CESE Summit 2019 Speakers

Title:

Founder, CEO

Organization:

Educate and Empower Kids

Presentation Title:

Why We Need to Fight for Our Kids’ Healthy Sexuality & Teaching Kids to Rise Above a Porn Culture

Presentation Description:

Why We Need to Fight for Our Kids’ Healthy Sexuality

From every direction, our kids are bombarded with overtly sexual imagery, including pornography. Whether it’s in video games, apps, social media, online porn, or in the grocery store checkout line, the Porn Industry and others wage war on our kids and make sure they cannot avoid it.

But we as parents and professionals have a strong influence! That’s why teaching kids the harmful effects of porn and its opposite, healthy sexuality is so important.

As parents we also have the potential to be powerful advocates for healthy sexuality for our kids. We can amplify our efforts in the home by teaching our children and teens to go on the offensive in this war, educating others through social media, and looking for opportunities to affect change in our communities.

Our children deserve to grow up and have authentic, genuine sexual experiences not dictated to them by the porn industry or any industry.

Three Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

1. Participants will understand the impact of social media, gaming, apps, and the very real dangers of pornography for children and teens.
2. Participants will seek for opportunities and feel more confident in their ability to talk with kids about difficult topics like pornography, media usage and rules, and healthy sexual intimacy.
3. Participants will understand the need for advocacy and education for kids to build resistance to hypersexualized culture and the effects of pornography (and how to apply these).

Teaching Kids to Rise Above a Porn Culture

Bio:

Dina Alexander is the founder and CEO of Educate and Empower Kids (educateempowerkids.org), an organization determined to strengthen families by teaching digital citizenship, media literacy, and healthy sexuality education—including education about the dangers of online porn. She is the creator of How to Talk to Your Kids About Pornography and the 30 Days of Sex Talks and 30 Days to a Stronger Child programs. She is also the author of Noah’s New Phone: A Story About Using Technology for Good and Petra’s Power to See: A Media Literacy Adventure, She received her master’s degree in recreation therapy from the University of Utah and her bachelors from Brigham Young University. She is an amazing mom and loves spending time with her husband and three kids. Together, they live in Texas.

Title:

Founder and Executive Director

Organization:

The Samaritan Women

Presentation Title:

"View from the Trenches" & “Continuum of Care”

Presentation Description:

View from the Trenches

Long-term restorative care offers a different vantage point on survivors and their healing journey.  In this very candid session Jeanne Allert shares their experiences and insights from “doing life” with survivors for the past 12 years.  Her talk will focus on those areas where the care processes encounters the biggest obstacles.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the scope of services offered by long-term restorative care
• Identify barriers in our systems of care that complicate recovery
• Develop an appreciation for the complexity of needs of victims of sexual exploitation

“Continuum of Care”

Four seasoned victim services professionals discuss the uniqueness of their position along a larger—and necessary—continuum of care, and how services vary based on that position and where their clients are in their healing journeys.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the distinct characteristics and service needs of clients at each stage
• Appreciate the challenges of direct service at each stage
• Consider where your desire to serve would best be offered

Bio:

In 2007 Jeanne founded and currently directs The Samaritan Women, a national faith-based organization providing restorative care to survivors of domestic sex trafficking.  Jeanne architected the therapeutic care model, incorporating clinical and alternative therapies from addictions recovery, trauma-informed care, spiritual healing and positive psychology.

In 2018 Jeanne help establish the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance which serves as a trade association for shelter programs across the country.  Its mission is to advance the field of shelter care through advocacy, networking, agency accreditation and an annual conference.  In 2018 The Samaritan Women announced the formation of the Institute for Shelter Care, which serves as a research, training and equipping entity to help establish new shelter programs, stabilize and improve current programs, and facilitate qualified research to advance national standards of care and best practices. In 2018 she was awarded “Most Innovative Woman in Nonprofits” by the Stevie Awards.

Jeanne is a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy and sits on the National Advisory Council for the Conference on Crimes Against Women.  She authored PRACTICES, a national survey report of residential service providers in 2017, Funding Landscape for Residential Service Provider Agencies for Victims of Domestic Sex Trafficking in 2016, and co-authored Guide for Residential Service Providers for Human Trafficking Survivors with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2015.  Her work is profiled in the 2015 national documentary “In Plain Sight.”

Jeanne has served as an international public speaker for over 35 years.  She holds a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Divinity in Church Ministry (graduating May 2019).

Title:

Author, Advocate, Survivor

Organization:

BASMARTGIRL

Presentation Title:

The Opiate Connection: Sex Trafficking and Drugs-The Deadly Intersection

Presentation Description:

Understand the complex relationship between opioids and sex trafficking. Learn how sex traffickers use addiction to control victims.

An opioid addiction may lead someone to be vulnerable to being sex trafficked in the first place, and in a vicious cycle, keep them exploited and trafficked for years.

Understand the differing circumstances under which this can occur and what can be done today.

Objectives

1. Understand formulas sex traffickers use to maintain control over their victims
2. List four pre cursors that are present when a trauma bond/forced addiction is formed
3. State one main commonality between all victims of sex trafficking
4. Complete interactive exercise in identifying vulnerability

Bio:

Title:

Director

Organization:

Sensibilities, Inc.

Presentation Title:

PLENARY: Restorative Justice & Circles to Address Sexual Harm; BREAKOUT: If Not Now When? Dealing with Compassion fatigue and Secondary & Vicarious Trauma

Presentation Description:

PLENARY: Restorative Justice & Circles to Address Sexual Harm

Addressing the harm done is key for the healing of those harmed as well as the broader community. Circles also offer an opportunity for children that cause the harm to more fully understand the impact of their behavior and to take meaningful accountability. This session provides a brief overview of the theory and the practice of restorative justice and circles along with examples of ways circles can be used for prevention and intervention with sexually harmful behaviors.

PLENARY: Restorative Justice & Circles to Address Sexual Harm;

Compassion fatigue, Secondary & Vicarious Trauma are not only individual but also organizational responsibilities. This session speaks to individual and organization indicator and solutions to promoting wellness for those who do this work.

Bio:

Since 1976, Cordelia has been doing a wide range of work to promote sexual health and prevent sexual harm. Since 1992, she’s operated her own training and consultation business based in Minneapolis, MN. She is author of “The Impact of Pornography on Children, Youth and Culture,” (2011, updated 2017) and “Fired Up” 2014 a play based on survivors stories about child sexual abuse/exploitation. In her over 4 decades of this work she’s conducted over 2700 presentations. For over 20 years she was on the board of National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and remains on the ATSA (Association for Treatment of Sexual Abusers) prevention committee.

Cordelia has an MA in Human Development (St. Mary’s University) with a focus on sexuality and sexual violence.

Title:

Senior Research Psychologist

Organization:

Youth Research Unit, Bureau of Market Research, University of South Africa (UNISA)

Presentation Title:

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in South Africa: A focus on Trafficking, Prostitution and Pornography

Presentation Description:

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a complex issue worldwide.  Notwithstanding positive developments, CSEC presents numerous challenges for government and civil society.  Research conducted by the Youth Research Unit of the Bureau of Market Research at the University of South Africa, suggest that CSEC is increasing and that boy and girl children from all socio-economic conditions are vulnerable.  Some children are more at risk because of individual, family and/or community factors.   Despite ongoing efforts to increase awareness and protect children from CSEC, the study identified a striking lack of knowledge and dedicated services.  It was found that CSEC is under-resourced and the onus resides on non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations and volunteers to provide care and support.   Based on semi-structured interviews with survivors, caregivers and professionals, this presentation will emphasise the need for a collaborative response to CSEC. Recommendations will be made that will lay the groundwork for a systematic collaborative strategy to effectively address CSEC in South Africa.

Three Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

1. To provide information based on empirical research.
2. To provide attendees with practical information that they can apply within their own situation.
3. To promote a global collaborative approach towards sexual exploitation of children.

Bio:

Dr. Antoinette Basson holds a PhD in Psychology and is a registered Research Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). She has been employed within the Youth Research Unit (YRU) of the Bureau of Market Research (BMR) at the University of South Africa (UNISA) since 2010. Dr. Basson has conducted extensive research into the exposure of children to pornographic material and sexual exploitation, including commercial sexual exploitation (sex trafficking, prostitution and child pornography). She is a regular speaker at national and international symposiums and provides training and expert advice to professionals in the helping professions. Dr. Basson has been described as a specialist researcher with an affinity for children and young people.

Title:

Founder & Director

Organization:

Soul to Sole Choreography & DA:NCE

Presentation Title:

Children’s Dance: Educational or Sexualized

Presentation Description:

Over the last decade, children under 12 have become increasingly hyper-sexualized through dance at younger and younger ages. Over 100 global reports have revealed the negative effects sexualized messages are having on the healthy development of children. Instead of age appropriate choreography, young children are being given movement that exploits and sexualizes them with erotic moves, adult costumes and mature, sexually charged songs. The APA report on the sexualization of girls (http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx) says that the effects on children are unhealthy and damaging. Concerned adults and dance educators are on the front lines of this important issue and need to nurture and communicate appropriate standards for dance artistry and education rather than hyper-sexualization.

Bio:

Mary Margaret Bawden received a BA in modern dance from UCRiverside, a MA in worship (emphasis in dance) from Hope International University in Fullerton CA, and a California secondary teaching credential. She released a book in 2016 on faith-based dance titled “Dance is Prayer in Motion: Soul to Sole Choreography for Christian Dance Ministry” and has led a dance ministry at her church for over 20 years. Recently, Mary has noticed that the culture around children’s dance has moved towards an unhealthy trend – the sexualization of children under 12 in dance choreography, costumes and music. That focus translates into a desire to advocate for healthy, age-appropriate guidelines to protect children and to create materials for informed adults who care about protecting children in the current culture. That has led her to found DA:NCE(Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited) alongside Soul to Sole Choreography.

Mary has spoken at the 2018 CDEA(California dance educator’s organization) and 2018 CAHPERD(California Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance) Conferences as well as the National Center on Sexual Exploitation Conference in 2016. In addition to dance venues, she welcomes invitations to speak on the DA:NCE topic from other organizations that are concerned about protecting children from sexual exploitation.

Title:

Founding CEO and Champion Mentor

Organization:

More Too Life, Inc.

Presentation Title:

BREAKOUT: The Language of Cultures: Overcoming Biases and Bigotry in the Anti-Trafficking Movement as it relates to Victim Services and Identification

Presentation Description:

BREAKOUT: The Language of Cultures: Overcoming Biases and Bigotry in the Anti-Trafficking Movement as it relates to Victim Services and Identification

When it comes to expression, be it verbal or physical, we all have unique accents. We don’t choose to have these accents, yet adapt to them in our early childhood years, based on the cultural behaviors and environments we grow up with. Whereas for many accents bring personality, for some accents bring trauma. In order to understand one’s behavior, we must apprehend their culture – be it gang culture, rape-culture or hypersexualization – and to which degree these cultures bring new challenges in the 21^st century. As service providers and responsible community members, we must look aside these cultural biases and bigotry and help individuals understand that they are victims, yet their trauma does not have to define who they are. We understand that whereas everyone has a potential, not everyone has an opportunity. We seek to instill a new sense of identity to those who have longed to discover themselves in a world where they cannot be found.

Three Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

1. (Negative) culture does not have to define who you are
2. We need to understand and break down the boundaries of trauma in order to assist others in discovering who they want to be
3. Victims often don’t know that they are victims, because of accepted cultures

Bio:

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^th President 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. She holds a PH.D in Pastoral Clinical Counseling and accreditation in Pastoral Clinical and temperance-based Counseling, as well as  a Bachelor in Biblical Studies, Master’s in Pastoral Clinical Counseling  and two Honorary Doctorates, one in Humane Letters and Theology and one in Biblical Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary, National Christian Counseling Association, CICA University and Seminary and Richmond Virginia Seminary.

Title:

Director of Accreditation

Organization:

National Children’s Alliance

Presentation Title:

Child Victims: How We Are Serving Our Most Vulnerable Population

Presentation Description:

Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) and the National Children’s Alliance are dedicated to serving child victims of exploitation.  For victims and their families, we know exploitation can be devastating; healing begins with exceptional service from providers. CACs around the country are stepping up and responding in exceptional ways with a focus on reducing trauma and providing a victim friendly response.  From CSEC information to building federal relationships, the National Children’s Alliance is helping those that help our children.

Bio:

Dave has been an employee with the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) for the past three years. He currently is the Director of Accreditation and oversees the accreditation process of over 700 accredited Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) as well as 50 State Chapter CACs. Dave started his career with NCA as the Coordinator for Strategic Partnerships; responsible for building relationships for local CACs with Federal and State partners.  Prior to his employment with NCA he served on the NCA Board of Directors rising to the position of President in 2015.

