Survive and Thrive

Leading Change: Preventing Trafficking of Boys & Men
2025-08-12 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Boys and young men are often invisible in anti-trafficking efforts — even though the data show they’re at significant risk. It’s time to change that narrative.
This event kicks off the Leading Change Scholarship Fund — a new, community-backed effort to support the development of lived experience leadership. As the first-ever recipient, Nathan Earl, Yale MPH Candidate, will receive whatever we raise during this launch. Every dollar goes directly toward his scholarship — and toward changing the narrative.
Register Now

Event Details
Date: August 12, 2025
Cost: Free RSVP | Suggested donation levels with additional value
Location: Zoom
Host: The Genesis Project
Moderator: Kathy Bryan, Founding CEO
Scholarship Recipient and Trainer: Nathan Earl, Yale School of Public Health
Part One: Training
Preventing and Responding to Trafficking of Boys and Men
3:00–4:00 PM ET
Covered: risks + indicators, trauma response, substance misuse, identification and engagement, systemic barriers, and policy recommendations
Facilitator: Nathan Earl

Part Two: Fireside Chat
Leading from the Messy Middle
4:00–5:00 PM ET
A raw conversation on burnout, hard lessons won, and resilience from survivor leaders navigating the “messy middle”
Speakers: Kathy Bryan (CEO, The Genesis Project & Survivor Leader) and Nathan Earl (Lived Experience Leader)

What You’ll Learn:

What the data actually tell us about who is being exploited
Unique risk factors, trajectories, and outcomes for boys and young men
How sexual exploitation intersects with labor trafficking, forced criminality, substance use, and the biology of trauma response
Why implementation (not awareness) remains our biggest failure — and how we fix that
Gritty, lived-experience reflections on healing, burnout, and what it really looks like to lead change after trauma

From Exploitation to Empowerment: Housing for Labor Trafficking Survivors
2025-08-13 12:00 - 13:30
Labor trafficking doesn’t always look the way we expect. It often hides behind language barriers, family ties, immigration struggles, or a client’s hesitance to name what they’ve experienced. If you work in direct services, chances are you’ve already supported a survivor of labor trafficking without even knowing it.
Join us next Wednesday, August 13th, for a powerful, survivor-led session featuring Anthony Paco Bernaola and Denisse Amézquita—two Harriet Tubman Fellows, labor trafficking survivors, and nationally recognized advocates.
Register Now
This session is ideal for service providers, housing organizations, anti-trafficking professionals, social workers, and advocates committed to supporting labor trafficking survivors with trauma-informed, sustainable housing solutions.
What You’ll Learn:

The critical role short-term housing plays in long-term recovery
Common barriers labor trafficking survivors face when securing stable housing
Creative, trauma-informed emergency shelter models
Best practices for developing survivor-centered housing programs beyond crisis care

Why Attend?
You’ll walk away with actionable strategies, program ideas, and survivor-informed insights to help improve housing support for labor trafficking survivors in your community or organization.
The National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) has approved this session for a maximum of 1.5 hours toward NACP’s CE renewal requirement; valid through 8/13/2027!
To receive CE credit, you must attend the live presentation. Viewing the recording alone will not qualify for CE hours.

Florida’s Expungement Laws: Helping Survivors of Human Trafficking
2025-08-15 13:00 - 14:30
This program will explain the law on human trafficking expungement, describe the process for clearing a survivor’s criminal history, detail the effects of expungement on a survivor’s life, and dispel myths and misconceptions regarding expungement.

Webinar Resources:

Webinar PowerPoint Slides

About the Presenters:
Brent Woody
Brent Woody, Lead Attorney and Executive Director of the Justice Restoration Center
Brent Woody is the lead attorney and executive director of the Justice Restoration Center, a nonprofit organization providing trauma-informed restorative pro bono legal services and advocacy for survivors of human trafficking, as well as advocating on trafficking-related legislation and policy matters.
Since 2009, Brent has made it a personal mission to provide free legal services to victims and survivors of human trafficking. Understanding that individuals subjected to exploitation in the forms of forced labor, commercial sex, and domestic servitude had no means to obtain desperately needed legal services, Brent committed to never turning away a survivor with trafficking-related legal needs.
Beginning in 2012, Brent’s work for trafficking survivors and victims rose to a new level as he began advocating before the Florida legislature for the rights of human trafficking survivors to petition a court for the expungement of criminal history records and vacating of criminal convictions for arrests while under the coercion of a trafficker or within a scheme of human trafficking. Unjust criminal history records and convictions close many doors for trafficking survivors, and this law was desperately needed by an untold number of victims. As a result, Florida’s human trafficking victim expungement law was unanimously passed and signed into law in 2013. Brent now represents over 200 trafficking survivors from in and out of the state and from within the Florida inmate population. Legislatively, Brent has initiated and successfully advocated for, among other things, the elimination of the statute of limitations for human trafficking offenses, enhanced penalties for traffickers, enhanced penalties for sex-buyers, the non-criminalization of commercially sexually exploited minors, and exemptions from the public records laws for the locations of safe houses.
Brent’s pro bono work has expanded into the Florida prison system as his organization has discovered that countless inmates were trafficked before entering the corrections system and are destined to return to “the life” when they’re released, simply because they don’t have any apparent options. The Justice Restoration Center, in partnership with his wife Pamela’s nonprofit, Advocates Against Human Trafficking, is helping break that cycle by coordinating secure and therapeutic residential housing upon release and facilitating safe releases and transportation.
Brent also handles coerced debt issues, name changes, obtaining public benefits, and other civil matters for trafficking survivors and coordinates other pro bono counsel for matters outside his practice area and involving out-of-state matters.
Brent graduated from USF-St. Petersburg and the Florida State University College of Law. He’s
married to Pamela, and they have three children.

