analyzing data from each Member Association and developing a Women’s Football Strategy development and implementation plan. Ms. Vega has also worked in internships such as Eberjey, a clothing brand that produces intimate apparel, loungewear, resort wear, and swimwear where she was Purchasing Intern and in Sherwin-Williams, an American Fortune 500 company in the general building materials industry, as a Sales/Management Intern.

Mariela Drago

Ligas Femeninas de Fútbol 7
Lima, Peru

Professional accountant with over five years of experience in banking, analyzing credit risks of corporate companies. She has an MBA in Sports Management from Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid (Spain). Currently, she is CEO of Ligas Femeninas de Fútbol 7, a Peruvian social enterprise that promotes the empowerment of women through soccer.

Thalia Simich

Ligas Femeninas de Fútbol 7
Lima, Peru

Professional Lawyer holding a Diploma of Specialist on Sustainable Development and Community Leadership. Since 2017, is dedicated to organizing, alliance building, public relations, fundraising and program development that involve youth, women and communities to promote awareness, development and growth. Currently, is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Sustainability of Ligas Femeninas de Futbol 7, a Peruvian social enterprise that promotes women empowerment through football.

Sadick Abubakar

Youth President
United African Congress
Washington, D.C.

Chair of Youth Affairs Sadick Abubakar is a Graduate from the University of Maryland-College Park, where he received his Master’s degree with honors in Mechanical Engineering in May of 2014. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. There he led a team in the redesign of the Mini Baja Car intended for farmers in Ghana, West Africa. He is the recipient of the Emerging Leaders Award given to him by Council woman Diane Foster and is a political advisor to many aspiring politicians and strategists. He can speak 5 languages and considers himself to being once a Ghanaian but now identifies as an African – meaning he believes in a United Africa. He is the National Youth President and Coordinator at the United African Congress, where he represents African youth throughout the United States of America. He is a proud Muslim and represented the Muslim community as the Logistics Coordinator at I am a Muslim too Rally. He continually gives back to the community by mentoring and tutoring in the subjects of both mathematics and science.

Mr. Abubakar represented the Kwame Nkrumah family to retrieve Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s (First elected president of Ghana and a father of Pan Africanism) 40 years lost dairy. He is an advocate for humanity in the areas of women and children, ending violence, and an Africa that is self-sufficient and continues to develop strategic means of achieving this. He was an architect of the Million signatures for Africa’s unification which was accepted by 16 African Heads of States for the need to lay out mechanisms for unification. He is a founding partner of Legatum Strategies, an African owned lobbying group in Washington, D.C.

Aderonke Ige, Esq.

Humanitarian Attorney
Lagos, Nigeria

Ms. Aderonke Ige is a humanitarian attorney, equity advocate, social impact practitioner, and currently Associate Director at the Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa.

She has been actively involved in the promotion of a humane and efficient society that enhances participatory development and inclusive governance through legislative advocacy, development knowledge facilitation, training, grassroots enlightenment, youth mentoring and child rights advocacy.

With visible passion for subject matters of social justice, governance, human rights and gender justice, she has undertaken several public interest and humanitarian projects on gender-based violence, child’s rights, youth development and criminal justice reform. Ms. Ige also founded Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development in 2018 to advance humane causes.

Dr. Roza Pati

Founder & Director, The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy
Executive Director, LL.M./J.S.D. in Intercultural Human Rights
St. Thomas University School of Law
Member, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (2012-2017), The Vatican

Dr. Roza Pati is a tenured Professor of Law at St. Thomas University School of Law, where she also co-directs the programs of Master of Laws (LL.M) and the Doctorate of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) in Intercultural Human Rights. Inspired by her work and expertise against human trafficking since the early 1990s, Dr. Pati founded in 2010 the Human Trafficking Academy, an institute she continues to direct. She is a former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Member serving as the Secretary of State for Youth and Women of Albania.