He is a twenty-five-year veteran of the Harford County, MD Sheriff’s Office and is the former director for the Harford County Child Advocacy Center. Dave also has been involved on the Boards of the Maryland and Iowa Chapters of Child Advocacy Centers as well as the Allen Hospital Child Protection Center in Waterloo, Iowa.

He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Liberty University and a Master’s Degree in Management from Johns Hopkins University. He also holds certifications as a Certified Protection Professional and a Professional Certified Investigator from the American Society for Industrial Security and is a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals and Certified Fraud Examiners Association.

Title:

Reporter & Author

Organization:

Presentation Title:

The Disaster of Legalization, and the Rise of the Abolitionist Model

Presentation Description:

Julie Bindel will draw on her extensive research on the global sex trade to highlight examples from countries such as Germany, Holland, Nevada, USA, and Australia/New Zealand and decriminalization has failed to address any of the problems inherent to the sex trade, and has, in fact, made matters far worse for the prostituted women and men, and those societies in general. Bindel will suggest that the abolitionist (Nordic) model is the only way forward.

Bio:

Julie Bindel is an investigative journalist, writer, and broadcaster. She has been active in the global campaign to end violence towards women and children since 1979 and has written extensively on surrogacy rape, domestic violence, sexually motivated murder, prostitution and trafficking, child sexual exploitation, stalking, and the rise of religious fundamentalism and its harm to women and girls.

Julie has authored over 30 book chapters and reports on a range of topics pertaining to gender inequality and abuse, and writes regularly for The Guardian, Independent, the New Statesman, Spectator and Truthdig. She appears regularly on the BBC and Sky News. Julie also produces radio documentaries on various aspects of violence and exploitation of women and girls.

She was Visiting Journalist at Brunel University (2013 – 2014), Visiting Researcher at Lincoln University (2014-17) and is an advisory board of Byline (byline.com). Julie’s book on the state of the lesbian and gay movement in the UK (Guardian books, 2014) has been praised for being thought-provoking and challenging. Julie has also co-authored The Map of My Life: The Story of Emma Humphreys (2003), Exiting Prostitution: A Study on female desistance (2014). Her latest book is The Pimping of Prostitution: Abolishing the Sex Work Myth (2017).

Title:

Founder & CEO

Organization:

Betrayal Trauma Recovery

Presentation Title:

Why Pornography Use is Abusive to a Spouse

Presentation Description:

When women find out about their husband’s secret sexual life, often, they are stunned. They don’t realize they’ve are in an abusive relationship. They often don’t know what to do next. Anne Blythe has created a nine step checklist to answer this question. She will use this checklist as an outline to teach important concepts every victim or professional helping a victim needs to know. These steps apply to women if they’ve just discovered their husband’s porn use or if they’ve known about it for years. These steps also apply if their husband is in recovery. The goal of these steps is to ensure that every victim knows what it means to be emotionally and physically safe in her own home.

Bio:

Anne Blythe is the producer and host of the Betrayal Trauma Recovery podcast and founder of Betrayal Trauma Recovery, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit online community for victims of abuse and betrayal. After years of attempting to help her husband recover from his pornography addiction, he was arrested for domestic violence in 2015. Anne seeks to educate women about how to safely and effectively navigate their husband’s or ex-husband’s abuse. She now lives a relatively peaceful life with her three young children.

Title:

President and CEO

Organization:

Darkness to Light

Presentation Title:

Creating Cultures of Child Safety Through Courageous Leadership and Behavior Change Strategies

Presentation Description:

Founded in 2000, Darkness to Light shifted the social norm and burden of child sexual abuse prevention from child to adult. Their work empowers the average person with strategies and structured language to address this highly stigmatized and taboo topic. CEO, Katelyn N. Brewer, will discuss Darkness to Light’s journey from startup to international influencer with nearly 13,000 volunteers and 1.7 million adults trained. Through advocacy, education, and research, Darkness to Light is applying social behavior change (SBC) and concepts of courageous leadership to remove the barriers that prevent adults from actively participating in child protection. Katelyn will provide insight and real-world strategies that change culture within families, youth-serving organizations, and communities.

Bio:

High energy, entrepreneurial executive, Katelyn N. Brewer, is passionate about empowering people, organizations, and communities to enhance the impact of social movements. As CEO of Darkness to Light, a leading advocate for the prevention of child sexual abuse, her expertise in transforming organizational cultures, achieving programmatic scale, and implementing social behavior change activities lends invaluable insight to the larger conversation of child protection as an adult responsibility.

Since 2016, Katelyn’s leadership has resulted in exponential growth in programmatic reach and increased standing as a chief influencer in the space of child safety. Through education, advocacy, and research – and with nearly 13,000 volunteers and 1.7 million educated across 70 countries – Darkness to Light continues to revolutionize the way society keeps children safe from sexual abuse.

Previously, Katelyn was Chief of Operations for Washington, D.C. based Children of Fallen Patriots and Director of Strategic Engagement for Africare where she managed regional business development for Southern and Eastern Africa. Katelyn’s work continually demonstrates that grassroots community initiatives lay the groundwork for organizations to expand their missions globally.

Katelyn is a graduate of Wheaton College in Boston, MA with a bachelor’s in International Relations and French. She lives in Charleston, SC, with her spouse.

Title:

Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations

Organization:

Leadership Institute

Presentation Title:

You Can’t Save the World If You Can’t Pay the Rent: Real Fundraising for Real Change

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Karla Kraynak Bruno is a former English teacher and librarian, with over 30 years as an educator and researcher to her credit.  She is a published author of historical fiction, a frequent guest columnist for two regional Virginia newspapers, and serves on Virginia’s First Thanksgiving committee as part of the national celebration in 2019 of Virginia’s 400th anniversary of historic contributions to our national heritage.

As Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations at LI, Ms. Bruno increased foundation giving 72% since she arrived in 2011.

Ms. Bruno earned a B.A. and an M.A.Ed from The College of William and Mary, as well as a Master’s in Library Science from The Catholic University of America.

Her latest book is William and Mary and Tyler, Too: a biography of Lyon G. Tyler, due out in 2020.

Title:

Co-Founder

Organization:

A Call to Men

Presentation Title:

Breaking Out of the Man Box

Presentation Description:

A CALL TO MEN Co-Founder Ted Bunch radically challenges the collective socialization of men by examining the social norms, culture and traditional images of manhood that have created an environment that supports, tolerates and often encourages men’s violence against women. Bunch provides insight into the construct of sexism and challenges the privileges and entitlements given to men by men.  He articulates how the Man Box perpetrates sexism and inequality, and how embracing and promoting a healthy, respectful manhood will prevent trafficking, sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, discrimination, and other social ills.

Bio:

Ted Bunch is an educator, activist and lecturer working to end all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls.  Ted is internationally recognized for his efforts to prevent violence against women while promoting a healthy, respectful manhood.

Ted is the former director and co-creator of the largest program for domestic violence offenders in America.  His innovative work laid the groundwork for the prevention strategies now endorsed as best practice in engaging men to end violence against women. Ted developed and implemented model response programs for police, fire departments, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and other first responders dealing with domestic violence.

Ted is an adviser to the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball, providing policy consultation and facilitating violence prevention and healthy manhood training.  Ted was a guest presenter for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and an international lecturer for the U.S. State Department. He was invited to help lead the #TimesUp Engaging Men efforts and is providing ongoing healthy manhood and sexual harassment prevention training throughout the entertainment industry.

Title:

Founding CEO

Organization:

Survivors for Solutions

Presentation Title:

Bouncing Back: Individual and Organization Resiliency in the Movement & Continuum of Care: Lessons and Advice from Long-Time Direct Service Providers

Presentation Description:

Presentation 1:

A brief plenary presentation of eight to ten minutes describing individual and organizational resiliency within the movement to end all forms of prostitution.

Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

• A brief overview of inspiring resilience in individuals and organizations
• Simple tips and tools to empower yourself towards a state of resiliency

Presentation 2:

Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

• Exit Programs and the unique needs of the population
• The pitfalls of cookie cutter programs
• Survivor-led, survivor informed and peer education model as solutions

Bio:

Autumn Burris is a dedicated and passionate expert, with over twenty years’ experience, in combating sexual exploitation. As the Founding Director of Survivors for Solutions and a survivor of sexual exploitation and multiple forms of violence against women, Autumn uses her lived experience and expertise as an invaluable force in bringing about public policy reform, delivering training and presentations, and fostering positive change for and social recognition of exploited individuals. Autumn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science/Public Policy with a minor in Human Rights from the University of California, San Diego. As a survivor of and expert on sexual exploitation, Autumn’s advocacy includes speaking on public policy at the United Nations and before the British Parliament, pushing for legislative change at the federal level in the United States, testifying on California legislation, and providing expert testimony in federal trafficking cases. She is currently an expert consultant with the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center, a peer reviewer with the Office of Justice Programs, a policy consultant and trainer with Runaway Girl, Inc., a board member of Prostitution Research and Education and Breaking Free, and a member of SPACE International.

Title:

Executive Director

Organization:

Valiant Hearts

Presentation Title:

Best Practices and Tips for Working with Survivors

Presentation Description:

How to be more trauma-informed, having good intentions, not further exploiting for “stories,” employing skills and knowledge surviovrs have in other ways to benefit the movement, being deliberate in ways we portray survivors (like not using images without permission, not using images of victims for promotion, portraying a “victim” as helpless/bound/etc.)

Bio:

Rebekah Charleston’s story is one that is unfortunately too common. At the age of 17, after running away from home, she found herself trapped in the world of human trafficking, as a victim. After ten years and no way to escape from multiple traffickers on her own, it was the federal authorities that ultimately provided her a path to freedom and safety. Given a new lease on life, she hasn’t shied away from her experiences, instead she has used it as a source of inspiration and a way to educate others on the prevalent world of human trafficking in America. Through her work as a consultant with the National Justice Training Center and Executive Director of Valiant Hearts, Rebekah has dedicated her life to preventing others from having to experience what she did. In the years that have passed, Rebekah has won numerous awards for her work, including 2016’s Survivor Leader Award, has been featured by numerous news outlets such as Deadline Crimes and TEDx, received a master’s degree in criminal justice and has given birth to her loving son. Rebekah Charleston has a story to tell — a story of desperation, a story of hope, a story of triumph and a story of survival.

Title:

Executive Director

Organization:

National Decency Coalition

Presentation Title:

Panel and Discussion: How to Communicate for Change with Policymakers

Presentation Description:

Details Coming

Bio:

Co-Founder and Executive Director of National Decency Coalition (NDC). Ricky has a history of activism, volunteering in local, gubernatorial, and congressional campaigns since the age of 13. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in history and political science, Ricky was a business owner in Nashville, TN for 13 years. He co-founded NDC with Tiffany Leeper- President of Girls Against Pornography as a response to the ever-growing crisis of pornography. Ricky is married with three children and lives in Nashville.

Title:

President & CEO

Organization:

Covenant Eyes

Presentation Title:

Why Do You Exist? Identity and Future

Presentation Description:

When you look in the rear-view mirror, what do you see?  This discussion gives you a positive plan for connecting your identity with your future.  Your identity, your core identity, may have been influenced by significant events, but the past does not define you, nor does it define your future. 4000 years from now, people will look back on this time, your lifetime, as the most significant time in all of human history, with the internet, AI, computing ability, wireless tech, etc.  In the context of your work in the battle against sexual exploitation and pornography, it is important not only to know who you are, but what you truly believe you can be, because your incremental work now will have exponential results for the future.

Bio:

Ron DeHaas invented internet accountability in 2000, and is now using artificial intelligence for a variety of applications, including screen accountability and filtering.  Besides founding and being CEO of Covenant Eyes, he also has a broad range of successful business experience, including 30 years as a geologist in the oil and gas industry, environmental  work, managing  95 city carriers for the  U.S. Postal Service, and directing a retreat and counseling center for pastors and missionaries in Michigan (Nehemiah Ministries www.nehemiahm.org).

Title:

Anna Deane Carlson Endowed Chair of Social Sciences, Director of the Research Center on Violence, and Professor of Sociology

Organization:

West Virginia University

Presentation Title:

PLENARY: Violence Against Adult Women: The Contribution of Pornography and Image-Based Sexual Abuse; BREAKOUT: Confronting Adult Pornography and Image-Based Sexual Abuse

Presentation Description:

PLENARY: Violence Against Adult Women: The Contribution of Pornography and Image-Based Sexual Abuse

The social scientific literature on the relationship between pornography, image-based sexual abuse, and violence against women has grown considerably over the past 10 years. This presentation chronicles major developments in the field and provides answers to these three: What do we know? How do we know it? What are the next steps?