Danielle Lennox
Danielle Lennox, Assistant State Attorney, Human Trafficking Unit, 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County, FL
Danielle Lennox graduated from the University of South Florida, in Tampa, Florida with her bachelor’s degree in criminology and political science. She then attended Nova Law School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she earned her Juris Doctor. After graduating law school, Danielle began working at the State Attorney’s Office for Broward County as an Assistant State Attorney and has been there for almost 10 years. She has dedicated her entire professional career towards getting justice for victims and she is currently the Head of the Human Trafficking Division for her office, where she partners with law enforcement in the prosecution of human trafficking cases. As part of her role as the Head of the Human Trafficking Division, she is solely responsible for overseeing the law enforcement investigation of all Broward County human trafficking cases, speaking to the survivors of those crimes, filing the appropriate criminal charges against the perpetrators of human trafficking, seeing the case through in court until the case is either resolved via a negotiated plea or trial and to review/approve any and all human trafficking related expungements. Her dedication and hard work earned her the award of Prosecutor of the Year for 2023 by the Broward Victim’s Rights Coalition.
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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.
Suggested donation: $20

Challenges Today Serving Foreign-born Survivors of Human Trafficking
2025-09-19 13:00 - 14:30
This training will give an overview of challenges and opportunities that service providers and everyone in the community face today when serving foreign-born survivors of human trafficking, specifically around immigration relief options. We will dissect case examples and offer solutions to better equip our leaders, advocates, and providers to serve their community. This program is a must for a wide range of people and professionals in the community who encounter sex and labor trafficking, including non-profit agencies, justice system representatives, health care professionals, advocates, faith communities, and anyone who wishes to understand more about the needs facing foreign-born trafficking survivors.
If you watched this program online after the live event and would like a certificate, please email Karley@surviveandthriveadvocacy.org for your certificate of attendance and provide the name of the webinar you watched and the date you completed watching and we will get back to you within three business days. If you attended the program live, Just in Time will send a certificate to you within three business days; if you do not receive it, reach out to Just in Time Support at JITsupport@usf.edu.

About the Presenters:
Vania Aguilar, Ed. D., M.S.
Vania Aguilar, Ed. D., M.S. – Program Manager, Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights
Dr. Aguilar is a program manager at CAHR, where she oversees the administrative work of the Center. She has been working with the Center since 2001. She conducts trainings on human trafficking for various groups in the community. In addition, she oversees the Center’s case management and service provision for human trafficking victims and victims of other crimes. She has developed curriculum for the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the Florida Department of Education on human trafficking. She was granted BIA Accreditation in 2013 and is assisting clients with their VAWA, DACA, Adjustment of Status, asylum, SIJS, TPS, U and T visa application submissions. She also represents clients in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review. She has assisted over 500 refugees adjust their status to lawful permanent residence and helps them apply for their citizenship.
She has established direct connections with prosecutors, victim advocates, and law enforcement officials throughout the state. She works very closely with them to secure the necessary documentation to apply for immigration relief for clients who are victims of crimes and to apply for any other forms of relief under the Victim’s Compensation Program.
She serves as a co-chair for the Big Bend Coalition Against Human Trafficking Survivor Support Committee. On behalf of the coalition, she has written co-eds, participated in radio show interviews to discuss how Florida is affected by human trafficking, and conducted presentations and outreach initiatives. In addition, she serves on the Social Justice Committee of the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center, a non-profit that assists victims and survivors of human trafficking in the Second Judicial Circuit.
She received Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees from Florida State University. In addition to working for the CAHR, Ms. Aguilar taught for Adult and Community Education (ACE) in Tallahassee from 2005 to 2022, where she taught evening classes to English learners from around the world. She was the lead teacher for the online English classes at ACE. She conducted classes for adult students in which she incorporated information about services and remedies for victims of various crimes, including human trafficking, and prepared students for their citizenship process. She received her doctorate degree in Instructional Systems and Learning Technology, and her focus was on equitable education for immigrants and refugees.

Daniela Donoso, JD
Daniela Donoso, JD – Gun Violence Intervention Staff Attorney, Legal Services of North Florida.
Daniela helps families in Leon County affected by gun violence. Previously, Donoso served as the Program-Wide Immigration Attorney at LSNF. She designed a comprehensive immigration advocacy program in North Florida to serve immigrants who are crime victims and establish immigration procedures and resources for LSNF staff and community partners. Daniela, a past DACA recipient, knows what it is like to have your life shifted by fear and uncertainty because of the broken immigration system. Her personal and professional experience working with marginalized communities has instilled an altruistic spirit. Donoso received her law degree from Florida State University College of Law. She spent her undergraduate and graduate time working for the Florida State University’s Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, gaining mentors and experience in immigration and anti-trafficking advocacy. She continues to engage in anti-trafficking advocacy and serves as a Board Member of the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center.
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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.
Suggested donation: $20

*Survivors Only* Town Hall Meeting
2025-09-24 12:30 - 13:30
This gathering is a dedicated space for trafficking survivors to connect, share, and stand in solidarity. In today’s political climate, many survivors may feel isolated—but you are not alone. There is power in community, and strength in being seen and heard.
This is a space where survivors support survivors.
Register Now
Together, we’ll build connection, foster healing, and lift one another up.
We deeply value all advocates in this movement. To ensure a space of safety, unity, and comfort, we kindly ask that this town hall be attended only by individuals who identify as survivors of human trafficking.
Questions? Email evelyn@htlegalcenter.org & hollie@htlegalcenter.org.

