On Friday, June 8th, 2012 Innocents at Risk will host “An Evening at the Arena Stage with The Music Man”. This delightful Musical starring Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin, directed by Molly Smith, is a story of how “Professor” Harold Hill transforms an entire town by getting the children off the streets and back in school by forming a musical band. It is a heart warming story about believing in children and giving them a purpose in life.

We are pleased to announce that Senator Scott Brown will be the Honorary Chair for this Event. Senator Brown is a champion in the fight to stop Human Trafficking and we are so fortunate that the Senator will be our Honorary Chair for this special evening!

Since 2005, Innocents at Risk, has been dedicated to protecting children from all forms of exploitation. We believe that every child deserves a childhood. Sadly, too often that does not occur. Child trafficking remains the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Each year over TWO MILLION CHILDREN are taken for the sex trade. This illicit industry is a $32 Billion Dollar business annually. Most people think this couldn’t happen here in the US, and it is happening in every city and town across America. The FBI estimates that over 300,000 children are trafficked within the US each year. This is due greatly to child neglect and lack of awareness. Since 2005, Innocents at Risk has been educating the public about this horrific issue and why it is so important to be vigilant. We have seen that Awareness is Prevention!

Fortunately, there are many individuals working to keep children engaged and out of harms way. For the past twelve years the Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet, Septime Webre, has devoted his time and talent to community outreach and engagement with inner city children. Through the Washington Ballet’s DanceDC Program tens of thousands of public school students have received dance education. In 2005, with the leadership of Septime, the Washington Ballet became part of THEARC, and educational arts and recreational campus located in southeast DC. Children learn ballet, jazz, hip hop, and modern dance in their own neighborhood. With education, discipline and guidance the children are thriving in school and developing self confidence. Most importantly THEARC provides a safe haven in the neighborhood where children can go after school and be safe.

At the Event on June 8th, we are proud to honor Septime Webre for all he is doing to help children thrive. We invite you to join us for this special evening as we recognize “Our Music Man”. As an evening sponsor, you will join us for a Cocktail Reception prior to the Performance and a Roof Top Cast Party following The Music Man. Please see the attached sponsor form. With your support, Innocents at Risk will continue to help keep our children safe. We look forward to seeing you on June 8th!

Warm Regards,
Deborah Sigmund, Founder
Betty and Jimmy Baird, Event Chairs

• Screening of the documentary Sex+Money: A National Search for Human Worth, presented by Executive Producer, Morgan Perry
• Panel discussion with experts who work directly on this important issue. They will discuss the particular problems faced in trying to help these women and what the public can do to curb this illegal exploitation of people in NYC.
  • Miriam Goodman, LMSW, Midtown Community Court
  • Danielle Latimer, MSW, Mount Sinai’s Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program (SAVI)
  • Kathleen Slocum, JD, Sanctuary for Families
• Meet local organizations involved in fighting human and sex trafficking.

Each year, thousands of women and girls are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation. In New York City, women of all ages are forced to work for brothels, strip clubs, massage parlors, bars, escort services, and as street prostitutes. Many of NYC’s involuntary sex workers are children; the Department of Justice estimates that the most frequent age of entry into the U.S. commercial sex industry is at 12 to 14 years old. Victims of sex trafficking face extraordinary difficulties in finding help, and they face threats of violence, restriction of their personal freedom, extreme coercion and abuse.

Speaker and Guest Biographies:

Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) is the co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus. She was an original co-sponsor of H.R. 3887, the “William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act”, which passed the house overwhelmingly in December 2007. Congresswoman Maloney has worked tirelessly to end sex trafficking internationally, nationally, and in her own New York District.

Morgan Perry (Panel Moderator) is the Executive Producer of the documentary called Sex+Money: A National Search for Human Worth. Ms. Perry studied film and photography in nearly 30 nations on every continent while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mass media from the University of the Nations. In 2006, she spent time living near the red light district in Thailand, where she became close friends with young sex workers. Seeing these young women and children in slavery conditions sparked a passion in Ms. Perry to fight sex trafficking. Through her studies in humanitarian relief and multimedia on the frontlines of journalism, she was empowered to raise the call of social injustice awareness through media.

Miriam Goodman, LMSW, is the clinical coordinator at Midtown Community Court (MCC), where she oversees all clinical operations and alternative to incarceration programs. She was formerly the Women’s Specialist at the MCC, where she developed the trauma-informed program called Women’s Independence Safety and Empowerment (WISE). Ms. Goodman is a licensed social worker, who graduated from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work.

Danielle Latimer holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from Fordham University, and has completed post-Masters training in clinical work with adolescents at NYU. She is currently working towards a certificate in trauma studies at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy. Ms. Latimer practices at Mount Sinai’s Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention (SAVI) Program, working with survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. She has worked with trauma survivors in numerous other settings as well, including schools, crisis shelters, and courts. Ms. Latimer believes strongly in the human capacity for healing and growth, and is honored to have been part of that process with many of her clients.

Kathleen Slocum, JD, is a senior immigration attorney at Sanctuary for Families, with five years experience working with the immigration legal needs of trafficking victims, domestic violence victims and asylum seekers. Ms. Slocum is a co-founder of Restore NYC, a non-profit organization that provides services to women who want to escape commercial sexual exploitation. Ms. Slocum received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Organizations present at event:

• Bellvue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture
• Innocents at Risk
• Children’s Village
• Nomi Network
• International Justice Mission
• Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program at Mount Sinai
• PhotogenX
• Sanctuary for Families
• And more! Get resources and information about how YOU can help!

Event Coordinated by Jessica Prall, MSW Candidate 2012, Columbia University School of Social Work.
For questions or information, please email jmp2205@columbia.edu

Former members of the Miami Sound Machine let loose, lending their talents for the  Stand Up for Children Gala, chaired by Innocents at Risk founder Deborah Sigmund.  After noshing on Cuban-inspired cuisine, guests were reminded of the horrors of child trafficking by viewing segments of a new documentary by filmmaker Carl Colby.
Washington Life, October 2011

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
7:30 – 9:30 pm
Jones Lane Elementary School
15110 Jones Lane Gaithersburg, MD

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.