Three Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

1. Participants will become familiar with the current social scientific knowledge about the relationship between violence against women, pornography, and image-based sexual abuse.
2. Based on their own personal and work experiences, participants will identify new areas of research.
3. Participants will be learn about why pornography and image-based sexual abuse contribute to various types of violence against women.

BREAKOUT: Confronting Adult Pornography and Image-Based Sexual Abuse

The main objective of this presentation is to suggest progressive individual and collective means of
confronting adult pornography. These measures involve taking an explicit stand for women and have the
potential to help reduce much pain and suffering.

Bio:

Walter S. DeKeseredy is Anna Deane Carlson Endowed Chair of Social Sciences, Director of the Research Center on Violence, and Professor of Sociology at West Virginia University. He has published 25 books, 100 scientific journal articles and 83 scholarly book chapters on violence against women and other social problems. In 2008, the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma gave him the Linda Saltzman Memorial Intimate Partner Violence Researcher Award. He also jointly received the 2004 Distinguished Scholar Award from the American Society of Criminology’s (ASC) Division on Women and Crime and the 2007 inaugural UOIT Research Excellence Award. In 1995, he received the Critical Criminologist of the Year Award from the ASC’s Division on Critical Criminology (DCC) and in 2008 the DCC gave him the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014, he received the Critical Criminal Justice Scholar Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ (ACJS) Section on Critical Criminal Justice and in 2015, he received the Career Achievement Award from the ASC’s Division on Victimology. In 2017, he received the Impact Award from the ACJS’s section on Victimology and the Robert Jerrin Book Award from the ASC’s Division on Victimology.

Selected Publications

DeKeseredy, W.S., & Dragiewicz, M. (Eds.). (2018). Handbook of Critical Criminology(2nded.). London: Routledge.

DeKeseredy, W.S., Dragiewicz, M., & Schwartz, M.D. (2017). Abusive Endings: Separation and Divorce Violence Against Women. Oakland, CA: University of California Press. Winner of the 2017 Robert Jerrin Book Award, American Society of Criminology’s Division on Victimology.

DeKeseredy, W.S., Schwartz, M.D., Nolan, J., Mastron, N., & Hall-Sanchez, A. (2018). Polyvictimization and the continuum of sexual abuse at a college campus: Does negative peer support increase the likelihood of multiple victimizations? The British Journal of Criminology.DOI: 10.1093/bjc/azy036/

Rennison, C.M., & DeKeseredy, W.S. (2018). Violent girls in the United States: Urban, suburban, and rural differences. International Journal of Rural Criminology,4, 27-42.

Messinger, A.M., Birmingham, R.S., & DeKeseredy, W.S.(2018). Perceptions of same-gender and different gender intimate partner cyber-monitoring. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. DOI: 10.1177/0886260518787814.

Pritchard, A., DeKeseredy, W.S., Nolan, J., & Hall-Sanchez, A. (2018). Who speaks first? Analyzing response waves in a large-scale campus climate survey. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment,& Trauma. DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2018.1468374.

DeKeseredy, W.S., Hall-Sanchez, A., & Nolan, J. (2018). College campus sexual assault:The contribution of peers’ pro-abuse informational support and attachments to abusive peers.Violence Against Women, 24, 922-935.

DeKeseredy, W.S., Hall-Sanchez, A., Nolan, J., & Schwartz, M.D. (2017). A campus LGBTQ community’s sexual violence and stalking experiences: The contribution of pro-abuse peer support. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 1, 169-185.

Title:

Journalist, Columnist

Organization:

The New York Times

Presentation Title:

The Virtual Cage: How the Internet Teaches Us to Exploit Ourselves

Presentation Description:

Details Coming

Bio:

Ross Douthat joined The New York Times as an Op-Ed columnist in April 2009. His column appears every Wednesday and Sunday. Previously, he was a senior editor at The Atlantic and a blogger for theatlantic.com.

He is the author of To Change the Church: Pope Francis and the Future of Catholicism (2018), Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics (2012), Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class (2005) and a co-author, with Reihan Salam, of Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream (2008). He is the film critic for National Review and a Writer-in-Residence at the Elm Institute. He co-hosts the op-ed page’s podcast, The Argument, with Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt.

Title:

President & CEO

Organization:

Trafficking in America Task Force

Presentation Title:

Trafficked Boys: Invisible Victims of HT

Presentation Description:

Male victims of sex trafficking have historically been an invisible population. Recent developments have begun to raise the curtain on the expansive number of young boys being sexually trafficked in this country. During my presentation, I will present a comprehensive look at the issue of child sex trafficking and the evolution of the male victim. I will also present strategies for the education and prevention of child sex trafficking and discuss alternatives for the after care and recovery of male victims.

Bio:

Jerome Elam is President and CEO of Trafficking in America Task Force. Raised in a broken home by an alcoholic parent, he is a survivor of child abuse/domestic violence, child sex trafficking, and child pornography. Mr. Elam is a fierce Advocate for all children deprived of their voice. He is a public speaker, a staff writer, and known columnist for Communities Digital News. Recently featured as one of New York’s New Abolitionists, he remains dedicated to the protection and empowerment of trafficked people. Staying true to values he learned in the Marine Corps, continues to provide a safe harbor for all, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual identity, or immigration status. Jerome has received the Award for Courage presented by the National Council of Jewish Women for his work in the advocacy arena and been deputized by the Attorney General of Utah.

Title:

Executive Director

Organization:

Not on My Watch, Inc.

Presentation Title:

Role of the Church in Combatting Sex Trafficking: From the Pulpit to the White House

Presentation Description:

What is the church’s role in combatting sex trafficking in their communities and cities.  How do we effectively use our power to help shape the laws of our land while protecting the most vulnerable among us.  Let’ hear God’s heart on the matter.

Bio:

Named 1 of 25 most influential women in the Bronx, Rev. Dr. Que English continues to be a trailblazer for criminal justice reform, education reform, women and girl issues, human trafficking and domestic violence.

Rev. Que is the CEO/Founder and Executive Director of Not on My Watch, Inc. (NOMW) and Chairs the New York City Faith-Based Coalition Against Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence.  NOMW has empowered over 300 houses of worship with the tools necessary to combat human trafficking and domestic violence in their communities. They’ve hosted five national conferences where over 3,000 to date have attended spanning from federal personnel such as Homeland Security representatives to grassroot organizations educating, empowering and creating advocates around these issues.   They have worked together with national and local organizations to see the passing of key legislation to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Rev. Que formed and serves as the Convener of TrafficK-Free NYC (TFNYC).  It is the only community led convening that brings together service providers, city agencies, and survivors for the sole purpose of combatting human trafficking in New York City.

As an educator, Rev. Que launched first human trafficking course in Hunter’s Silberman School of Social Work and Nyack College.

Title:

Executive Director

Organization:

Sexual Offences Awareness & Victims Rehabilitation Initiative (SOAR Initiative)

Presentation Title:

World Updates: The Elimination of Child Sexual Exploitation in Nigeria

Presentation Description:

Details Coming

Bio:

Chinyere Eyoh, is the Founder/CEO of Sexual Offences Awareness & Response Initiative (SOAR), a non-profit she started in 2011 in her home country Nigeria. The organisation provides prevention and survivor support solutions on child sexual abuse. In collaboration with traditional and community leaders, she leads efforts at SOAR, in establishing and strengthening Child Protection Committees which respond to widespread sexual exploitation and abuse of children at grassroots levels. She also establishes safe spaces for adolescent girls in schools and communities to encourage confidential disclosures and build their capacity, including survivors, as peer educators against sexual violence. Just recently she began equally creating safe spaces for boys to address issues of sexual abuse of boys as well as gender norms and stereotypes which encourages sexual violence against girls by boys and men.

Chinyere is a published author of “When life just isn’t fair” – a book chronicling her experiences as a survivor of child sexual abuse. “Bimbo’s Pain” – a sexual abuse awareness tool for children and “Why can’t I stop” – the truth about porn and how to break free for young people of faith. She gleans from her experiences as a survivor of sexual violence in passionately serving as a Mentor and Coach to countless teenagers, a role she has worked in for over 18years.

Title:

Founding Co-Chair

Organization:

World Without Exploitation

Presentation Title:

Marketing a Movement

Presentation Description:

Legal advocacy and the provision of direct services are critical to addressing gender-related violence. But are they enough? In “Marketing a Movement,” we make an impassioned case for communications as the “third leg” of any effective effort to change minds, hearts and public policies on sexual violence, exploitation and trafficking. We use the “Ugly Truth” campaign – an award-winning public awareness campaign – to vividly make the case. “The Ugly Truth” has been recognized by the European Union as one of the most effective gender justice campaigns worldwide and has run in six U.S. cities to date.

This presentation will engage viewers to think in new and different ways
about communications campaigns for social justice issues such as trafficking and sexual exploitation, and provide actionable ideas for specific steps to take to develop effective communication campaigns that can boost the effectiveness of other efforts to combat gender-related violence.

Bio:

Katie Feifer brings 15 years of activism and 40 years of communications, research, and facilitation experience to bear on gender-based violence issues. Katie has a unique public-private sector history. She was formerly a Vice President at Leo Burnett, one of the country’s most respected communications firms. She then spent 25 years as an independent consultant for a long list of Fortune 500 companies engaged in qualitative research, strategic planning, and meeting facilitation.

Title:

Dean, College of Education

Organization:

Union University

Presentation Title:

Show Me the Data: The Latest Research on How Pornography Harms

Presentation Description:

Bio:

John D. Foubert, Ph.D., serves as Dean and Professor in the College of Education at Union University. Recently, he took on a collateral assignment as the Highly Qualified Expert and Senior Advisor for the U.S. Army Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention program. For this position, he works at the Pentagon monthly to help the Army prevent sexual violence. Dr. Foubert earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from the College of William and Mary, his Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Richmond, and his Ph.D. in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Maryland at College Park. He is an interdisciplinary scholar with over 50 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Foubert has written seven books about the prevention of sexual violence on college campuses and in the military, and two about managing life in college residence halls. His current book, How Pornography Harms, describes what teens, young adults, parents, and pastors need to know to protect the millennial generation from the public health harms of pornography.

Title:

Founder and Executive Director

Organization:

Courtney's House

Presentation Title:

BREAKOUT: DC Foster Care & Courtney’s House: A Holistic Approach to Combat Sex Trafficking; AND PLENARY PANEL: Different Perspectives: Exposing the Connections Between All Forms of Sexual Exploitation

Presentation Description:

BREAKOUT: DC Foster Care & Courtney’s House: A Holistic Approach to Combat Sex Trafficking

The presentation will focus on Courtney’s House partnership, which will include the partnerships with CPS investigators on how we assist in locating sex trafficked youth using online social media.

Bio:

Ms. Frundt has been actively raising awareness of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) since 2000. A high profile national advocate on the issue of domestic sex trafficking and a survivor of CSEC, Ms. Frundt is deeply committed to helping other children and women who are living through experiences similar to her own. She has been featured on numerous national shows and publications, including the OWN Network’s Our America with Lisa Ling: 3AM Girls, which featured an undercover look into sex trafficking in Washington, DC, the CNN Freedom Project, and in 2016 the Whitney Young Unsung Heroes award by the Urban Institute. In 2010, she became the first U.S. citizen to receive the Free the Slaves Freedom Awards-Frederick Douglas Award, which recognizes survivors of sex trafficking who use their life in freedom to help others. In 2016 she was appointed by President Obama to the First White House Survivor Advisory Board. In 2017, Tina received the Lois Haight Award of Excellence and Innovation after being nominated by Representative Ted Poe.

Ms. Frundt trains law enforcement and other non-profit groups to rescue and provide resources to victims, and is also a member of the Washington, D.C., State of Maryland and Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force, she was also appointed by the Governor of Maryland to the Safe Harbor work group. She has testified before the U.S. Congress about her own experiences and the need for greater protection and services for trafficked persons. She is the founder and executive director of Courtney’s House, which provides direct services for domestic sex trafficked youth, ages 11 – 21 in the Washington D.C. metro area. Since its inception, Courtney’s House and Ms. Frundt have helped over 650 survivors transition out of their trafficking situation.