Community Human Trafficking Round Table: Shining Light into Darkness
2025-10-09 18:00 - 20:00 | St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral, 4784 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL, 32309, United States
Take part in a community roundtable on human trafficking. The conversation will bring together representatives from the Leon County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Children and Families, local emergency room personnel, and several organizations working on the front lines to end trafficking in our community.
9 October 2025
6 PM – 8 PM
St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral

Breaking Invisible Bonds: Navigating the Challenges of Trauma Bonding in Cases of Human Trafficking
2025-10-17 13:00 - 14:30
This session will provide an overview of trauma bonding experienced by survivors of human trafficking. The workshop will delve into the complexities of trauma-bonding, addressing its impacts on victim identification, treatment effectiveness, and building rapport and trust with clients. Everyone will learn valuable information about this including: mental health professionals; victim and social service providers; healthcare providers; criminal justice practitioners; students, researchers, educators; survivors and lived experience experts, and all others who want to know more about trauma bonding and how impacts victims and survivors of human trafficking and other forms of violence and abuse.

Webinar Resources:

Presentation Slides

About the Presenters:
Joan A. Reid, Ph.D., LMHC
Joan A. Reid, Ph.D., LMHC, Professor and Director of the USF Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Research Lab, Department of Criminology, University of South Florida
Dr. Joan Reid is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and Professor of Criminology at the University of South Florida. Dr. Reid is also the Director of the USF Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Research Lab located in St. Petersburg Florida. Dr. Reid is a leading expert on human trafficking having authored over 60 publications, primarily focused on child sex trafficking in Florida. Dr. Reid’s research has been cited in various State Supreme Courts, as well as state and federal government agency policy reports on child trafficking. Her most recent book, Trauma Bonding and Interpersonal Crimes, addresses the phenomenon of trauma bonding across various interpersonal contexts.
Klejdis Bilali, PhD Student, RMHCI
Klejdis Bilali, PhD Student, RMHCI, USF Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Research Lab, Department of Criminology, University of South Florida
Klejdis Bilali is a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Criminology at the University of South Florida (USF), and a graduate research assistant at the USF Trafficking in Persons (TiP) Risk to Resilience Lab. Presently, she is also a registered mental health counseling intern at the USF Department of Pediatrics’ Infectious Disease Program where she facilitates psychotherapy with disadvantaged youth living with HIV. She completed her MA in Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Florida where she facilitated research and trauma-focused psychotherapy with youth victims of sex trafficking involved in child welfare and the juvenile justice system. Klejdis’ primary research interests center on interpersonal violence, including human trafficking, child abuse, and familial violence, with a focus on victimization prevention and intervention. Throughout her academic tenure, she has contributed to a number of scholarly publications, book chapters, presentations, and trainings focused on risk factors, ramifications, and clinical responses to interpersonal violence.
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If you watched this program online after the live event and would like a certificate, please email Karley@surviveandthriveadvocacy.org for your certificate of attendance and provide the name of the webinar you watched and the date you completed watching and we will get back to you within three business days. If you attended the program live, Just in Time will send a certificate to you within three business days; if you do not receive it, reach out to Just in Time Support at JITsupport@usf.edu.
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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.
Suggested donation: $20

Pro Bono Legal Clinic for Trafficking Survivors
2025-11-08 12:00 - 15:00 | Baker McKenzie Office, 815 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC, 20006, United States
On Saturday, November 8, 2025, the D.C. Women’s Bar Association, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and the Human Trafficking Legal Center will hold a free, in-person legal clinic for trafficking survivors seeking remission under the U.S. Department of Justice Backpage Remission Program. The clinic will be held in the offices of Baker McKenzie, a pro bono law firm, in Washington, DC.
For survivors seeking restitution outside of the Washington, D.C. area, NCMEC has arranged for 30 pro bono law firms across the country to provide free legal support to applicants through the Backpage Remission Network. If you are interested, you can sign up for pro bono representation through the NCMEC portal at https://www.backpageremissionnetwork.org/#form.
Saturday, November 8, 2025 from 12:00pm-3:00pm
Baker McKenzie Office
815 Connecticut Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20006

STAC Third Friday Human Trafficking Training Webinar Series (Nov 2025 - CANCELLED)
2025-11-21 13:00 - 14:30
While we will not be hosting a live webinar in November, we encourage you to attend one of STAC’s past informative webinars. You can receive a certificate of attendance from STAC if you attend. You can find these webinars here: https://surviveandthriveadvocacy.org/training-education-resources/.

The Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC) Third Friday Training Webinar Series is dedicated to educating everyone about the critical issue of human trafficking. This interactive series aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the various facets of human trafficking, from its root causes and methods of operation to the profound impact it has on survivors, their families, workplaces, and society both in our home towns and worldwide.
Throughout this series, we will explore the complexities of human trafficking, featuring expert insights from sex and labor trafficking survivors, law enforcement officials, anti-trafficking advocates, legal professionals, and researchers. Each session will delve into specific topics, including the impact of social media and the trafficking of youth online, identification of trafficking situations, familial trafficking, the often hidden realities of labor trafficking, the psychological and physical toll on survivors, legal frameworks and strategies, and promising practices designed for prevention and intervention.
Our goal is to empower participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to recognize, prevent, and safely respond to both sex and labor trafficking. Whether you are a concerned citizen, a professional in a related field, a faith community member, and educator, a business person, or someone seeking to make a difference, this webinar series will provide valuable information and actionable steps to support survivors and fortify your family and community. Join us and contribute to the global fight against this exploitation.
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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.
Suggested donation: $20

Child Domestic Workers: Research and Practice Webinar
2025-12-02 09:00 - 11:00
Child domestic workers are children who work (and often live) in other people’s households, doing various domestic chores. Some of them work in positive and empowering environments, while others work under exploitative and harmful conditions. According to estimates by the ILO, 17.2 million children worldwide are domestic workers. However, due to its uniquely hidden nature, child domestic work continues to remain poorly understood and inadequately addressed. Free the Slaves and the Freedom Fund are committed to promoting knowledge and evidence-based interventions on child domestic work. Driven by this commitment, they are organizing a webinar entirely focused on the issue of child domestic workers.
The webinar, to be held on December 2nd at 9AM (EST)/3PM (CET), will include two complementary sessions of 1 hour each. The first hour will be devoted to research, with presentations of recent research reports on child domestic work. The second hour will be devoted to practice, with presentations of initiatives and programs aimed at supporting child domestic workers. Nepal, Kenya, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Liberia and Nigeria are some of the countries on which the presentations will focus. Q&A will follow each session.
Register Now

BBCAHT Quarterly Meeting
2025-12-04 14:00 - 15:00
BIG BEND COALITION AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING (BBCAHT) MEETING
Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 2:00 PM
Leon County Sheriff’s Office, 2825 Major James Morgan Jr. Way, Tallahassee, FL 32304

STAC Third Friday Human Trafficking Training Webinar Series (Dec 2025 - CANCELLED)
2025-12-19 13:00 - 14:30
STAC will not host a Third Friday Webinar in December. We encourage you to attend one of STAC’s past informative webinars. You can receive a certificate of attendance from STAC if you attend. You can find these webinars here: https://surviveandthriveadvocacy.org/training-education-resources/

The Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC) Third Friday Training Webinar Series is dedicated to educating everyone about the critical issue of human trafficking. This interactive series aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the various facets of human trafficking, from its root causes and methods of operation to the profound impact it has on survivors, their families, workplaces, and society both in our home towns and worldwide.
Throughout this series, we will explore the complexities of human trafficking, featuring expert insights from sex and labor trafficking survivors, law enforcement officials, anti-trafficking advocates, legal professionals, and researchers. Each session will delve into specific topics, including the impact of social media and the trafficking of youth online, identification of trafficking situations, familial trafficking, the often hidden realities of labor trafficking, the psychological and physical toll on survivors, legal frameworks and strategies, and promising practices designed for prevention and intervention.
Our goal is to empower participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to recognize, prevent, and safely respond to both sex and labor trafficking. Whether you are a concerned citizen, a professional in a related field, a faith community member, and educator, a business person, or someone seeking to make a difference, this webinar series will provide valuable information and actionable steps to support survivors and fortify your family and community. Join us and contribute to the global fight against this exploitation.
======================
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.
Suggested donation: $20

Learning from Human Trafficking Survivors: Marking a Decade of Commitment - Members of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking Share Their Reflections and Wisdom
2026-01-16 13:00 - 14:30
Join us for a powerful and timely webinar featuring speakers from the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, a federal body established in 2015 to ensure that the voices of human trafficking survivors directly inform U.S. policy and practice. Representing diverse experiences of both sex and labor trafficking, these survivor leaders are true experts on this issue. They will highlight findings from the recently released U.S. Advisory Council’s 2025 Annual Report. They will bring their lived experience, insight, and perspectives on where we are and what we need to do to address human trafficking and the conditions in our world that allow it to be. This program is a must for a wide range of people and professionals, including non-profit agencies, justice system and law enforcement representatives, health care, students and faculty, advocates, faith communities, and anyone who wishes to understand more about human trafficking, its impacts, and what we all can do to prevent trafficking. The Council’s thoughtful, practical recommendations touch every sector of our communities and help shape informed, effective, and survivor-centered responses.

Webinar Resoures:

2025 United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking Annual Report

About the Presenters:

Holly Gibbs
Holly A. Gibbs
Holly A. Gibbs is the System Director of a Human Trafficking Response Program for a U.S. national nonprofit health system. In 2014, Holly’s book, Walking Prey: How America’s Youth are Vulnerable to Sex Slavery, was published by St. Martin’s Press; and in 2019, she received the Sister Concilia Moran Award from the Catholic Health Association. In 2025, Holly completed her Master of Public Health at George Washington University. Holly has served on human trafficking advisory boards and councils for organizations such as the McCain Institute, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Human Trafficking Institute, HEAL Trafficking, and American Hospital Association; and, she co-founded the organization, Survivor Alliance. Holly has testified before Congress.