Dr. Pati is a polyglot and a prolific scholar, who has written extensively in the field of international law, human rights, comparative law and jurisprudence, human trafficking, international criminal law, and she is a proponent of the New Haven School of Jurisprudence. She is a globally published author of books, book chapters and law review articles in multiple languages and she lectures at academic, governmental and inter-governmental institutions around the world. She earned a Doctorate of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) degree, summa cum laude, at the University of Potsdam, Germany; a LL.M., summa cum laude, at St. Thomas University School of Law, and a B.A., highest honors, and LL.B., honors, at the University of Tirana, Albania. Dr. Pati is Faculty Adviser of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review and member of the Editorial Board of the international series: Studies in Intercultural Human Rights, published by BRILL/ Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.

She is recipient of multiple honors and awards, including the academic award of the Wolf Rüdiger Bub Prize for the Promotion of the New Generation of Legal Scholars, for the best doctoral dissertation, University of Potsdam School of Law, Germany (2009), and she serves in several civil society boards and committees. Dr. Pati was the Commencement Speaker at the 2014 ceremony at the Carlos Albizu University, Miami, and in 2010 at the Luarasi University School of Law (country’s leading private law school), Tirana, Albania.

Some of her publications on human trafficking include:

Global Regulation of Corporate Conduct: Effective Pursuit of a Slave-Free Supply Chain, 68 American U. L. Rev. 1821 (2019); Trafficking in Human Beings: The Convergence of Criminal Law and Human Rights Law, in the SAGE Handbook of Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery (2018, SAGE Publications); People on the Move: The Vulnerability of Migrants and Human Trafficking, in Refugiados, Imigrantes e Igualdade dos Povos – Estudos em Homenagem a António Guterres (2017, Brazil); From the Graceful Sari to the Scourge of Dowry: Indian Women in the Crucible of Tradition, 8 Kerala U. J. of Legal Studies (2015, India); Marshalling the Forces of Good: Religion and the Fight Against Human Trafficking, 9 Intercultural Hum. Rts. L. Rev. 1 (2014), also published as Blueprint, by Caritas in Veritate Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland; The Categorical Imperative to End Modern-Day Slavery: Subsidiarity, Privatization, and the State’s Duty to Protect, in Der Staat Im Recht. 1219 (2013, Germany); Trading in Humans: A New Haven Perspective, 20 Asia Pacific L. Rev. 135 (2012, Hong Kong); Human Trafficking: An Issue of Human and National Security, 4 Nat’l Security and Armed Conflict L. Rev. 29 (2014); No Cierre Sus Ojos: La Trata Existe–The Global Effort to Combat Human Trafficking: Its Strengths & Weaknesses, in Libro de Derecho Penal Especial (2012, Colombia); Combating Human Trafficking Through Transnational Law Enforcement Cooperation: The Case of South Eastern Europe, in Policing Across Borders: The Role of Law Enforcement in Global Governance (2012, Springer); Beyond the Duty to Protect: Expanding Accountability and Responsibilities of the State in Combating Human Trafficking, in The Diversity of International Law: Essays in Honour of Kalliopi Koufa 319 (2009, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers); Der Schutz der EMRK bei Menschenhandel:  Rantsev v. Zypern und Russland, 3 Neue Juristische Wochenschrift (2011, Germany).

Lerina Bright

Founder, Mission 89
Geneva, Switzerland

Lerina Bright is the founder of Mission 89, a research, education and advocacy NGO headquartered in Geneva, which addresses child trafficking in sport. Through grassroots and digital campaign initiatives the organization raises awareness of the trafficking phenomena among youth in a space that has become increasingly targeted by fraudsters posing as agents. The ultimate goal of the organization is to advocate for and facilitate a process that brings about policies which create a safe pathway for youth in pursuit of a professional career in sport.

Ms. Bright has a long history in sports management and administration which include roles with national and international sport federations in Europe, the Middle East, North America, and the Caribbean. She holds an M.A. Sport Administration from the AISTS in Lausanne, Switzerland and B.A. International Studies & Economics from the University of Miami, Florida.