Title:

Victim Specialist

Organization:

Federal Bureau of Investigations

Presentation Title:

Gridshock Documentary

Presentation Description:

Gridshock is a investigative documentary exposing the hidden and disturbing reality behind the sex trafficking demand in Iowa. This riveting documentary shines a light on buyers and how they fuel the demand for exploitation. The film seeks to learn who the buyers are and why there a culture of impunity against them. In search of these answers, filmmaker Vanessa McNeal interviews survivors, local and federal law enforcement, politicians, and a recovery sex addict who describes his willingness to pay $5,000 for sex. In this riveting and truly disturbing film what you think you know about sex trafficking will be challenged. What is hidden will come to light, even in good ol’ Iowa.

Bio:

Karen entered on duty with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, September of 2005, in the Omaha Division, Des Moines Resident Agency.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master of Arts degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.

Karen’s area of responsibility includes FBI Resident Agencies in Des Moines, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities in Iowa. She provides comprehensive victim services to identified victims of federal crimes, including, white collar crime, bank robbery, fraud, human trafficking, on-line sexual exploitation and crimes against children.

Karen provides training, statewide, on a variety of topics, to include On-line Sexual Exploitation, Human Trafficking and Internet Safety. Karen has provided training and informational presentations to thousands of individuals, schools, businesses and groups throughout Iowa.

Karen was a member of the FBI Victim Services Rapid Deployment Team (VS-RDT)  from 2012-2018,. She responded to mass casualty events, to include: Sandy Hook School; Inland Regional Center, San Bernardino, California; Pulse Nightclub, Florida and the First Baptist Church shootings in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Karen also works with the Iowa victims from the Las Vegas Harvest Festival shooting.

Before joining the FBI, Karen was part of the Army’s Family Assistance Program and built the first Victim Advocacy Program, and served as Coordinator, for Fort Richardson Army Post, Alaska.

She has received the FBI Director’s Award for “Distinguished Service for Assisting Victims of Crime” for both the Sandy Hook and San Bernardino mass casualty events and was awarded the 2018 Crime Victim Rights Week, Award of Excellence in Victim Services 2018, by the US Attorneys’ Offices in Iowa.

Karen has over 20 years’ experience in victim advocacy.

Title:

Executive Director

Organization:

Fresh Start Life Recovery & Transitional Program

Presentation Title:

Overshadowing "The Telltale Signs of Mental Disorders"

Presentation Description:

Without a doubt research demonstrates that depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are predominant mental health issues faced by human trafficking survivors. However, it is very important that we do not miss the signs of other mental health disorders that were either previously being treated or lingered in the shadows only to be brought to the forefront by trauma.

Bio:

Dr. Tracy Gibson is the founder and Executive Director of Fresh Start Life Recovery & Transitional Program.  FSLR&TP is a Spirit lead nonprofit dedicated to providing mental health support and counseling to women with little and no income; and restorative care/transitional housing to women who have experienced human trafficking, leaving prostitution and the adult entertainment industry.  Dr. Gibson is a licensed social worker specializing in mental illness and trauma-informed care.  Dr. Gibson has over 20 years of social service, ministry, counseling, domestic violence advocacy, and non-profit management experience.  Dr. Gibson began counseling with the Department of Defense in the Family Advocacy Program, working with spousal and child abuse victims.  Dr. Gibson is also a proud veteran of the United States Army and she has also worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs as a counselor for our nations disabled veterans.  While working as the Senior Director of Women and Children’s Ministries at Downtown Rescue Mission in Huntsville, Alabama, Dr. Gibson developed several successful, empowerment programs, that became the foundation for their nine and twelve month recovery and transitional programs. While employed with the Alabama State Office of Human Resources, Dr. Gibson was instrumental in assisting both CPS and APS clients who were abused both physically and sexually. For the past four years Dr. Gibson has also volunteered with Crisis Services of North Alabama as a first responding sexual assault advocate, serving clients with immediate trauma support.  Dr. Gibson also currently serves as an adjunct social work professor with Oakwood University located in Huntsville, AL.

Title:

Co-Founder and Clinical Director of LifeStar Network

Organization:

LifeStar Network

Presentation Title:

The Spiritual Roots of Connection and Attachment in Addiction Recovery

Presentation Description:

Details Coming

Bio:

Dan Gray, LCSW, CSAT is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in addictions counseling. He has a master’s degree in social work and is a CSAT (Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist). He is also certified as an addictions counselor with the National Association of Forensic Counselors. He maintains a busy private practice, lecturing regularly and providing training and consultation to numerous civic, religious, and professional organizations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. He is a co-founder and clinical director of the LifeStar Network. LifeStar provides help for individuals and couples who are dealing with problems related to sexual addictions and compulsive behaviors. He has co-authored: Confronting Pornography: A Guide to Prevention and Recovery for Individuals, Loved Ones, and Leaders and Discussing Pornography Problems with a Spouse: Confronting and Disclosing Secret Behaviors.

Title:

Founder & Executive Director

Organization:

Treasures

Presentation Title:

PLENARY PANEL: Different Perspectives: Exposing the Connections Between All Forms of Sexual Exploitation ; AND BREAKOUT: The Exploitation Continuum: Addressing the Overlooked Role of Strip Clubs and Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Presentation Description:

The Exploitation Continuum: Addressing the Overlooked Role of Strip Clubs and Commercial Sexual Exploitation

In this presentation, Harmony will breakdown the push and pull factors of the commercial sex industry. She will dispell the myths surrounding the “choice” of sex work. She will explain the different types of pimps, and directly provide intervention factors for those who want to be a part of ending commercial sexual exploitation.

Bio:

Harmony Grillo is the founder and Executive Director of Treasures, an outreach and support network for women in the commercial sex industry and victims of trafficking. In 2003, while completing a Master’s degree in Social Welfare from UCLA, Harmony began the work of Treasures as a dream born from her broken past. Her memoir, Scars and Stilettos, gives an account of her story, going from working in strip clubs under the control of a pimp, to leading an organization that reaches thousands of women in the sex industry around the globe. She has been featured in various media sources, including Glamour Magazine, Elle, BuzzFeed, and NPR

Title:

President

Organization:

District Media Group

Presentation Title:

On-Camera Television Training

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Beverly Hallberg has been on all sides of the camera. Producer, director, and host are just a few of the shoes she’s filled. But she found her passion in helping people be their “best self” once the tape starts rolling. Beverly noticed a common trend: during media interviews, people often present their “worst self.” Knowledgeable and engaging people suddenly freeze-up, losing the clarity and impact of their messages.

This observation inspired Beverly to launch District Media Group in 2008 to focus on media training – preparing people to present themselves and their messages with confidence and precision. She has trained members of Congress, organization leaders, and policy experts, among other professionals for appearances on local as well as national networks.

Beverly comments on communication tactics in popular and political culture and has been published in publications such as Newsweek, The Daily Signal, The Federalist, The Washington Examiner and The Hill. She is also a frequent contributor on Fox News and CNN.

Prior to DMG, Beverly served as Director of LI Studios. She has edited, produced, and directed numerous TV and radio shows and anchored a weekend sports program for Salem Radio Network News. Additionally, Beverly has written and produced videos, PSAs, and live programs for government agencies including the Department of Labor, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, among others.

Beverly has a B.S. in radio and television broadcasting, and is a native of Hollister, CA.

District Media Group

District Media Group

Title:

Vice President of Advocacy and Outreach

Organization:

National Center on Sexual Exploitation

Presentation Title:

Buyer’s (Lack of) Remorse: A Review of Sex Buyer Profiles and Activities Online; AND The Frontlines of Corporate Accountability: How Executive Level Policies Facilitate Sexploitation and What We Can Do About It

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Haley Halverson is the Vice President of Advocacy and Outreach at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation where she develops and executes national campaigns to change policies and raise awareness. Most notably, she promotes corporate social responsibility by constructing annual activism campaigns like the Dirty Dozen List, which names 12 mainstream private companies that facilitate sexual exploitation. Her advocacy work has contributed to instigating policy improvements in the native online advertising, retail, and hotel industries.

She is a member of the Washington DC Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, September 2018-2019. This Committee advises DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on the multi-faceted continuum of the District of Columbia’s child welfare services, including prevention, early intervention, treatment, and sources of permanency.

Haley regularly speaks and writes on topics including child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, prostitution, sexual objectification, the exploitation of males, and more. She has presented before officials at the United Nations, as well as at several national symposia before influencers from the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Croatian government officials. She has provided training to Arlington County Child & Family Services on the social media grooming, recruitment, and advertising for sex trafficking. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts at Johns Hopkins University.

Previously, Haley served for two years as Director of Communications for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation where she oversaw strategic messaging development, press outreach, email marketing, and social media marketing.

Prior to working at NCOSE, Haley wrote for Media Research Center. Haley graduated from Hillsdale College (summa cum laude) with a double major, and conducted a senior thesis on the abolitionist argument regarding prostitution. During her studies, she studied abroad at Oxford University and established a background in policy research through several internships in the DC area.

Haley has appeared on, or been quoted in, several outlets including the New York Times, NBC’s The Today Show, BBC News, New York Post, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Fox News, San Francisco Chronicle, the Washington Post, Yahoo News, Voice of America, Dr. Drew Midday Live, The DeMaio Report, the New York Daily News, the Washington Examiner, USA Radio Network, the Washington Times, CBC News, The Rod Arquette Show, The Detroit News, Lifezette, The Christian Post, Lifeline with Neil Boron, EWTN News Nightly, KCBS San Francisco Radio, LifeSiteNews, The Drew Mariano Show on Relevant Radio, News Talk KGVO, and American Family News.

She has written op-eds for the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, FoxNews.com, Townhall.com, Darling Magazine, the Daytona-Beach News Journal, and has been published in the Journal of Internet Law and the journal Dignity: A Journal on Sexual Exploitation and Violence.

Title:

Yoga Therapist

Organization:

Holy Yoga

Presentation Title:

Holy Yoga Slow Flow

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Tina Harris is a Master Level Yoga Therapist specializing in Trauma Yoga. She is the author of the book “Peace Beyond The Tears” and is a frequent speaker at women and teens events. She is passionate to help others find their value and worth apart from their past, as well as the courage and strength to move forward.

Title:

CSEC Clinical Specialist

Organization:

Awaken

Presentation Title:

PANEL: Continuum of Care

Presentation Description:

Four seasoned victim services professionals discuss the uniqueness of their position along a larger—and necessary—continuum of care, and how services vary based on that position and where their clients are in their healing journeys.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the distinct characteristics and service needs of clients at each stage
• Appreciate the challenges of direct service at each stage
• Consider where your desire to serve would best be offered

Bio:

Katy holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary.  She specializes in trauma and attachment therapy; she has training in working with a variety of mental health difficulties including personality disorders.  Katy is a CSEC Clinical Specialist for Awaken and is trained in the application of EMDR therapy, an evidence-based practice used for treating complex trauma and attachment difficulties.  She specializes in both adolescents and adults.  Katy works directly with women and children who are victims of sexual exploitation, provides crisis intervention and clinical consultation; she facilitates group and individual therapy and also delivers professional trainings.  In addition to her work with Awaken, Katy is the Program Director for the Koinonia After School Day Treatment Program, an intensive outpatient treatment program for at-risk teens and foster youth, and is also an adjunct professor at Multnomah University.  Katy has a heart and passion for the broken, and it is her desire to see all the wounds from sex trafficking healed in each woman and child.

Title:

Senior Project Manager and Human Trafficking Coordinator

Organization:

Cook County Sheriff’s Office

Presentation Title:

What Actually Happened after Backpage; AND Race, Poverty, Homelessness: A Structural Violence Analysis of Prostitution

Presentation Description:

Details Coming

Bio:

Marian Hatcher has been with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for 13 years where she is the Senior Project Manager for the Office of Public Policy and the Human Trafficking Coordinator. She coordinates several of CCSO’s anti-trafficking efforts such as the “National Johns Suppression Initiative,” a nationwide effort with over 100 arresting agencies with more than 200 total partners targeting the buyers of sex as the driving force of sex trafficking and prostitution.

Ms. Hatcher is a national expert on combating the demand, sitting on numerous boards and facilitating trainings on trafficking and prostitution for various law enforcement groups including the F.B.I. and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She has traveled the country speaking at various events and conferences, shedding light on the prevalent issue of trafficking and telling her own story as a survivor of sex trafficking and domestic violence.

Over the past 13 years she has been featured in the Oprah Winfrey Network Documentary: Prostitution Leaving the Life, Midwest Emmy winning INK 180 Documentary, Shared Hope International Gang Trap Series, Nick Kristoffs – A Path Appears and most recently I AM JANE DOE.

She is a recipient of numerous awards including the 2014 Shared Hope International Path Breaker Award, presented to individuals who have dedicated themselves to tackling the demand that drives domestic minor sex trafficking. Most recently, Ms. Hatcher was awarded the 2016 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service from President Obama.

