Innocents at Risk and Airline Ambassadors were recognized at this Department of Homeland Security Event for being the driving force behind “Blue Lightning.” Our Flight Attendant Initiative is now DHS Backed!

Download the DHS – Blue Campaign Presentation (pdf file)

In recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11th, 2012, the DHS Blue Campaign Stakeholder Event will include an update for participants on recent accomplishments and provide a platform for stakeholders to offer feedback during a listening session with federal agency subject matter experts from the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), Transportation (DOT) and Homeland Security (DHS). The listening session moderator will ask for participants’ insights related to the following topics:

• Methods for supporting victims
• Federal government engagement and outreach with local communities
• Targeting outreach to at-risk groups and victims
• Improved awareness of NGO and private sector initiatives and resources

Download Human Trafficking Awareness Program Flyer»

Human trafficking is a worldwide scourge, destroying the lives of an estimated 800,000 people each year, according to the United Nations.  Trafficking generates roughly $32 billion annually through avenues such as debt bondage, criminal exploitation, and sexual exploitation.  Child trafficking is one of the world’s fastest growing criminal industries and Washington D.C. and the Virginia and Maryland suburbs has been noted as a particularly active trafficking hub.  According to the FBI, trafficking in this area grosses an estimated $100 million annually.

Since public education and awareness are keys to preventing human trafficking, Soroptimist International of Upper Montgomery County (SIUMC), an international non-profit organization aimed at improving the lives of women and girls, invites you to attend its 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Program.  The Program is free to the public and will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 from 7:30-9:30 pm at Jones Lane Elementary School,15110 Jones Lane, Gaithersburg, Maryland.  Doors will open at 7:15 p.m.

The Program will consist of a presentation by Ms. Deborah Sigmund, the founder of Innocents at Risk a 501 © (3) non-profit dedicated to combatting child trafficking and exploitation through community engagement and education. Local experts from the Montgomery County Department of Police Special Investigations Division, Vice and Intelligence Unit will discuss human and sex trafficking in the local area.  (A Spanish-speaking interpreter will be present).

American children are lured into prostitution as a result of manipulation by adult pimps who promise love, money and glamour.   These girls and boys are often found through the internet, Facebook and other social media and are unaware of the dangers they face.  Threats to a victim’s family members and the breakdown of human dignity make it extremely difficult to exit the control of a pimp.  Our speakers will share warning signs; how victims are recruited into slavery and how you as a member of the community can help put a stop to this practice.

Your attendance to learn the shocking realism of today’s slavery is truly valued. . Middle school and high school students are especially encouraged to attend. Please consider notifying your friends, family, and co-workers about the Human Trafficking Awareness Program—Slavery exists in Montgomery County, awareness and education are essential to put an end to human slavery.  For more information on this program please contact Johann Dretchen, VP of SIUMC at 301-602-6318 or email jdsd1021@gmail.com.

Thank you for participating as an official partner in this year’s DC SMS Walk. This year, the net proceeds (after costs) equal$49,739.36. Of this amount, official partners will receive the following distributions:

Checks have been mailed out to your respective addresses.

Beyond the monetary donations, the walk also produced many other impacts. Among those is the enormous satisfaction that we, the DC Stop Modern Slavery community volunteers, have felt in being able to take on this endeavor and help the cause. Our lives have been enriched tremendously. Thank you for supporting our efforts and allowing us to do what we believe is great work. We could not have done it without the support of organizations like yours.

DC Stop Modern Slavery

2011 Walk Team

DC Stop Modern Slavery Walk 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
National Mall

We went to the Mayflower Thursday night for an evening dedicated to the fight against child trafficking. The Stand Up for Children gala was organized by Innocents at Risk, which was founded by Deborah Sigmund (right). She’s with Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan, who’s been a big supporter of her efforts, and new Latin star Gabriela Ferrer, who sang with the Miami Sound Machine.

The theme was An Evening in Old Havana. Guests dined on chicken with tamarind mojo, black beans and rice, and plantains. We snapped Deborah’s husband, Don Sigmund, surrounded by Shahine Mafi and Annie Totah.

Michelle Delino is with T.H.E. Artist Agency’s Lynda Erkiletian. Thanks Alfredo Flores for photos.

Richard Jordan, David Rivard, Andrew Sprich, Robbie Donno, Daniella Cracknell,Jesse Cromer, Kathy Casper, Debbie Sigmund, Delphia Roberts, Marie Rivard, Guest, Theo Cosmora and Cornell Frank

Innocents at Risk, a non-profit organization that fights child exploitation and human trafficking along with Airline Ambassadors, an organization that works with airlines to directly help orphans and vulnerable children worldwide, hosted the Stand up for Children gala Wednesday evening.

Guests included Veronica Valencia, wife of Mexican ambassador Arturo Sarukhan and former Real Housewife of D.C. Linda Erkiletian. READ MORE »

Ambassador of Mexico Arturo Sarukhan Casamitjana, Gabriela Ferrer, Deborah Sigmund. A Night to Benefit the Fight Against Child Trafficking . Mayflower Hotel. October 19, 2011. Photo by Alfredo Flores

• Instruct children to stay in well-lit areas, never to take shortcuts, and never to go into isolated areas.
• Ensure that children wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight or glow stick when traveling during the evening hours.
• Teach your children only to enter homes of people you know, and with your prior permission and only to approach homes that are well-lit both inside and outside.
• Accompany, or make sure a trusted adult accompanies, your younger children to the door of every home they approach.

Fall is also a great time of year to reinforce the importance of internet safety, now that our kids are back in school.
With homework and extra-curriculars in full swing, kids are spending ever-increasing amounts of time online, on the computer, on iPads or smartphones, texting and growing their social networks. While parents may be apprehensive about the amount of time spent online or digitally connected, there are easy rules you can follow to make sure your kids are staying safe. For instance, monitor email and social network profiles, scouring for evidence of bullying. SCP President Stacie Rumenap was recently quoted by Janice D’Arcy  in The Washington Post’s Lifestyle section, with great tips for parents who have kids online. You can read that article and Stacie’s suggestions here.

“Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter where you can find other great safety tips like these, as well as relevant news articles and updates from the team. Join the community today and share your efforts, thoughts and concerns about child safety.

Best regards,
The SCP Team