Savannah Parvu

Survivor Leader & Speaker
Florida, U.S.A.

Savannah Parvu has a passion for writing and speaking about the hope she has found after many years of abuse. She is involved in survivor leadership through active prevention and awareness activities. She routinely shares her experiences with the public to grow knowledge of the tragic issue of familial trafficking within the commercial sex trafficking arena. She is a nationally recognized speaker on the subject. She has lived a life of abuse and she refuses to sit back and continue to be a victim. In 2017, Savannah received the Freedom Award from Florida Abolitionist. In 2016, she received the Polaris Star Award from The Greater Orlando Human Trafficking Task Force for Survivor of the Year. The wounds from her past are being healed and it’s her desire to be a voice for the voiceless.

Daphne Njie

Cameroonian Afro Beats Vocalist & Performing Artist

Daphne Njie is a Cameroonian singer who has become beloved by her fans for incorporating a wide variety genre into her music, including afrobeat, R&B, makossa and bikutsi. Some of her most popular songs are “Calée,” “Promets Moi” and “Jusqu’à La Gare.” She is also an Activist for Gender Based Violence and CEO of BeWoman.

Dr. Abadir Ibrahim

LL.M. & J.S.D. in Intercultural Human Rights
Head of Secretariat, Legal and Justice Affairs Advisory Council
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Dr. Abadir M. Ibrahim received his J.S.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law LL.M./J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights and has two LL.M. degrees, one in international law and one in human rights law. His experience encompasses work in both practical and academic settings including in advocacy. As a legal practitioner he has had a working experience with criminal law and procedure and has some experience in labor rights and constitutional litigation. His academic experience includes teaching, among others, human rights law, private international law, constitutional law, and legal history. He currently lectures at St. Thomas University School of Law on the topic of human rights and religion in relation to Islamic law-ethics. He has published in academic journals on a variety of human rights and international law topics and his advocacy publications also extend to non-academic outlets. His current research interests include democratization and human rights in Islam.

Kanathy N. Haney, PhD, CHES, CPH

Professor of Health Sciences and Education
PBSC Human Trafficking Coalition Chair
Palm Beach State College

Dr. Kanathy Haney is a health sciences professor and chair of the human trafficking coalition at Palm Beach State College and guest lecturer at the University of Florida. Dr. Haney is working to spread awareness and prevention of human trafficking from a public health social work perspective. She believes that by better understanding the nature of trauma she can create evidence-based community interventions and harm reduction strategies. Dr. Haney advocates for a multi-disciplinary approach to reduce mental health and substance use issues among human trafficking victims and survivors by implementing an effective trauma-informed and survivor-centered continuum of care. She also places importance on the ability of professionals in the field to identify those affected by human trafficking, associated risk factors and intersections. Dr. Haney is a member of the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches and the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force. Her goal is to advocate the public health issue of human trafficking around the globe to reduce health disparities and enhance social justice. Dr. Haney received her doctorate in public health at the University of Florida in which she focused her dissertation on sex trafficking in the United States. She received a masters of science in health education and promotion as well as her bachelors of social work degree with a child welfare certificate from Florida Atlantic University.

Ronke Giwa Onafuwa

Broadcaster and Girl-Child Advocate

Ronke Giwa Onafuwa is an award-winning broadcaster, a girl-child advocate and convener of Who’s that Girl Nigeria (Awtg_Nigeria), a forum that has been successfully held for four years and is geared at empowering impressionable young girls in their teenage years.  She is also the convener of @ TalkMummy, an online support group/community for Mums based in Ibadan.

She currently works with SPLASH 105.5 FM, Ibadan where she is a manager, and also hosts the Morning Splash.  She is married with children.

Irene Atim, LL.M.

UN Women

Irene Atim is a feminist lawyer and policy analyst at UN Women in New York. Her work focuses on empowering women and ending violence against women and girls – particularly those most marginalized and at greater risk of experiencing violence.