Ms. Hatcher received her BS from Loyola University in 1985 concentrating on Finance. Her previous experiences include working at three major corporations. On August 2015, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity, Ambassador- At-Large and Chaplaincy from CICA International University & Seminary, an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, (ECOSOC).

Title:

Executive Director

Organization:

National Center on Sexual Exploitation

Presentation Title:

Event Host; Presentation - Out of the Shadows: Confronting Child-on-Child Harmful Sexual Behavior

Presentation Description:

The crime of child sexual abuse is sadly a familiar one to the American public. However, one category of child sexual abuse has largely escaped the public’s attention: child-on-child harmful sexual behavior.

This issue is extremely complex. There is a victim whose life has often been deeply impacted by the abuse and he or she deserves justice. Parents and loved ones experience great sorrow for the victim, and that is compounded when they are parents to the victim and to the abuser. On top of that, the abuse often triggers their own trauma from past sexual abuse they may have experienced. Our judicial and mental health systems tend to treat youth with illegal or problematic sexual behaviors (PSB) as adults. In a number of states, youth who act out on other youth are placed on the sex offender registry for the entirety of their lives with no chance to be removed — some are just eight years old. There are many social stigmas and misunderstandings that treat youth with PSB as “monsters” who are destined to act out again. These issues and more make it difficult to report these cases of abuse and to get help for all involved.

Bio:

Dawn Hawkins is a passionate abolitionist and defender of human rights who has dedicated her life to fighting against societal harms that threaten the dignity of others. Her energy, creativity and mobilization skills have revived the anti-pornography movement and her intentional emphasis on the intersectionality of forms of sexual exploitation has proven a unique and effective strategy for curbing them.

As Sr. Vice President and Executive Director of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), Mrs. Hawkins has developed a global strategy uniting more than 300 women’s rights, conservative, child advocacy, medical professionals, law enforcement, and religious groups, including a bipartisan political leadership, to work together in raising awareness of the connections between all forms of sexual exploitation. Her initiatives have lead to sweeping policy changes of policies that foster exploitation for targets such as Google, Hilton Worldwide, Comcast, Walmart, and the Department of Defense. Through her leadership, NCOSE has grown a network reaching hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. Mrs. Hawkins has appeared on many local and national television programs, including Fox & Friends, CNN and Good Morning America. She regularly authors articles and speaks around the country addressing the public health harms of pornography, curbing demand for sex trafficking, protecting children and families in our digital world, and more.

Dawn regularly volunteers for organizations devoted to helping children and refugees. She is a graduate of Tufts University and currently resides with her husband and three children in Virginia.

Title:

Author, Entrepreneur, Producer

Organization:

Hibard Group

Presentation Title:

Do churches welcome ex porn stars?

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Title:

Neurosurgeon

Organization:

Presentation Title:

A Population of Slaves: How the Pornography Industry is Capturing our Brains, Hearts, and Humanity

Presentation Description:

1. Digital pornography is increasingly addictive, and ignoring this only potentiates it’s ability to harm
2. The pornography industry, personified by companies like Mindgeek, use this addictive potential to enrich themselves, and minimize their exploitation of the performers and consumers by the material that enriches the industry.
3. Academic apologists ally themselves with Big Porn to deflect and minimize the evidence of both harm and addiction, modeling Big Tobacco’s playbook, and purposefully targeting youth.  Thus, a public health approach is needed to counter this predatory industry.

Bio:

Dr. Hilton is a neurosurgeon practicing in San Antonio. His research and publishing interests have included traumatic brain injury, minimally invasive surgery, and neural mechanisms of addiction.

He has authored peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on addiction and the effects of pornography on the brain. He also serves on the board of directors of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, and has served on the board for the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health. Dr. Hilton has spoken at numerous symposiums and forums on pornography as a public health issue in the United States and internationally, including a symposium in Warsaw, Poland in the Parliament building, at a Vatican conference at the Gregorian Pontifical University convened by Pope Francis in 2017, and at a Set Free Summit in Singapore in March of 2019. He has also been featured in several documentaries on pornography. He and his wife Jana have 5 children and 6 grandchildren.

Title:

Executive Director

Organization:

Awaken

Presentation Title:

Combating Legalized Prostitution in Nevada

Presentation Description:

Experience my journey of being an advocate in a state that sanctions legalized prostitution. You can hear about our pitfalls and opportunities; learned lessons; and advocacy strategy other leaders hoping to get involved in policy areas.

Bio:

Melissa Holland serves as the Founder and Executive Director of Awaken, a nonprofit whose mission is to increase awareness and education surrounding the issue of commercial sexual exploitation and to provide housing and restoration for its victims. Melissa holds a license in Marriage Family Therapy from the University of Nevada, Reno.  Melissa believes strongly in responding to God’s call to seek justice for the oppressed, and is passionate about uniting the community in the fight to end the sexual exploitation of women and children.

Title:

Eleanor M. and Oscar M. Carlson Endowed Chair in Women’s Studies, Professor Gender and Women’s Studies and Criminology and Criminal Justice Programs, University of Rhode Island

Organization:

University of Rhode Island

Presentation Title:

Dignity: A Journal on Sexual Exploitation and Violence; AND PANEL: Bright Light on the Red Light: Exposing the Harms of Legal & Deregulated Prostitution

Presentation Description:

Details Coming

Bio:

Donna M. Hughes is a Professor at the University of Rhode Island (URI) in Gender and Women’s Studies Program and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program. She holds the Eleanor M. and Oscar M. Carlson Endowed Chair in Women’s Studies.

Dr. Hughes conducts research on human trafficking, particularly the sexual exploitation and trafficking of women and girls. She has published research reports on Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union. She completed the first studies on the use of information technology for the trafficking of women and girls in 2001 and 2002.

Currently, she is working with undergraduate students to analyze prostitution and sex trafficking in Rhode Island. In 2014, three of her research students won the URI Excellence Award for Undergraduate Research in the Social Sciences and Humanities.

In 2017, she was awarded the College of Arts and Sciences Annual Research Award; and she was awarded the Alice Paul Award for Women Who Have Worked to Confront Men’s Violence Against Women by the Committee on Feminist Movement History of the National Organization for Men Against Sexism. In 2010, she was awarded the URI Council on Research Annual Research Award; and she was awarded the Norma Hotaling, Josephine Butler Award for “challenging the status quo and created new abolitionist policy or approach to sex trafficking in the United States.”

In 2016, she founded a peer-reviewed, academic journal Dignity: A Journal on Sexual Exploitation and Violence. She is the Editor-in-Chief.

Title:

Founder and Executive Director

Organization:

Honwungsi Consulting Services

Presentation Title:

Sex Trafficking and Exploitation in Native American Populations

Presentation Description:

The session will discuss the dynamics of sex trafficking and exploitation among Native American people and discuss the intersection of Urban and Rural sex trafficking of Native American people.

Bio:

Valaura Imus-Nahsonhoya (Hopi Tribe) has sixteen (16) years of direct victim services to crime victims in Indian Country, an Executive Director/Founder of Honwungsi Consulting Services and employed with National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. She has worked with crime victims who have suffered violent victimization by intimate and non-intimate offenders. She has learned from human trafficking survivors in how to provide victim services sex trafficking victims. She has addressed Native American victims of sex trafficking victims by providing direct services and ensuring their safety needs are met. She has advocated for victims who experienced trauma by being a support, providing referral services for professional services to assist in healing and understanding their victimization. Mrs. Imus-Nahsonhoya earned Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with an Emphasis in Legal Studies from Grand Canyon University. She has also earned a Legal Advocate Certification through National Tribal Trial College/Wisconsin Law School. Certified as a Domestic Violence Trainer by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AzPOST). Certified in Peer Support.

Title:

Founder, Protect Young Minds

Organization:

Author, Good Pictures Bad Pictures

Presentation Title:

PLENARY: Why Prevention Is the Smarter, Cheaper Way to End Sexual Exploitation; AND BREAKOUT: The 4 Pillars of Prevention: A Comprehensive Approach to Protecting Children from Pornography

Presentation Description:

Plenary Talk: Why Prevention Is the Smarter, Cheaper Way to End Sexual Exploitation

WORKSHOP: The Four Pillars of Prevention: A Comprehensive Approach to Protecting Children from Pornography

Kids are the most vulnerable when it comes to sexual exploitation. The good news is that parents and professionals can be proactive in raising resilient kids who have learned to resist the pull of pornography. Kristen, best-selling author of the Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books and founder of ProtectYoungMinds.org, will share 10 lessons kids need to be taught in order to install their own internal filter against sexually exploitative material.

Additionally, discover some intriguing reasons why kids view pornography. Recently, Kristen teamed with an expert to interview 10 porn addicts to find the answer to this question: Why Do Kids “Hire” Porn?

No child deserves to face the porn industry alone! Let’s work together to empower our youngest with education, support and a plan to reject the lies of pornography. Come and learn practical solutions to empower and protect kids!

Bio:

Kristen A. Jenson is the author of the Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books including the best-selling Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids and Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds. She is the founder of ProtectYoungMinds.org, a website dedicated to helping parents empower their kids to resist and reject pornography. Kristen is a popular guest on radio and TV broadcasts as well as podcasts and webinars. She is a leader in the Safeguard Alliance of the National Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation and has testified before the Washington State Senate Law and Justice Committee on the public health crisis of pornography. Kristen continues to be a strong voice for protecting children from all forms of sexual exploitation.

Kristen is the mother of two daughters, and a son who is waiting for her in heaven. Her latest honor is becoming a grandma! She lives with her husband and sassy chocolate Schnoodle puppy in the beautiful state of Washington. Kristen earned a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. in Organizational Communication.

Title:

Partner

Organization:

Laffey, Bucci & Kent

Presentation Title:

Institutional Sexual Abuse and Harassment: Prevention, Response and Survivor’s Rights and Remedies

Presentation Description:

Details Coming

Bio:

Brian Kent is a former sex crimes prosecutor as well as a founding partner and head of the crime victim department in the Philadelphia law firm of Laffey, Bucci & Kent, LLP where he leads a team made up entirely of former prosecutors who devote one hundred percent of their practice to representing victims of crime. Mr. Kent has nearly 16 years of legal experience specializing in representing survivors of abuse, assault and exploitation and has taken on several high profile cases, including representing survivors of Jerry Sandusky, priest abuse as well as Judge William Bradley – a case that resulted in Judge Bradley’s removal from the bench, disbarment and admission to the abuse as part of the settlement. Mr. Kent’s representation of women across the country against massage franchise chain Massage Envy led to a Buzzfeed investigation and article regarding the company’s practices in covering up sexual assaults at its franchise locations which ultimately resulted in the company making changes to its policies and procedures to prevent assaults in the future as well as implementation of a “safety team.” Early on in his career, Brian was one of only 35 attorneys in the state of Pennsylvania to be named a “Lawyer on the Fast Track.” Since then, he has received a Top Lawyer rating from Super Lawyers every year. Brian has a Masters of Law in Trial Advocacy from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and currently serves as an adjunct professor at Drexel University Kline School of Law teaching advanced trial advocacy. He has served as an expert in sexual abuse and assault cases on several local and national news networks and programs and trains institutions and individuals on sexual abuse and assault prevention and investigations.  Mr. Kent has served as a volunteer attorney for the Montgomery County Child Advocacy Project for the past ten (10) years and founded his own charity “A Week Without Worry” that provides fun and exciting trips to abused children and their families. Mr. Kent is a survivor of clergy sexual abuse himself and uses his experiences to put an end to sexual violence in all forms and help other fellow survivors.

Title:

Psychocologist – Expert in Psychotraumatology

Organization:

“Trauma & Prostitution” – Network of scientists for a world without prostitution.

Presentation Title:

Survivors Strategies to Traumatical Stress: Dissociation and Trauma Bonding.

Presentation Description:

Traumatical Stress affects a person in its entirety: psychologically, the body and the neurobiology of the brain. During Traumatical Stress the brain can react with dissociation. What is dissociation? How does it affect the body/the brain and how does it affect a person on a long-term? The Trauma Memory, Flash-Backs and Fear / Dissociative Reactions are a long-term consequence of Trauma.

Furthermore (if I have time!), during a interpersonal and chronically-cumulative Trauma (witch is prostitution!), the victim develops a relationship with the aggressor. How does this perverse relationship affects the victims identity? Her thoughts and her capacity to defend herself?

Three Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

1. Understand Dissociation
2. Understand the long-term effects of trauma: Trauma Memory, Flash Backs, Fear/Dissociative phenomena.
3. Understand Trauma Bonding and it’s influence on the exit process of prostitution.