Yuri Guerrero
Yuri Guerrero
Yuri Guerrero is a bilingual survivor advocate, consultant and speaker. She is also a community health work promoter and Real Estate Agent in the state of Texas. She is passionate about helping others heal, thrive, and become a better version of themselves. Yuri and her family are labor trafficking survivors. Her journey was long, but she is passionate about using her life experiences and professional training to prevent, educate, and raise awareness about human trafficking in her community. Yuri has supported local non-governmental organizations in raising awareness and creating outreach materials related to human trafficking and is working in her community to create a local survivor-focused Council. She has also spoken at numerous federal and national events relating to human trafficking, including those with the Freedom Network and the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services (HHS). She was a member of HHS’ Human Trafficking Leadership Academy in 2021. Yuri has a zest for life and relishes every opportunity to enjoy freedom with her husband, family, friends, and pets. She also loves to sing and enjoys traveling.

Sameer Jain
Sameer Jain
Sameer Jain is a native of India and a passionate advocate for a scientific and data-driven approach to raising awareness against labor and sex trafficking. As a subject matter expert on labor trafficking, Sameer focuses particularly on cases involving individuals or groups who are moved to the United States through legal channels, often under the guise of legitimate employment opportunities. Having moved to the U.S. on a visa for specialty occupations, Sameer spent much of his life in a white-collar profession. Despite his educational, social, and financial background, he became a survivor of labor trafficking. His journey fuels his resolve to prevent others from experiencing similar exploitation. Sameer actively works to raise awareness of human trafficking at the federal, state, and local government levels. He is especially committed to engaging faith-based organizations and ethnic minority-serving communities as vital partners in identifying, preventing, and responding to trafficking. His advocacy includes speaking engagements with governmental and non-governmental organizations across the country, where he highlights the complexities and underreported realities of labor trafficking in the U.S. He currently serves on the United States National Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, where he contributes lived experience and subject expertise to influence national policy and strategy. In July 2025, Sameer joined the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Board of Directors and was featured on Episode 4 of the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center’s Imagine Freedom Podcast, where he shares his powerful story and insights on creating systemic change.
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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.
Suggested donation: $20

Imagine Freedom 2026
2026-01-29 17:30 - 19:00 | FSU College of Law Rotunda, 425 West Jefferson St., Tallahassee, FL, 32306
Imagine Freedom 2026 is the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center’s premier annual gratitude-filled reception, where we celebrate the changemakers and advocates who stand with human trafficking survivors and those who have fortified our world against sex and labor trafficking. It brings together friends from all parts of our community to demonstrate how we can ignite a Community In Action and build a world of Freedom Rising for survivors of sex and labor trafficking. This year’s theme is “Freedom Rising: Community In Action.”
Learn More About Imagine Freedom 2026
Event Location:
FSU College of Law Rotunda
425 West Jefferson St.
Tallahassee, FL 32306

*RESCHEDULED* - BBCAHT Quarterly Meeting
2026-02-12 14:00 - 15:00
BIG BEND COALITION AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING (BBCAHT) MEETING
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2026 AT 2:00 PM.
Leon County Sheriff’s Office, 2825 Municipal Way, Tallahassee, FL 32304

(CANCELED) Learn How to Prevent Human Trafficking in Tallahassee
2026-02-17 17:30 - 19:00
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED.

Schools & the Law: Hidden in Plain Sight – How Schools Can Prevent and Identify Human Trafficking and Provide Trauma-Informed Responses to Child Survivors
2026-02-20 13:00 - 14:30
This webinar provides an overview of Florida’s legal framework governing child trafficking and its intersection with public education. Speakers will discuss how educators and school personnel can help prevent trafficking by equipping students with the knowledge to recognize and report exploitation. The session will also cover how school staff can identify students who may be survivors of trafficking and respond effectively using trauma-informed practices. Speakers will give particular attention to legal and educational obligations when addressing discipline, including expulsions, suspensions, and chronic absenteeism, to ensure that responses appropriately accommodate a survivor‑student’s trauma history. This program will be relevant to community members who are parents or caregivers, faculty, staff, and students, law enforcement and justice system representatives, non-profit agencies, and private-sector representatives, and anyone who wishes to learn more about the vital role schools can play in ending human trafficking.
Register Now

About the Presenters:
Paolo Annino, JD, PhD, Glass Professor of Public Interest Law, Distinguished University Scholar, Public Interest Law Center, FSU College of Law
Clinical Professor Paolo Annino is a national leader in helping children in the health care, juvenile justice, and criminal law systems. Professor Annino is the Glass Professor of Public Interest Law and a Distinguished University Scholar at Florida State University College of Law. Annino is the Co-Director of the FSU College of Law Public Interest Law Center, and the Director of the Health Care Access Project, the Children in Prison Project, the Human Trafficking-Exploitation Law Project, and the Solitary Confinement Project. Professor Annino has taught at the FSU College of Law Public Interest Law Center since 1995. He earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Fordham University and a J.D. from FSU College of Law. Before teaching at FSU College of Law, Annino practiced public interest law as a public defender and as a legal services attorney.