Irene is interested in creating platforms that give access to women’s voices and which provide content that fully acknowledges and respects women’s humanity in their different capacities and complexities. As a practitioner of feminist politics, she co-founded an online platform that provides a space for African women to counter patriarchal narratives in the news.

She is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

Kutisha Ebron

PhD in Ethical Leadership Student
UNDP, UN Women, WEI Forward

Kutisha Ebron is a passionate social inclusion professional with over 15 years of career experience within the United Nations system. She served on the United Nations Secretary-General High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment. The programs she has worked on span the world’s regions, covering social innovation areas that include ending violence against women, gender equality, women, peace & security, and social integration. Ms. Ebron has a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Towson University and holds a Master’s Degree in Management from St. Thomas University.  She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Ethical Leadership at St. Thomas University.

Dr. Lujain Alhajji, MD

Psychiatry, THRIVE Clinic
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, Florida

Dr. Lujain Alhajji completed her Psychiatry Residency as well as her Consultation-Liaison (CL) Psychiatry fellowship at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Alhajji currently serves as an Assistant Professor, working mainly in the Division of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is the psychiatry attending at the University of Miami’s THRIVE (Trafficking Healthcare Resources and Intra-Disciplinary Victim Services and Education) collaborative care clinic for survivors of human trafficking. She is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is highly involved in clinical education, working closely with medical students, psychiatry residents, and CL fellows.

Dr. Stephen N. Symes, MD, FACP

Primary Care Clinician, THRIVE Clinic
University of Miami Miller School Of Medicine
Miami, Florida

Dr. Stephen Symes, M.D., FACP is a Internal Medicine Specialist in Miami, Florida, and has over 31 years of experience in the medical field. He completed his medical education at Howard University in 1989, and Internal Medicine residency at Jackson Memorial Medical Center in 1992. Dr. Symes joined the faculty in 1997 as Associate Director, and then Program Director for Internal Medicine, until 2015. With his main clinical activities in HIV and AIDS, he developed a pathway to train future physician leaders in global and domestic health program administration and advocacy. With medical students at Miller, and JMH Internal Medicine residents, Dr. Symes started the Human Rights clinic at San Juan Bosco for asylum seekers who are victims of torture and abuse. The clinic has seen over 200 patients. Dr. Symes also serves as primary care clinician in T.H.R.I.V.E. a UM-JMH clinic for victims of Human Trafficking here in South Florida. Dr. Symes’ background as a medical educator, and work with disadvantaged populations, allows him to mentor young scholars toward health equity and advocacy in medical care and public health.

Prof. Panagiota V. Caralis, MD, JD, FACP

Medical Director, THRIVE Clinic
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, Florida

Dr. Panagiota Caralis is a triple graduate of the University of Miami, receiving her BS, MD and JD degrees.  She is a Professor of Medicine at the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami and serves as a Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Medical Director of the Women Veterans’ Health Program at the Miami VA.  She has taught courses at both the medical and law school in ethics and health law and has published research which spans both disciplines.  Currently, she directs a Medical Legal clinic serving veterans and a Health Law Pathway Program, which integrates the legal education for medical students throughout their medical school careers.  She is a part of the T.H.R.I.V.E. clinic which is an interdisciplinary clinic at JMH/UM which provides medical care for survivors of Human Trafficking.  She and Dr. JoNell Potter received the Innovators Award for their efforts from the State Attorney’s Office for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, and she serves on the State Attorney’s Council addressing Human Trafficking.

Ignacio J. Vázquez Jr.

Chief of the Special Prosecutions Section
U.S. Attorney’s Office, SDFL

Ignacio J. Vázquez Jr. is an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Mr. Vázquez received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Florida State University. He received a Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University, where he graduated magna cum laude and served as the St. Thomas University Law Review’s Managing Editor. Mr. Vázquez continued his legal education, completing a Master of Laws in Ocean and Coastal Law from the University of Miami. While serving as a prosecutor, he has participated in various continuing education programs, including completion of a Graduate Certificate in Death Investigation from the University of Florida.