Bio:

Dr. Ingeborg Kraus, is a clinical psychologist and expert in psychotraumatology. From 1995 -2002, she did humanitarian work in Bosnia and Kosovo, especially working with women victims of sexual violence. She assisted in setting up one of the first shelters for women victims of domestic violence in Kosovo. Since 2011, she is holding her own psychotherapeutic counseling office in Karlsruhe/Germany and has treated many victims of prostitution.

She is a speaker and activist for the abolition of prostitution in Germany.  Author of many articles on prostitution, especially about PTSD, traumatic bonding and Trauma as a pre-condition in prostitution. Dr. Kraus has co-founded in 2007 a group within the Green Party against prostitution (Grüne Prostitutionskritikerinnen). 2013 she has lanced the appeal from Karlsruhe addressing all political parties to end prostitution in Germany (https://karlsruherappell.com/der-appell/). In 2014 she has lanced the appeal of the German traumatherapists against prostitution (https://www.trauma-and-prostitution.eu/en/the-appeal/) and has established a network of scientists in order to inform about the reality in prostitution and their consequences on heath, explain the social impact of legalized prostitution and to make scientific texts and studies on prostitution available. She is a co-founder of the alliance Stop Sexkauf (Stop Sex Buying) and has lanced the international petition addressed to Angela Merkel to abolish prostitution in Germany: https://www.change.org/p/punish-the-buying-of-sex-abolish-prostitution

Title:

Survivor, Author, Speaker, Consultant

Organization:

Presentation Title:

An Athlete's Silence

Presentation Description:

1 in 6 males are sexually abused before the age of eighteen. This number is higher in sports, since our society only deems this act as hazing, initiating, rite of passage, and the myth that males cannot be sexually abused. This narrative may help the audience understand a victim’s point-of-view of being groomed, the choice of not reporting, and the long-term effects may provide insight on how survivors try to live a normal life.

Bio:

John-Michael Lander is creating a voice through writing, speaking, and consulting and helping individuals and organizations identify the signs of grooming, manipulating, and stigmatizing of sexual abuse. As an elite athlete, he endured sexual abuse from coaches, benefactors, and medical team which resulted in years of PTDS, depression, anxiety, and even suicide attempts.

Title:

CEO

Organization:

Iggy Ventures, LLC

Presentation Title:

How Tech Policy Impacts Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts - Rick Lane, Iggy Ventures, LLC; AND PANEL Abolition! Engaging Elected Officials in the Fight to End Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Rick Lane is the founder and CEO of IGGY Ventures. IGGY advises and invests in technology startups that can have a positive societal impact. Rick served for 15 years as the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs of 21st Century Fox. Rick was responsible for coordinating and implementing  Fox’s public policy activities. Before joining Fox, Rick was the Director of Congressional Affairs focusing on e-Commerce and Internet public policy issues for the United States Chamber of Commerce. Prior to working at the Chamber, Rick worked for the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges were he represented clients before Congress on legislative matters affecting the technology and telecommunications industries. From 1988 to 1993, Rick worked for Congressman Joseph D. Early. Rick’s background includes creating an educational technology non-profit, the Modern Educational Technology Center in 1993, and in 1994, CyberSports which developed the leading college and university sports recruiting software in the nation. Rick was a member of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Joint Government-Private Sector Committee on Experts on Electronic Commerce. He also served on the Federal Trade Commission’s Advisory Committee on Online Access and Security and the Virginia Attorney General’s Online Safety Task Force. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Horton’s Kids, a community based 501(c)3 whose goal is to empower at-risk children in Washington, DC and prepare them for college, career, and life through educational opportunities and comprehensive programs tailored to their needs.

Title:

Policy Advisor

Organization:

ERGO - Europe Regionalis Szervezet

Presentation Title:

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY: Organic development from scattered groups of ordinary, concerned citizens to organized influencers

Presentation Description:

How people with shared beliefs collaborated to create a national movement against human trafficking. NGO ERGO in Budapest, Hungary started small and independently to focus on issues of prostitutions, children’s rights. With dedicated work of many volunteers NGO ERGO became one of the important “player” in the combat against Human Trafficking in Hungary and all other areas contributing to this problem. Currently we run the National Helpline for Victims of Crime in Hungary and have 3 walk-in centers to support victims of crimes.

Bio:

Agnes Martony is a Hungarian lawyer by profession. She is a Policy Adviser to the NGO ERGO that is dedicated to Human Rights for women, children and victims of crime, including human trafficking, domestic violence and any other kind of abuse. She has been working with ERGO since 2010. In the past year ERGO was awarded the public service contract to run the National Helpline for Victims of Crime and to run three walk-in centers for victims of crime. Agnes’ work involves advising ERGO on the strategy for this contract, for organizing national and international conferences with government ministers and international policy making agencies to support this work.

Title:

Professor

Organization:

Universidad Panamericana (Mexico)

Presentation Title:

Know your Neighbors: Trafficking and Policy in Mexico

Presentation Description:

For several years, Mexico has been the first provider of foreign trafficking victims to the United States. Also, US citizens travel to Mexico for sexual purposes. It is important to understand the dynamics of human trafficking, specific recruiting methods, means of coercion, vulnerabilities, legal framework and institutional response, in order to find solutions to this common problem. While showing some challenges the Mexican Government faces in its fight against human trafficking, the current discussions and risks, the presentation also shows the achievements and good practices implemented by civil society and Government.

Bio:

For several years, Dr. Maus served as Director of the Anti-Trafficking Program at the National Human Rights Commission in Mexico, a nationwide public institution for the protection of human rights. He is currently appointed as academic advisor to the Intersecretarial Anti-Trafficking Commission in Mexico. He provides training to judges, prosecutors, law enforcement and migratory agents on human trafficking (prevention, victims’ rights and the enforcement of anti-trafficking laws). He has developed human trafficking awareness campaigns, some aimed at indigenous communities, and coordinated interagency groups to fight human trafficking. He has conducted and elaborated several studies on human trafficking, including the Report on the Situation of Human Trafficking in Mexico, as well as the Landscape Analysis: Human Trafficking for the Purpose of Labor Exploitation in Mexico. Currently lectures at the Universidad Panamericana’s Law Faculty in Mexico-City.

He advocates for the implementation of the Nordic Model in Mexico, raising awareness about the violence inherent to prostitution, trafficking and their link to pornography. He is a consultant of different NGO’s, including Polaris. He has lectured all across his country, as well as abroad. He holds a degree in law, a master’s degree in governance and public policy (Mexico) and a Ph.D. in Law (Germany).

Title:

Founder

Organization:

Protect Young Eyes

Presentation Title:

Before They Need It: How To Promote Prevention for Families and Children

Presentation Description:

Details coming

Bio:

President and CEO of Protect Young Eyes and Digital Marketing Manager for Covenant Eyes. Mr. McKenna is an app content and safety expert. He and his team of presenters travel the country teaching parents, children, educators, and child safety advocates about the constantly changing digital culture and how to thrive and be safe online. He has been featured on numerous news segments and in national publications, including Forbes, discussing apps and their content. His popular blog has garnered tens of thousands of followers, prompted the removal of Cosmo’s After Dark segment from Snapchat, and provides parents with detailed descriptions about apps, parental controls, and digital trends.

Title:

CEO

Organization:

Sun Gate Foundation

Presentation Title:

Best Practices and Tips for Working with Survivors

Presentation Description:

How to be more trauma-informed, having good intentions, not further exploiting for “stories,” employing skills and knowledge surviovrs have in other ways to benefit the movement, being deliberate in ways we portray survivors (like not using images without permission, not using images of victims for promotion, portraying a “victim” as helpless/bound/etc.)

Bio:

Shamere McKenzie is a consultant, activist, subject matter expert on human trafficking and a sought-after award winning internationally recognized speaker. Turning her past adversities into an opportunity to liberate and protect others, Shamere has brought about social and political change in America and around the world.

Shamere has a strong passion for education and policy and is the Chief Executive Officer for Sun Gate Foundation, an anti-trafficking organization that provides educational opportunities for survivors of human trafficking. As a former program director, she authored an anti-trafficking program from the ground up and oversaw an emergency residential program for adult survivors of human trafficking. Shamere is also the co-chair for the victim’s services committee of the Maryland State Human Trafficking Task Force.

In 2018 Shamere responded to a call from the Ministry of Justice in her birthplace, Jamaica, and currently serves as the Ambassador for Jamaica in the fight against human trafficking.

Shamere works tirelessly to raise awareness of human trafficking by speaking at universities, conferences, community events, and consulting with government officials around the world. She has trained a variety of professionals on how to identify and respond to victims of human trafficking, including the FBI, Home Land Security, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, churches, hotel and airline staff to name a few.

Title:

Documentary Filmmaker, National Speaker

Organization:

McNeal Media

Presentation Title:

Gridshock Documentary

Presentation Description:

Gridshock is a investigative documentary exposing the hidden and disturbing reality behind the sex trafficking demand in Iowa. This riveting documentary shines a light on buyers and how they fuel the demand for exploitation. The film seeks to learn who the buyers are and why there a culture of impunity against them. In search of these answers, filmmaker Vanessa McNeal interviews survivors, local and federal law enforcement, politicians, and a recovery sex addict who describes his willingness to pay $5,000 for sex. In this riveting and truly disturbing film what you think you know about sex trafficking will be challenged. What is hidden will come to light, even in good ol’ Iowa.

Bio:

Vanessa McNeal MSW is an award winning documentary filmmaker, national speaker, and 2x TEDx

speaker. Her professional work has been catapulted by her personal experiences surviving sexual violence and trauma. She is the Director of the internationally recognized documentary, “The Voiceless”, which features the stories of male survivors of sexual violence. She won “Best Director” for the documentary at the Newark International Film Festival. Most recently she Directed the groundbreaking film Gridshock, a film about sex trafficking in Iowa. The film features trafficking survivors, experts, FBI victim specialist, U.S Attorney, federal and local law enforcement, advocates and a recovery sex addict.The film was made possible after Vanessa raised $45,000 in a 60 day fundraising campaign. Vanessa won the 2017 YWCA “Woman of Tomorrow” award and won the

2018 STATEment maker award in the entrepreneurial spirit category. January 2019 she received an

Outstanding Anti- Trafficking Service Award presented by the Governor. Vanessa received her Bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University and her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Northern Iowa.

vanessamcneal.com

Title:

Director, Out of Darkness

Organization:

Atlanta Dream Center

Presentation Title:

​"Deep calls to Deep" Stewarding yourself and your team responsibly through vicarious trauma.

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Title:

Director

Organization:

Global Center for Women & Justice, Vanguard University

Presentation Title:

Trauma Informed and the Developing Child: Tips for Communication

Presentation Description:

This workshop will present a model for communicating with at-risk children and adolescents who may have experienced trauma. The presentation will provide insight to understand trauma and development to improve communication and offer a modified bystander model for building capacity for personal and group risk management skills.

Three Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

1. Understand the impact of trauma in child development and communication.
2. Adapt trauma and development informed communication strategies.
3. Practice a modified bystander model for communication with at risk youth.

Bio:

Dr. Sandra Morgan, an educator and nurse, is recognized globally for her expertise in combatting human trafficking and working to end violence against women. Dr. Morgan’s experience serving missing and exploited children includes direct care as a pediatric nurse, a volunteer with Doctors of the World (Athens, Greece) and as a past Administrator of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF). Her expertise is recognized locally, nationally and internationally and includes such venues as Asia, Russia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. She served on Foreign Affairs Chair Congressman Ed Royce’s Anti Human Trafficking Advisory Committee. She also serves the Orange County CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) Steering Committee partnering with Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice. In her role as Faculty and Director of Vanguard University’s Global Center for Women and Justice, she has built capacity for research, education and advocacy directly related to the exploitation of women and children.

Title:

Law Student

Organization:

Member of Sisters e.V.

Presentation Title:

The Role of Dissociation in Prostitution: A personal and general analysis on dissociation; AND PANEL: Bright Light on the Red Light: Exposing the Harms of Legal & Deregulated Prostitution

Presentation Description:

When we talk about prostitution we often do not talk enough about dissociation. How does dissociation affect people in and after they escaped prostitution? When women and girls in prostitution had to dissociate their feelings away, they always dissociate more and more their whole self away – until their self is gone. If the brain has constantly trained this mechanism of “I-go-away-from-this-moment-here” the dissociation can start to work automatically. Sometimes it does not stop after the women exited prostitution. It did not stop when I exited prostitution. How can people connect with themselves after they have lost themselves? I want to talk about my healing process. How can we support the healing journeys of prostituted women to overcome dissociation and trauma?