Professor Emmalyn Dalton, Clinical Professor, Children’s Advocacy Clinic, Public Interest Law Center, FSU College of Law
Emmalyn Dalton joined FSU Law in 2023 as a fellow with the Children’s Advocacy Clinic. Dalton mentors students in the Children’s Advocacy Clinic, advocates and supervises students at all Children’s Advocacy Clinic court hearings, and provides the students with case guidance. She also organizes law reform projects and facilitates student community outreach presentations. Prior to joining FSU Law, Dalton worked as an assistant public defender with the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida, representing juvenile clients. While a student at the College of Law, she participated in the Children’s Advocacy Clinic and the Children in Prison Project and was involved in the creation of a documentary about the realities of solitary confinement for children in the adult prison system. Also, while a law student, Dalton completed an internship with the FSU College of Social Work’s Institute for Family Violence Studies, where she assisted in the creation of an online course for judges on intimate partner violence.

Emma Smith, Human Trafficking and Exploitation Project (HELP) law student, FSU College of Law
Emma Smith is a second-year law student at Florida State University College of Law and a legal advocate with the FSU Children’s Advocacy Clinic. Her work is driven by a calling to secure justice and safety for children navigating the legal system.

Valerie Busto, Human Trafficking and Exploitation Project (HELP) law student, FSU College of Law
Valerie Busto is a 2L law student at FSU College of Law. She is a student advocate at the FSU Children’s Advocacy Clinic and is working alongside Professor Paulo Annino with the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Law Project and the Children in Prison Project.

Dr. Michelle Gayle – Deputy Superintendent, Leon County Schools
As the Deputy Superintendent of Professional, Intervention, and Community Services, Dr. Gayle oversees School Board Administration, Intervention Services (Attendance, Foster Care, Families in Transition), Office of Admissions, Charter School, Homeschool, School Choice, Health Services, Mental Health Services, Marketing, Volunteers & Mentors, Community Partners, District Advisory Council (DAC), Student District Advisory Council (SDAC), and the Foundation for Leon County Schools.

Emma Champman
Emma Chapman is a second-year law student at Florida State University College of Law and a legal advocate with the FSU Children’s Advocacy Clinic. She is driven by a passion to fight for safety, security, and a bright future for every child through legal advocacy and community-wide awareness.

Accompanying Materials
1003.42. Required Instruction
1006.481. Human trafficking awareness training
6A-1.094124. Required Instruction Planning and Reporting.
OPPAGA 2025 Report on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
USF 2025 Lab Report
Schools & the Law: Hidden in Plain Sight
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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.
Suggested donation: $20

BBCAHT Quarterly Meeting
2026-02-26 14:00 - 15:00
BIG BEND COALITION AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING (BBCAHT) MEETING
Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 2:00 PM
Leon County Sheriff’s Office, 2825 Major James Morgan Jr. Way, Tallahassee, FL 32304

Virtual Release of the Council's 2025 Annual Report
2026-03-12 14:00 - 15:30
The members of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking invite you to attend the virtual release of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking’s 2025 Annual Report.
March 12, 2026 | 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ET
This event will take place via Zoom.
Register here while space is available: https://icf.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/FdHBn-9DROCxnWie20wqwg#/registration

Shine Together: BRIGHT Networking Event
2026-03-20 10:00 - 15:00
Friday, March 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Registration begins at 9:30 AM
University of South Florida, St. Petersburg Campus
200 6th Ave South St., Petersburg, FL 33701
RSVP with the QR code below.

STAC Third Friday Webinar Series Program (Mar 2026 - CANCELLED)
2026-03-20 13:00 - 14:30
STAC will not host a Third Friday Webinar in March. We encourage you to attend one of STAC’s past informative webinars. You can receive a certificate of attendance from STAC if you attend. You can find these webinars here: https://surviveandthriveadvocacy.org/training-education-resources/
The Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC) Third Friday Webinar Series Program is dedicated to educating everyone about the critical issue of human trafficking. This interactive series aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the various facets of human trafficking, from its root causes and methods of operation to the profound impact it has on survivors, their families, workplaces, and society both in our home towns and worldwide.
Throughout this series, we will explore the complexities of human trafficking, featuring expert insights from sex and labor trafficking survivors, law enforcement officials, anti-trafficking advocates, legal professionals, and researchers. Each session will delve into specific topics, including the impact of social media and the trafficking of youth online, identification of trafficking situations, familial trafficking, the often hidden realities of labor trafficking, the psychological and physical toll on survivors, legal frameworks and strategies, and promising practices designed for prevention and intervention.
Our goal is to empower participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to recognize, prevent, and safely respond to both sex and labor trafficking. Whether you are a concerned citizen, a professional in a related field, a faith community member, and educator, a business person, or someone seeking to make a difference, this webinar series will provide valuable information and actionable steps to support survivors and fortify your family and community. Join us and contribute to the global fight against this exploitation.
Webinar descriptions, registration, and speaker info: Coming Soon
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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.
Suggested donation: $20

WorldWE 2026 Stand Program Training, Beyond Exit: Addressing Criminalization & Building Long-Term Sustainability for Trafficking Survivors
2026-04-02 14:00 - 15:30
Led by STAC Consultant and Stand Trainer, Jamie Rosseland, participants will explore how the criminal justice system intersects with trafficking, and what meaningful long-term support for trafficking survivors who have been in the criminal justice system should look like beyond immediate exit services.