Before joining the United States Attorney’s office, Mr. Vázquez practiced law as a civil and criminal litigator. After completing his Juris Doctor, Ignacio was employed as an associate attorney with Blank and Cooper, P.A., where he specialized in catastrophic injury and wrongful death maritime litigation. During his service as an Assistant State Attorney, Mr. Vázquez held positions in the County Court, Juvenile, and Felony Divisions, until his last assignment with the Gang Prosecution Unit. During his final post in the Gang Prosecution Unit, he served as a cross designated Special Assistant United States Attorney, where he participated in the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative coordinating State and Federal firearm and gang-related prosecutions.

Mr. Vázquez has served as an AUSA since January of 2013 and has rotated through the Appellate Division, Major Crimes Section, before starting his tenure in the Special Prosecutions Section in April of 2014. In 2019, he was promoted to serve as the Special Prosecutions Section’s Deputy Chief. In February 2020, Mr. Vázquez was assigned to serve as the Special Prosecutions Section’s Chief and the District’s Violent Crime Coordinator. He has prosecuted several criminal groups engaged in racketeering, homicides, robberies, human trafficking and smuggling, along with the fraud and money laundering offenses used to keep these schemes afloat. Mr. Vázquez’s has received a commendation from the City of Miami, the United States Office’s Timothy Evans Award, the Miami-Dade County Chiefs of Police Federal Prosecutor of the year, and the Executive Office of United States Attorneys Director’s Award for Superior Performance as Assistant United States Attorney.

Mr. Vázquez is admitted to practice law before State of Florida Courts and United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He is also a member of the Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, Florida League of Prosecutors, the International Homicide Investigators Association, and the International Association for the Study of Organized Crime. He has previously served as an instructor for the Miami-Dade Public Safety Institute in the fields of organized crime, gangs, and conspiracy investigations.

Johanna Oliver Rousseaux, Esq.

Of Counsel, Jones Day
President, Americans for Immigrant Justice
Presidential Leadership Scholar
 
Ms. Johanna Rousseaux advises clients on the resolution of complex disputes before U.S., foreign, and international tribunals. With almost 30 years of experience working in Latin America and Europe, Ms. Rousseaux understands the cultural contexts of disputes and brings a unique perspective to resolving them. She works closely with in-house and foreign counsel, witnesses, and experts to develop a cohesive strategy capable of straddling widely different legal systems. Ms. Rousseaux has extensive experience with state, federal, and appellate litigation, cross-border discovery, trial before foreign tribunals, private and treaty-based arbitration, mediation, and consultation with government agencies.

Ms. Rousseaux represents one of the world’s largest energy companies and saw the company through an historic case involving a foreign government, its state oil company, individual plaintiffs, and the international coalition of lawyers and activists who supported them.

Ms. Rousseaux also is a dedicated pro bono lawyer, repeatedly winning recognition from the nonprofit agencies she collaborates with. She helped establish the Firm’s Laredo Project, serving as one of the lead lawyers “on the ground” on the Texas border providing representation to asylum seekers in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.

Before joining Jones Day, Ms. Rousseaux headed the conflict resolution and prevention program at the Arias Foundation, founded by Nobel Peace laureate and president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias. Working closely with Dr. Arias taught Ms. Rousseaux the power of leadership through service. In addition to her pro bono work, Ms. Rousseaux sits on the board of directors of Americans for Immigrant Justice, the public policy committee of United Way, and the executive council of United Way’s Women United.

Myriam Mézadieu

Chief Operating Officer
Catholic Legal Services
Archdiocese of Miami, Inc.