Furthermore: dissociation concerns our whole society. How? And what is dissociation in it’s deep essence?

 Three Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

1. How dissociation affects women in prostitution
2. How dissociation affects women after exiting prostitution
3. How to overcome trauma-related dissociation

Bio:

Sandra Norak is 29 years old. She was trafficked into prostitution through “Loverboy-Method” and spent 6 years in prostitution. Now she is about to finish law studies in Germany, specializing in European and Public International Law, focusing on Human Rights. She works to raise awareness about the system of prostitution and different forms of human trafficking like the “Loverboy-Method” and she is pushing for the Nordic Model. She is also doing prevention work in schools to teach young boys and girls about the reality of prostitution and how young women and girls can identify and protect themselves from “Loverboys.” She was part of the German TV documentary Brothel Germany—The Billion-Dollar Business in Prostitution. Her homepage is: https://mylifeinprostitution.wordpress.com/

Title:

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program Coordinator

Organization:

Children’s Mercy Hospital

Presentation Title:

Amy Looks like Everyone Else

Presentation Description:

This presentation walks you through the story of Amy and other children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation in the United States. Would you be able to recognize a child or teenager who is being trafficked in your health care clinic, classroom or neighborhood? This presentation is based on real children seen in a pediatric Emergency Department and will equip you to feel more confident in identifying human trafficking regardless of your profession. The stories of these survivors show vulnerabilities and red flags that have helped health care workers identify patients who are being abused and exploited.  This presentation will also dispel myths related to sexual assault and child commercial sexual exploitation.

Three Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

1. To understand the common vulnerabilities of children who are being trafficked
2. To feel confident in identifying children who are  victims of commercial sexual exploitation
3. To understand what red flags will be seen in children who are being exploited

Bio:

Heidi Olson (RN, BSN, CPN, SANE-P) is a Certified Pediatric Nurse and a Certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). She works as the SANE Program Coordinator at Children’s Mercy Hospital in KS and MO. Heidi has a wide range of experience in pediatric and forensic nursing and her role includes performing forensic exams on children who have been victims of sexual assault, following up with victims and their families after discharge, communicating with law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, the FBI and educating the healthcare staff on topics regarding children and sexual exploitation. Heidi also serves an expert witness for the prosecution during trials for victims of sexual assault. In the last two years, Heidi has performed or reviewed over 900 pediatric sexual assault cases. Heidi has presented over 100 times in the last two years about recognizing human trafficking, the harms of pornography, sexual assault and sexual exploitation, from nursing schools to national conferences in Washington D.C. Most recently, Heidi testified in favor of a bill to the KS Legislation about needed resources for youth with problematic sexual behaviors and the bill was just signed into law. Heidi is currently getting her master’s degree in nursing with an emphasis on public health.

Title:

President and Co-Founder of Fight the New Drug

Organization:

CEO and Founder of RecoverySuite

Presentation Title:

Pathways to Sustainable Healing and Recovery

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Clay is a creative and passionate social entrepreneur. Currently, he is the CEO and Founder of RecoverySuite — a suite of apps to help individuals find deeper healing and recovery that has helped nearly 300,000 individuals in over 155 countries. He’s also the President and Co-Founder of Fight the New Drug — a youth movement dedicated to raising awareness on the harmful effects of pornography and other forms of sexual exploitation through science, facts, and personal accounts that has been featured on ABC Nightline, ABC News, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, NPR, CBS, CNN, USA Today, and more. Clay has personally presented at hundreds of secondary schools, universities, and event centers to hundreds of thousands all over the world. He’s spoken at the United Nations, the World Congress of Families, and the Set Free Global Summit. In 2017 he was honored with the “Visionary Leadership Award” by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.  

Title:

Inspirational Speaker and Former Pornography Performer

Organization:

CrissyOutlaw.com

Presentation Title:

Do churches Welcome Ex-porn Stars?

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Title:

Communications & Development Specialist

Organization:

Breaking Free

Presentation Title:

From John to Men Breaking Free

Presentation Description:

An unfolding look into the changing face of the demand side of sex-trafficking and prostitution through current statistics and observations and results presented by program developer and facilitator of Men Breaking Free. The ground breaking approach working with sex purchasers in addressing ending the demand that is effectively becoming the change will be shared through description and actual stories along with evaluation results of the Men Breaking Free Program. This inside view will encourage you and empower you with ways for you to begin new conversations that not only addresses sex-trafficking issues, but address all of us to be part of the change.

Educational Objectives:

1. Understanding the changing face of demand and why it is happening
2. Learn the radical new approach of working with men who have purchased/attempted to purchase a woman/girl for sex through a unique and successful restorative justice program.
3. Gain confidence in new conversations and approaches to empower everyone to BE the change.

Bio:

Lori Paul works in communications and program development for Breaking Free, a survivor led, anti-sex trafficking and prostitution organization located in St Paul, MN that works with victims of sexual exploitation. In the last two years, Lori has been a frequent voice in Minnesota and has spoken on these issues and testified on several bills at the state capitol. She is passionate that this is an “everyone” issue. Lori is a co-developer of Men Breaking Free; a social justice program for offenders that is impacting the Demand side of sexual exploitation. She also helped develop Survivor Art; a jewelry and social economic venture for survivors with Breaking Free. She is currently working on developmental programing for 2^nd generation therapy techniques for children and their survivor mothers. Lori is an inspirational author and an activist for American Indian Issues in North America and collaborates with Native leaders supporting their efforts particularly with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. From organizing, outreach, writing materials and speaking on reservations through education or ministry, she serves through her voice and her love. She is honored to have been adopted into six tribes.

Title:

Director of Church and Ministry Outreach

Organization:

Covenant Eyes

Presentation Title:

A Call to Arms: The Church's role in Pornography Battle

Presentation Description:

Presentation will review stats on pornography’s impacting on the US church (creating the monster), next we will learn why the church must lead the way (rallying the village), and next we will talk about practical ways the church can get started (picking up the pitchforks to fight the monster).

My presentation uses concepts from old black and white monster movies to inspire leaders to learn how to start a movement to fight Porn in the Church. We will learn how to define the monster, rally the village to fight the monster with compelling and real-world examples on how it will destroy them, their families, their village, and finally we will equip them with weapons to fight the monster (think pick up your pitchforks and fight back).

Bio:

Karen Potter, MA Ed., CSP, is the Director of the Communities Project for Covenant Eyes. Having over 20 years of experience in strategic leadership, organizational change management, human resources, and education, Karen brought her talent and expertise to Covenant Eyes in early 2017. Karen leads a team of Church Consultants and Coaches at Covenant Eyes who work alongside church leaders across the US. Her team helps develop activation plans within the various ministry channels inside a church to start addressing pornography in a holistic fashion. Her team is actively working with over 1100 churches who are committed to educating, equipping and empowering their leadership teams and their congregation to address the #1 issue plaquing our churches; pornography.

Karen is President and CEO of KW Investment Properties, Panthera Staffing and serves as an Adjunct Professor at Baker College. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and a Master of Arts in Education. She is a member of 2/42 Church in Lansing, Michigan and has served as Youth Ministry Leader. Karen is wife, mother of two, and a dedicated Christian who is committed to reaching and teaching people for Christ. Her role at Covenant Eyes gives her the opportunity to equip church leaders to heal those broken by the issues of sexual sin and pornography.

Title:

Director

Organization:

Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

Presentation Title:

Stigmatizing Survivors: A Look Into Gender Discrimination in Policing and Prosecuting Commercial Sex Exploitation in Pennsylvania

Presentation Description:

This presentation will explore the distinct crimes of buying sex and selling sex and the inherent disparities in culpability. Participants will receive a national overview of the varying state penalties associated with these crimes. Using Pennsylvania law and data as a case example, this presentation will reveal that historically the ways buying sex and selling sex have been policed and prosecuted have resulted in widespread gender-based inequality. The presentation will provide Model Legislation and discuss vacatur laws and other recommendations to remedy the inequality and move toward a demand-driven law enforcement approach.

Bio:

Shea M. Rhodes, Esq. has dedicated her career to combating violence against women, protecting
the rights of those who are oppressed or exploited, and championing human rights. She is the
statewide legal expert on Pennsylvania laws related to sex trafficking and commercial sexual
exploitation. As the Co-Founder and Director of the Institute to Address Commercial Sexual
Exploitation (CSE Institute) at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, Ms. Rhodes
works with and on behalf of victims and survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and human
trafficking. Ms. Rhodes is also a member of several anti-trafficking initiatives, locally and
internationally, including Philadelphia’s Anti-Trafficking Coalition, the Pennsylvania Anti-
Human Trafficking Advocacy Work Group (PAHTAWG), Shared Hope International’s JuST

Response Council, and is a member of the Executive Committee for World Without
Exploitation (WorldWE). She also sits on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors
for Dawn’s Place, a residential treatment program for women who are victims of commercial
sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Most recently, she was appointed by Governor Wolf to
the Pennsylvania State Board of Massage Therapy. Ms. Rhodes regularly conducts trainings and
presentations throughout the Commonwealth, nationally and internationally. Ms. Rhodes’ written
materials, including policy papers, legal resources, and newsletters, can be found on the CSE
Institute website. She is a graduate of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and
the University of Kansas.

Title:

Deputy Director of Digital Training

Organization:

Leadership Institute

Presentation Title:

Social Media in Public Policy

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Stephen Rowe is a Deputy Director at Leadership Institute where he trains thousands on digital and political technology across the country every year.

Before joining LI, Stephen was the Editor-in-Chief of Hypeline where he executed its start-up, website re-design and achieved over 12 million page views in one calendar year.

Stephen has been listed on multiple 30 under 30 awards. His work has been featured on Fox News, Fox Business, The Blaze, The Daily Caller, The Washington Times, Townhall, Breitbart, and The Daily Wire.

Stephen grew up in Montana, the “Treasure State”.

Title:

Admissions Director

Organization:

Star Guides

Presentation Title:

Transformed Living:  Helping Youth and Families Move Into Treatment & Recovery From Sexual Trauma

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Robin has been involved in the youth treatment industry for nearly 30 years but specifically in an admissions role for the past decade assisting thousands of families as they navigate the treatment selection process.  Robin knows the challenges parents face and understands, first hand, the sorrow, anxiety and stress associated with identifying proper treatment and sometimes having to place a child in an away-from-home program. She’s an active participant in the fight against sexual exploitation of children & families and equally passionate about the life-changing experiences and healing strategic treatment provides. She has a servants heart and regularly volunteers with organizations devoted to protecting children & strengthening families.

Title:

CEO

Organization:

City Women

Presentation Title:

PANEL: Abolition! Engaging Elected Officials in the Fight to End Sexual Abuse and Exploitation; AND LUNCH RALLY: Updates from Around the World - Austrailia

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Letitia Shelton lives in Toowoomba Australia.  She is the founder & CEO of a non for profit called City Women, which works with hundreds of girls & women in her community.  Two years ago she started a campaign in her city, along with the Mayor called A City Free from Porn.  This is a grassroots campaign to raise awareness in her city on the harms of porn.  Letitia & her team are working at a local government level, with school principals, businesses and other community organizations to turn the tide on porn & it’s negative affects in her city.

Title:

Child Victim Program Coordinator

Organization:

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Victim Assistance Division Child Victim Services Unit

Presentation Title:

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Tiffany Short has 20 years of professional experience working violent crimes against children.  Ms. Short currently serves the FBI as a subject matter expert on child and adolescent victimization as a Child Victim Program Coordinator.  Ms. Short is embedded at the FBI’s Violent Crimes against Children Section where leading professionals from a variety of disciplines develop policy and guidance, provide expert consultation, and execute large scale and major operations for child victims of violent crimes.  As an FBI instructor and adjunct faculty member, Ms. Short provides professional presentations on child victimization globally to national and community leaders.  Ms. Short was selected as a key presenter on a multi-disciplinary team used to instruct over 30 law enforcement partners in Canada prior to the first joint international operation to recover minor victims of sex trafficking.  Her work overseas has since extended to Thailand, Ghana, Qatar, Bahrain, Malta, England, Ethiopia, Austria, Croatia, and Ireland.

Prior to serving in a leadership capacity at FBI Headquarters, Ms. Short was an FBI Victim Specialist for 9 years, providing direct services to federal victims of crimes including; Indian Country physical/sexual abuse, domestic violence, homicide, adult and child kidnapping, adult and child sex and labor trafficking, victims of sexual abuse images, and victims/witnesses of mass casualties incidents.  Ms. Short has been recognized for her leadership in the field of victim assistance in human trafficking and her work in Indian Country.

