Human Trafficking and Florida’s Schools

Schools are one of the most important places to highlight the issue of human trafficking – and everyone at our schools has a role in preventing as well as recognizing and responding to both sex and labor trafficking. The FSU College of Law’s Human Trafficking Exploitation Law Project (HELP) and the Children’s Advocacy Clinic has been at the forefront of advocating for survivors of human trafficking and for integrating human trafficking into Florida schools for many years. During this program, FSU law students will present on the Florida law requiring human trafficking prevention education for grades K-12.

DOWNLOAD: Schools and Trafficking Prevention STAC HT Webinar Presentation

They will report on their analysis of the 67+ school districts’ annual implementation plans and shine a light on the salient features and promising practices of the impressive school districts. Presenters also will provide a national perspective on how other states are addressing human trafficking prevention in public schools. Included will be information that public educators from different grade levels around Florida have shared as they reflected on their own experience and best practices. 

This is a program for everyone including students and educators – and anyone who cares about the safety of our youth, educators, and our community – and how we can all take action to improve.

Presenters:

Professor Paolo Annino

Professor Paolo Annino, Florida State University College of Law, Glass Professor of Public Interest Law, Distinguished University Scholar, Public Interest Law Center

Florida State University College of Law Clinical Professor Paolo Annino is a national leader in advocating for children. Professor Annino is the Glass Professor of Public Interest Law, a Distinguished University Scholar, and the Director of the FSU College of Law Public Interest Law Center. 

Prof. Annino also directs the FSU College of Law, Human Trafficking Exploitation Law Project (HELP). 

His students produced the eight episode Spotify Podcast: Trial Advocacy Podcast: Supporting Survivors of Human Trafficking. https://open.spotify.com/show/6tLdVjqd7zsSFXAOym010Q

Lauren Evans, Second Year Law Student, Florida State University College of Law

Lauren Evans

Lauren Evans is a 2L at the FSU College of Law where she aims to use the legal system to help children.

She is involved in the Children’s Advocacy Clinic and Human Trafficking and Exploitation Law Project.

She is passionate about ending human trafficking and helping survivors heal.

Ashley Marceus, Third Year Law Student, Florida State University College of Law

Ashley Marceus is a current 3L attending Columbia Law School and a visiting student at Florida State University College of Law. Ashley is from West Palm Beach, Florida, and is currently based in the Southwest Florida area. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida where she triple majored in Political Science, African American Studies and Women’s Studies.

Ashley Marceus

There, she learned of the current travesties of violence against woman and decided to dedicate her career to vindicating victims of domestic violence, sex crimes and human trafficking as a prosecutor. She began this feat through her internships with Queen’s District Attorney’s Office, Brooklyn’s District Attorney’s Office, the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and Florida State University’s Child Advocacy Clinic.

She is currently a Max Berger ’71 Public Interest/Public Service Fellow and is committed to continuing to invest her career in the realm of public service and justice.

Sherly Marceus, Educator

Born and raised in Florida, Sherly Marceus received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida.  Sherly currently works as an Intensive Reading Teacher with Stambaugh Middle School.

She just accepted a position as a Behavior Interventionist to aid in reducing maladaptive behaviors and increase positive ones.

Sherly Marceus

In the past, she has worked with school districts and private institutions as a Behavior Specialist.

In addition to being a teacher, Sherly is pursuing her master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis with the goal of bridging the gap between the behavioral world and our public education system.

Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall 
Miami-Dade School Board Member, District 2

Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, a former classroom teacher, principal, adult education administrator and current  School Board Member, District 2, has made a lifetime of using education to unlock the doors of opportunity for  hundreds of students, teachers, and parents. After graduating from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, she  matriculated at Tuskegee (Alabama) Institute, Nova University, Barry University and Florida International University,  being awarded undergraduate and graduate degrees, specializations, and certifications, in the fields of education  and leadership. 

Dr. Dorothy Bendross Mindingall

She was elected to the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008. As a former State Representative for  District 109, she was able to secure millions of dollars for programs and services in her District, which included the Miami Children’s Initiatives in Liberty City. Having created numerous successful programs that changed the lives  of children and single mothers, she has often used her creative solutions for problems that seemed to perplex and  overwhelm others. As a pro-active person, she developed: PAARM, a State-charted, male role-model program, a  project to increase attendance, a project to increase and improve children’s reading abilities, and a welfare-to-work  program among others, long before these initiatives gained their official recognition on a local, state, and national  level. She is a creative, dedicated, and tenacious advocate for the children and has great experience in district  policies and state politics. She knows what this District needs and how to get things done. She has had a  distinguished career in the Miami Dade schools, where she was lauded for pioneering programs for mentorship,  attendance improvement, community education, parent involvement and much more.  

In addition to her elected public service, and being lauded by numerous local, national, and international  organizations, she opened and serves as administrator of Labor in Love Family Literacy Center, which will get  even more parents off welfare, and armed with the skills needed to stay focused and productive. Her community  service also includes founder of “No More Broken Hearts-Domestic Violence Workshop which will celebrate 24 years since its inception at the Annual Domestic Violence Workshop on February 24, 2024. She has been appointed to serve on a number of Boards throughout Miami-Dade County. She is currently the Chairwoman for  the Academics, Evaluation, Innovation, & Technology Committee. Additionally, as a Diamond Life member of  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the International Women’s Forum, she has worked with the chapter’s youth  groups. As a Miami-Dade County School Board Member and the former first African American Vice Chair of  Miami-Dade County School Board, Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall continues to serve as an example of a  strong, courageous, tenacious leader who through collaboration and commitment advocates on the behalf of the  least, the last, and the lost.

STAC needs your support to sustain these important webinars. Will you donate today? Each gift helps to bring this vital information to the many people who are empowering survivors and preventing human trafficking. The only way we can maintain these programs and this work is with YOUR help.

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