Register Now

Framework Survivor Panel: Mental Health Needs of Labor Trafficking Survivors
2026-04-10 13:00 - 14:30
This panel centers the insight and resilience of survivors, exploring how different forms of labor trafficking shape mental health and recovery. Featuring six survivors with lived experience, the discussion will highlight the mental health impacts of trafficking and the supports that help survivors heal and rebuild.
The conversation will also address key factors affecting recovery, including mental health needs, immigration-related uncertainty, and the role of economic stability as a protective factor—offering practical insights for service providers supporting survivors.

Register Here

Human Trafficking is Real: Do You Know What It Really Is?
2026-04-14 11:30 - 12:30
Join us for an important and eye-opening conversation on Real Talk with Judy Live Radio Show: “Human Trafficking is Real: Do You Know What It Really Is?”
Hosted by Dr. Judy Mandrell (Tampa Bay Gospel Radio Host of the Year & 2024 Praise & Worship Black History Concert Radio Host of the Year), this powerful discussion will feature special guests:

Lorie Asifor-Tuoyo, MSN, CHW – Community Health Worker
Robin Hassler Thompson – Executive Director, STAC

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 11:30 AM EST
Listen Live On-Air:
Tune in via Hallelujah 95.3 FM (Tallahassee’s Inspiration Station) or stream online at:

www.Hallelujah953.com
www.RealTalkWithJudy.com

Watch LIVE on Social Media:
We’ll also be streaming live on Facebook and Instagram — join the conversation in real time!

Human Trafficking is Real: Do You Know What It Really Is? (Re-broadcast)
2026-04-16 18:00 - 19:00
If you missed Tuesday’s powerful conversation, here’s your chance to tune in! Join us for the rebroadcast of Real Talk with Judy Live Radio Show: “Human Trafficking is Real: Do You Know What It Really Is?”
Hosted by Dr. Judy Mandrell (Tampa Bay Gospel Radio Host of the Year & 2024 Praise & Worship Black History Concert Radio Host of the Year), this powerful discussion will feature special guests:

Lorie Asifor-Tuoyo, MSN, CHW – Community Health Worker
Robin Hassler Thompson – Executive Director, STAC

Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM EST
Listen Live On-Air:
Tune in via Hallelujah 95.3 FM (Tallahassee’s Inspiration Station) or stream online at:

www.Hallelujah953.com
www.RealTalkWithJudy.com

Stay connected with Real Talk with Judy on Facebook and YouTube for more impactful conversations.

When Human Trafficking Comes to Work
2026-04-17 13:00 - 14:30
People are both sex and labor trafficked and exploited at workplaces and in plain sight in every community. How can we as employees, managers, co-workers, customers and clients recognize and respond to trafficking situations in ways that protect trafficking victims and the workplace? Children and adults who are trafficked and who are vulnerable to being trafficked need the eyes and ears of our community’s workforce to know how to recognize trafficking situations and to support them. This webinar is an interactive, live presentation of the online STACPRO training program and will provide vital information for the entire community, including social services, healthcare, the justice system, businesses such as restaurants and retail establishments, non-profit agencies, the faith community, and any organization or workplace, large or small. While STACPRO is available online, the advantage of attending this program LIVE is that you can ask questions and participate with the presenters and other attendees.

“When Human Trafficking Comes to Work: What You Need to Know” Presentation Download

About the Presenters:
Dr. Michelle Gayle, Deputy Superintendent of Professional, Intervention, and Community Services
Dr. Michelle Gayle is the Deputy Superintendent of Professional, Intervention, and Community Services. Dr. Gayle oversees School Board Administration, Intervention Services (Attendance, Foster Care, Families in Transition), Office of Admissions, Charter School, Homeschool, School Choice, Health Services, Mental Health Services, Marketing, Volunteers & Mentors, Community Partners, District Advisory Council (DAC), Student District Advisory Council (SDAC), and the Foundation for Leon County Schools.

Graciela Marquina, MSW
Graciela Marquina, MSW, is the lead Community Services Advocate for the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center, which she helped co-found in 2015. She is also an active member of the Big Bend Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Graciela is a skilled researcher and interviewer, has expertise working with non-profit agencies, and provides training and education on human trafficking to communities across the state and around the globe, including NGO and government agencies.

Stephanie Shumate, Director of the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
Stephanie Shumate is the Director of the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. Stephanie brings almost two decades of community engagement, advocacy initiatives, production management, innovative communication strategies, leadership training, personal development, and group facilitation to the CSWG. Stephanie was most recently Vice President of Client Relations at CATECOMM, a Tallahassee-based Public Relations and Communications firm, and brings experience from her prior career roles with Herff Jones as a Yearbook Specialist and Educator, Executive Director of the Leon County Responsible Decision-Making Coalition, Political Campaign Staff, and Director of The Florida Youth Delegation at The Florida Department of Education. She’s a graduate of Florida State University with a B.A. in Sociology, holds a Certificate in Leadership Studies and Theories, and currently serves as Secretary for the Board of Directors with the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center.

Robin Hassler Thompson, JD, MA
Robin Hassler Thompson, JD, MA, is the Executive Director of the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC), a non-profit agency she co-founded in 2015 to assist survivors of human trafficking. She is also an active member of the Big Bend Coalition Against Human Trafficking. In 2001, she traveled to Bangladesh as part of a U.S. State Department mission, which included a site visit to a trafficking rescue shelter in Dhaka. This trip inspired her to take action to end human trafficking. From 2002 to the present, she has directed numerous local and statewide anti-trafficking projects, lectured extensively on the topics of violence against women and human trafficking, and contributed to many national and international publications and curricula. In addition to her anti-trafficking work, Robin’s areas of expertise include domestic and sexual violence law and policy. She has served on and held leadership positions on local, state, and national boards and commissions.