Ms. Myriam Mézadieu began her career with the Catholic Emergency Legal Aid for Haitians in Miami, a branch from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network.  She not only took over the daily operation of CELAH, she acted as community liaison with local partners and the USCIS, formerly known as INS.  On June 1, 1994 she co-founded the G.W.L. Legal Project, which subsequently was restructured as Catholic Legal Services, Archdiocese of Miami, Inc., (CLS) when CLINIC-Miami merged with G.W.L. Legal Project.  She currently serves as the chief operating officer of Catholic Legal Services.  Supervising a seasoned team of immigration professionals, Ms. Mézadieu is committed to serving the under-privileged immigrant community of South Florida, as well as religious workers from all over the world. Volunteering for Catholic and social causes is a mission close to her heart, actively volunteering in several Catholic parishes in Haiti and United States and community centers.  She holds a BA in Business Law with a minor in Communications and Management and a master’s degree in International Affairs.

Thear Suzuki

Americas Advisory Talent Leader, Ernst & Young
Presidential Leadership Scholar

Ms. Thear Suzuki’s personal purpose is to inspire courageous in others so they can lead more impactful lives.  As EY’s Americas Advisory Talent Leader, Ms. Suzuki aims to create an inclusive culture for 21,000 professionals to grow their careers and build a better working world as part of $7B consulting business.  Previous roles have included Advisory Mananging Partner for the Southwest Region and client service roles focused on large and complex technology programs. Thear is passionate about building leadership and philanthropic capacity in others to improve lives.  At EY, she  serves on the Americas Advisory Women’s Leadership Steering Committee, the Americas Inclusiveness Advisory Council, and Executive Sponsor of leadership development programs that build strong, innovative, and courageous leaders for the 21st century.

In the community, Ms. Suzuki is active through board service.  With the Texas Women’s Foundation, Thear serves as co-chair of the Economic Leadership Council and a proud founding member of the Orchid Giving Circle.  Ms. Suzuki also serves on the SMU Lyle Engineering School Executive Board, the Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum Board, the Boy Scouts of America Board, Circle Ten Council, the National Asian/Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship Board, and she co-chairs the 2020 Women on Boards – National Conversation on Board Diversity – Dallas initiative.

Ms. Suzuki is a 2019 Presidential Leadership Scholar and has received several recognitions, including Women Leaders in Consulting Future Leader Award, NAAAP 100 Award, WING’s Mentors & Allies Award, Each Moment Matters Award, and the Nomi Network Abolitionist Award.  Ms. Suzuki has been included in several publications including a book called “Powering Up! How America’s Women Achievers Become Leaders”, the Everest Project research study called Women Redefining Corporate America, Understanding and Engaging High Net Worth Donors of Color, and EY Journeys that Inspire.

Ms. Suzuki earned her BS in Electrical Engineering with Biomedical Engineering Specialization from SMU. She lives in Plano, Texas with her husband Eric and their four sons.

Mary Anne Silvestri

Co-founder, ESTHER Ministry
St. Joseph Parish
Long Beach, CA

Mary Anne Silvestri is the co-founder of ESTHER ministry of St. Joseph Parish, Long Beach, California – a parish group that strives to understand the issues, causes, and consequences of human trafficking in today’s world and educate our parish and community about this modern slavery. As a ministry, ESTHER takes parts in efforts that promote education, awareness, prevention, justice and healing for the tragedy of trafficking.

Mary Anne Silvestri is originally from Detroit, has been married for 40 years and has two children who went through Faith Formation at St. Joseph.  After retiring as an attorney, Mary Anne became a Master Catechist involved in Confirmation and Adult Faith Formation. ESTHER Ministry evolved from a small group in Adult Faith Formation six years ago and now has over 30 members.   St. Joseph is about 25 miles south of Los Angeles, has about 1500 families in the parish, a K-8 elementary school and several very active Ministries.  Its Pastor, Msgr. Kevin Kostenik, recently came to St. Joseph from the Los Angeles Cathedral.