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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.
Suggested donation: $20

STAC Celebrity Bartending at Amicus Brewing Ventures
2026-04-17 16:00 - 20:00
Join STAC on Friday, April 17th, from 4:00-8:00pm to see our celebs behind the bar to support survivors of sex and labor trafficking!
A special thank you to Amicus for hosting STAC as their Non-Profit of the Month for the second time. With their help STAC is able to have a bigger impact than ever, because together, we make change happen!
Location: Amicus Brewing Ventures, Tallahassee, Florida

Understanding Policy in Advocacy in Anti-Trafficking
2026-04-28 09:00 - 11:00
Understanding Policy in Advocacy in Anti-Trafficking with Hollie Nadel Policy shapes the systems that respond to human trafficking—but for many advocates, it can feel complex or inaccessible. This webinar offers a clear, grounded introduction to how policy functions within the anti-trafficking sector and why it is a critical tool for creating meaningful, sustained change. Through a global lens, this session will explore what policy encompasses, how it influences prevention, protection, and response efforts, and why engagement in policy spaces is essential for effective advocacy. Participants will also examine practical approaches to building relationships with key community policymakers and identifying pathways to integrate policy work into their existing advocacy efforts. This session is designed to support survivor leaders and advocates in strengthening their understanding of systems, expanding their influence, and engaging more strategically in shaping the policies that impact their communities.
Interpretation available in Bangla, French, Hindi, and Spanish
Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/qPaSAg_YR2mIYRLwhbdzGg#/registration

Credit Repair Clinic for Trafficking Survivors
2026-04-28 11:00 - 17:00
On April 28, 2026, there will be a virtual Credit Repair Clinic for survivors of human trafficking. The deadline to apply to participate in the clinic is March 16, 2026.
The clinic is organized by the Pro Bono Institute and the National Survivor Law Collective. The clinic will provide pro bono legal assistance to survivors seeking to repair credit issues related to their exploitation.
The clinic focuses on remedies available under the Debt Bondage Repair Act, which allows survivors to block harmful credit information that resulted from their trafficking.
Please note that survivors must be referred by an organization authorized to provide Victim Determination Documentation under 12 CFR § 1022.142(b)(1)(i)(2). Service providers who are able to provide this type of documentation can scan the QR code on the flyer to complete the pre-registration questionnaire and determine survivor eligibility.
Pre-Registration Questionnaire: https://airtable.com/appgNkXeNpJEx7a21/pag4HrypfY0sIXf5D/form

From Vision to Impact: The Thrive Space in Action
2026-05-15 13:00 - 14:30
Join Jamie Rosseland and Lisa Chaloux for an update on The Thrive Space, a survivor-created digital platform designed to support healing, connection, and empowerment. This session will revisit the vision behind the platform and highlight how it is used today, including its role in outreach efforts tied to major sporting events in Jacksonville. Together, we’ll share new materials, explore how The Thrive Space continues to grow as a resource hub and community connector, and why survivor-led innovation remains critical in anti-trafficking efforts. Whether you’re a survivor, advocate, or ally, this webinar will offer practical insight into leveraging survivor-informed tools for greater impact.
Who Should Attend:
This webinar is designed for everyone interested in learning more about human trafficking. In particular, service providers across sectors, including social workers, case managers, healthcare professionals, educators, and nonprofit staff, will learn about a practical tool to assist their client populations. It is also valuable for parents and caregivers seeking to better understand how to support individuals at risk or impacted. This session is relevant for law enforcement, first responders, outreach teams, faith leaders, community members, and people with lived experience. We welcome anyone who may encounter or support victims and survivors of trafficking and wants practical, survivor-informed tools to strengthen their response.

About the Presenters:
Jamie Rosseland
Jamie Rosseland is a consultant in the field of anti-trafficking work with expertise in program development and implementation for victims and survivors of sexual exploitation, trauma-competent and survivor-centered digital marketing and outreach strategies, and, most recently, working on policy guides and research projects. She has been active in local government and statewide policy advocacy. Through sharing her lived experiences and unique perspective, Jamie is committed to changing the cultural view of the sex trade, addressing systems that drive demand, and confronting gender inequality.
Jamie has experience providing mentorship, court advocacy, and care coordination to youth impacted by sexual exploitation as part of the Open Doors Outreach Network with the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center. She has presented at countless community events, statewide summits, and national conferences. Jamie has an undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary social science from Florida State University.
Lisa Chaloux, MPA
Lisa Chaloux, MPA is a survivor-advocate who, like many of her survivor siblings, wears a few advocacy hats. With nearly 20 years of experience in direct service, crisis support, and systems coordination, she brings both lived and professional expertise to her work. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies and a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Affairs. A self-described research nerd, she enjoys digging into data and systems to identify practical solutions that strengthen community response. Lisa developed the Dandelion Response Model, a coordinated community framework across Northeast Florida designed to strengthen response pathways, expand education on exploitation and demand, and support multidisciplinary collaboration across systems. Her consulting work focuses on building person-centered partnerships and sustainable infrastructure that improves long-term outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her chickens, cats, and dog, attempting to garden, and making messes with her granddaughter.

Register Here
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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.
Suggested donation: $20