Shima Rostami, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Gateway Human Trafficking
Professor, Department of Sociology
University of Missouri
St. Louis, MO

Shima Rostami is a faculty at the University of Missouri in St. Louis (UMSL) in the Department of Sociology and has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Her doctoral study focused on ‘developing moral education to combat human trafficking’ by creating a Positive Youth Development (PYD) environment with an emphasis on Character Education (CE). Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of Gateway Human Trafficking (GHT).

Ms. Rostami is a human rights activist who is involved in the prevention of human trafficking in the Greater St. Louis metroplex, the state of Missouri, the U.S., as well as international communities. She studied Child Protection from violence, exploitation, and neglect at Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights. Under Ms. Rostami’s leadership, GHT put together the first teacher training event in St. Charles County, MO, to educate teachers about human trafficking and protect our children.

Besides her academic training, Ms. Rostami has experience working in several agencies affiliated with the Humanities and Humanitarian efforts including the American Red Cross of the Greater St. Louis Area where they received the International Services Award for their outstanding International Humanitarian Law (IHL) project known as Raid Cross. Additionally, she has been chosen as a Peer Reviewer to the Office of Justice Program (OJP) Department of Justice (DOJ) about human trafficking.  Ms. Rostami is also a member of the U.S. Attorney’s Human Trafficking and Hate Crime Task Forces.

Lisa Lungren, M.A.

National Education and Outreach Coordinator
Immigration and Anti-Trafficking
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Washington, D.C.

Lisa Lungren, M.A., National Education and Outreach Coordinator, Immigration and Anti-Trafficking brings a decade of experience leading and coordinating grassroots outreach, coalition-building in multi-lingual settings, and developing educational resources for varied audiences. Ms. Lungren previously oversaw the development and implementation of multi- and cross sector initiatives in Mexico, Colombia, and Panama to combat illicit activity and promote the rule of law (a culture of lawfulness). The project, which involved faith-based leaders as well as stakeholders from civil society and law enforcement, was recognized by the U.S. Department of State, the World Bank, and the United Nations as an effective crime and corruption prevention strategy.

Susan Patterson

Author & Advocate
SoCal Faith Coalitions Against Human Trafficking
Irvine, CA

Susan Patterson is a national leader in the fight against human trafficking and author of the book “How You Can Fight Human Trafficking, Over 100 Ways to Make a Difference” which has been acclaimed by anti-human trafficking advocates nationwide to be one of the best resources out there because it is practical.   Her book has also been highlighted by the Anti-Trafficking Program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as an excellent tool for Catholic and other faith communities that want to respond to the call of Pope Francis to take on the fight against human trafficking.   Her website, ThroughGodsGrace.com has speaker presentations on a variety of subjects.  Her main focus is working with faith communities to facilitate their efforts to take action in what God has called them to do.  She speaks to thousands every year about the dynamics behind Human Trafficking in such a way that the path becomes clear as to where one can use one’s gifts and talents to join the fight.   Her latest endeavor, SoCal Faith Coalitions Against Human Trafficking, engages over 200 leaders from faith communities a year, to look at what they can do next in the fight against human trafficking.

Jordan Bruxvoort

Founder & Director, The Naomi Project
Sioux Falls, SD

Jordan Bruxvoort is the founder and director of the Naomi Project – a Sioux Falls workers’ and immigrant’s rights organization that leads workers’ rights trainings throughout the community on important topics such as wage and hour, workers’ compensation, and labor trafficking. The Naomi Project accompanies workers whose rights have been denied and develops worker-leaders who can stand up for themselves and others in the workplace.

Naomi Project receives its inspiration from the example of Naomi who helped her immigrant daughter-in-law Ruth understand what her rights were as an immigrant and a worker, how she could exercise those rights, and establish herself in her new land.

Mr. Bruxvoort previously served as the director of the Micah Center, a coalition of churches to advance justice in Grand Rapids, Michigan.   During Mr. Bruxvoort’s time at the Micah Center, the organization spearheaded a campaign which passed a responsible contracting policy with the city of Grand Rapids in 2012 and started a workers’ center in 2014