Previous to the FBI Ms. Short was a Medical Social Worker on the Child Abuse Evaluation Team for Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas.  Ms. Short has a Bachelor’s of Art in Social Work from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD and a Masters of Clinical Social Work from Texas State University.  Ms. Short is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Texas.

Title:

Executive Director, Legal Counsel and Programme Developer

Organization:

Centre Against Sexual Exploitation, South Africa (CASE-SA)

Presentation Title:

PANEL: How to Communicate for Change with Policymakers; AND Movement Updates: South Africa

Presentation Description:

Details Coming

Bio:

Ryan Smit is an attorney at law in South Africa. Since co-founding ‘Cause for Justice’, a human rights and public interest non-profit in 2013, he has been actively litigating and participating in the development of state policy and legislation in relation to the regulation of sexually explicit material. In addition to successfully overturning a decision by the National Broadcasting Authority to open the digital broadcasting space in South Africa to hard-core pornography, after a protracted court battle from 2013 to 2015, Cause for Justice has also been involved in developing state policy and enabling legislation to protect children from exposure to sexually explicit material.

Most recently, Ryan and his team successfully lobbied Parliament to not water down the definition of “obscenity” in South African law, after three years of non-stop advocacy which concluded in March 2019.

He is currently studying towards a Ph.D., looking at constitutionally acceptable regulation of pornography distribution in South Africa in an era of complete media convergence.

Ryan also heads up the development of a new initiative in South Africa, the Centre Against Sexual Exploitation, to address sexual exploitation through prevention and early intervention by way of a three-pronged strategy – “Educate, Empower, Eradicate” – and to serve as a legal, policy, advocacy, academic and technical hub for the anti-exploitation movement in South Africa..

Ryan and his wife, Elze-Mari, welcomed their first-born daughter into their family in July 2018.

Title:

Managing Director

Organization:

Human Trafficking Academy, St. Thomas University School of Law

Presentation Title:

Grassroots Advocacy: Engaging the Legislative Process

Presentation Description:

Grassroots advocacy is an effective tool to influence policy, impact legislation, and educate the public in the process.  This seminar will provide a framework to guide even the most inexperienced advocate in engaging both the public and elected officials in the movement against commercial sexual exploitation through a bipartisan approach.

Bio:

Liza E. Smoker is Managing Director of The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy at St. Thomas University School of Law.  She graduated from Florida State University with degrees in Multinational Business and Real Estate, where she returned to receive her law degree.  She was formally educated on human trafficking at St. Thomas University School of Law’s LL.M./J.S.D Program in Intercultural Human Rights.

Prior to joining the Academy, Ms. Smoker spent ten years in the private practice of law.  She also worked in the Executive Office of the Governor of Florida, prosecuted crimes as a CLI in the State Attorney’s Office, and served as a White House Legal Intern in the Office of the Counsel to the President of the United States.

In 2017, Ms. Smoker spearheaded over twenty events focused on the harmful effects of pornography and its link to commercial sexual exploitation.  She led a grassroots campaign in support of Florida House Resolution 157 on the issue that passed in 2018 with bipartisan support.

Ms. Smoker is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, Women’s History Month Honoree of the Broward County Commission on the Status of Women, and recipient of the Paul May Professionalism in Practice Award

Title:

CEO

Organization:

childsafe.ai

Presentation Title:

Beyond Backpage: Buying and Selling Sex Online in 2019

Presentation Description:

• Current state of online ecosystems serving the commercial underground sex economy in the United States.
• Effect on sex trafficking in the United States.
• Future dynamics to watch in this economy.

Bio:

Rob Spectre is a Brooklyn-based technologist building childsafe.ai, the artificial intelligence platform protecting kids from predators online. A 13-year veteran of software startups such as Boxee and Twilio. Before founding childsafe.ai, Rob spent a year as a technical consultant for counter human trafficking units across the United States. Learning from the wisdom and experience of those law enforcement partners, Rob creates machine learning software that starves the macroeconomy fueling modern slavery of its wealth, anonymity and distribution.

A programmer by trade and a historian by training, Rob also serves youth organizations HackNY and DoSomething.org as an advisor, plays in a punk rock band and is the loudest Red Sox fan in New York.

Title:

Director of Prevention

Organization:

Selah Freedom

Presentation Title:

Caught Up: How To Leverage Media and Diversity for Sex Trafficking Prevention

Presentation Description:

This training offers an alternative approach to prevention that incorporates media and diverse characters, which has been capturing the attention of youth around the country and getting them engaged in dialogue around this issue.

Bio:

Meiko Taylor spent 8 years working in a residential facility with at-risk youth in foster care and on probation. After learning some of these teens had been sex trafficked, Meiko developed a passion for prevention. A filmmaker by trade, she created a hip-hop film aimed at educating teens on some of the tactics used by sex traffickers to recruit.

Title:

Trainer

Organization:

A Call to Men

Presentation Title:

Promoting Healthy Manhood in Digital Spaces

Presentation Description:

A CALL TO MEN trainer Jay Taylor will engage participants in an interactive workshop about what it means to bring healthy manhood into digital spaces. Social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube), dating applications, blogs, video streaming services and pornography sites will be explored to clarify the ways in which traditional masculinity has created a dehumanizing online environment that breeds violence against women and girls.  Jay and the audience will examine strategies for promoting healthy manhood online with the intent to rehumanize digital spaces and promote safer environments for people to connect.  Attendees will develop tools for teaching and educating men how they can represent themselves online to create a digital world where humanity and authentic connection are the norms.

Bio:

Jay Taylor is a social worker dedicated to social justice and equality initiatives.  Jay has worked in anti-human trafficking, community health centers, young men’s restorative programs, psychiatric hospitals, university wellness centers, and currently serves as the clinical director of a Master’s of Social Work program.  His involvement with men’s issues began when he worked with men in anti-human trafficking and domestic violence programs. Jay’s community involvement led to partnerships with domestic violence shelters, women’s groups, and universities to develop strategies for decreasing the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault against all persons.  He has also worked with university administration to address cultures of masculinity as an avenue to developing sexual assault prevention programs on campus.  Jay teaches and trains with a focus on intersectional equality – addressing how race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and class play a role in maintaining or preventing violence against others.

Title:

Founder & Executive Director, GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Church)

Organization:

Attorney for Sexual Abuse Victims

Presentation Title:

PLENARY: Winter Inside the Church and the Hope for Spring; AND BREAKOUT: Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse: The silent epidemic

Presentation Description:

Plenary:

Winter Inside the Church and the Hope for Spring

• For too many precious souls, the Church is not a community of refuge. Instead, it is the source of deep hurt, profound trauma, and little hope. It is possible for the Church to actually reflect the love and beauty of Jesus and become the safest place for vulnerable people and the most welcoming and affirming community for the wounded. How does this happen?

Breakout:

Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse:  The silent epidemic

• What is adult clergy sexual abuse and why do so many clergy abusers get away with it? This session will provide some common abuse methods of those in church leadership who abuse and some practical steps we can take to identify and respond to such abuse.

Bio:

Boz Tchividjian founded GRACE in 2004. A former prosecutor, Boz created the first “Sexual Crimes” division at the Office of the State Attorney in the 7th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Later as the division chief, Boz was personally responsible for prosecuting hundreds of sexual victimization related cases and supervising thousands of such cases. A world-renowned expert on issues related to sexual violence perpetrated against children and adults, Boz has spent over twenty years utilizing what he learned as a prosecutor to train and equip prosecutors, investigators, social workers, and medical personnel in handling various aspects of child sexual abuse prosecutions. Boz has also represented sexual assault plaintiffs in civil cases against perpetrators and institutions.

He is a former columnist for Religion News Service who wrote a weekly column that focused on the intersection of abuse and faith communities. His columns can now be found at www.netgrace.org/resources.

Boz is a published author and recently co-authored The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries with psychologist and attorney, Shira Berkovits. His scholarship focuses on issues related to sexual victimization. His most recent article entitled, Catching American Sex Offenders Overseas: A Proposal for a Federal Mandated Reporting Law, was published in the UMKC Law Review and is the basis for recently drafted federal legislation.

In addition to his duties with GRACE, Boz currently serves as a professor at Liberty University School of law where he teaches Child Abuse and the Law, a course which he developed and is designed to prepare students to become child advocates inside and outside of the courtroom.

Title:

Vice President of Policy and Research

Organization:

National Center on Sexual Exploitation

Presentation Title:

Personify vs. Thingify: The Pivotal Role of Objectification in Sexual Abuse and Exploitation; AND Moral Disengagement in the Beliefs and Behaviors of Sex Buyers and Society

Presentation Description:

Personify vs. Thingify: The Pivotal Role of Objectification in Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Philosophers still debate what it means to be a person, but generally “persons” display characteristics such as consciousness, reason, personality, feelings, the exercise of free will, as well as the ability to make moral judgements and form social relationships. Objects, on the other hand, are generally described as “things” lacking cognition, reason, feelings, etc., which are used, controlled, and known by their physical properties. When persons are treated in ways which dissect them from their personal characteristics, they are reduced to the status of objects—“objectified.” Sexual objectification of persons, whether through interpersonal interactions or the media, fragments persons into a collection of sexual parts/functions to be used and consumed by others and is at the heart of sexual abuse and exploitation. This presentation will explore “objectification theory,” categories of objectification, as well as research findings on the impacts of objectification.

Moral Disengagement in the Beliefs and Behaviors of Sex Buyers and Society

In his work on “moral control,” Albert Bandura identified self-regulatory mechanisms that check inhumane conduct. However “self-sanctions” can be “disengaged” through a variety of methods that result in inhume conduct in extraordinary circumstances, as well as everyday situations that bring personal benefits that are harmful to others. Building on Bandura’s foundation, this presentation will explore forms of moral disengagement in the beliefs and behaviors of sex buyers, and discuss the importance of society’s role in constructing social safeguards against their exploitive conduct.

Bio:

As Vice President of Policy and Research for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Lisa conducts policy analysis and advocacy, advances understanding of pornography’s public health harms, and liaises with public officials, advocates, and academics to advance strategies combating the web of sexual exploitation, including pornography, stripping, prostitution, sexual trafficking, sexual assault, and more.

Lisa joined NCOSE following two years with World Hope International where as Director of Anti-Trafficking, Lisa oversaw sex trafficking recovery programs in Cambodia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Lisa is a contributing author to Hands that Heal: International Curriculum for Caregivers of Trafficking Survivors, as well as the book Global Perspectives on Prostitution and Sex Trafficking:  Europe Latin America, North America, and Global. Lisa also routinely speaks and trains on sexual exploitation topics for a diverse range of audiences. Lisa served for more than 12 years as the Liaison for the Abolition of Sexual Trafficking for The Salvation Army USA National Headquarters.

Lisa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Western Kentucky University, and Master’s degree in Leadership, Public Policy and Social Issues from Union Institute and University.

Title:

Co-Founder and Executive Director

Organization:

Rights4Girls

Presentation Title:

From Recy Taylor to Latesha Clay, How CSE & Racial Violence Perpetuate the Abuse to Prison Pipeline

Presentation Description:

Bio:

Title:

Feminist Journalist and Writer

Organization:

Abolitionisten Nederland

Presentation Title:

The Failure of Legalization of Prostitution in The Netherlands

Presentation Description:

In 2000 the Dutch lifted the ban of brothel keeping and by doing so they legalized prostitution. The intentions were good: improve conditions for women in prostitution and combat human trafficking. Almost twenty years later, the Dutch have to admit their policy, which they deemed progressive and pragmatic, has totally failed. As the mayor of Amsterdam admitted lately: the situation in the red light district of Amsterdam has become untenable. Renate van der  Zee will explain why the Dutch thought the legalization of prostitution a good idea, why it has failed and to what consequences.

Bio:

Renate van der Zee is a Dutch feminist journalist and writer with a focus on prostitution and humand trafficking. She has done extensive research and has written several books on the Dutch sex industry. Her stance is that the legalisation of prostitution in The Netherlands has not only failed to improve conditions for women in prostitution, but has helped to create a market where international networks of human traffickers exploit vulnerable women from poor countries who are bought by men who justify themselves by claiming that what they do is legal.

Title:

Prevention Coordinator

Organization:

Selah Freedom

Presentation Title:

Caught Up

Presentation Description:

This training offers an alternative approach to prevention that incorporates media and diverse characters, which has been capturing the attention of youth around the country and getting them engaged in dialogue around this issue.

Bio:

Chloe Vega is Committed to preventing sex trafficking by educating and equipping teens and adults. As a survivor of child sexual abuse, Chloe effectively uses her own story to relate to teens and give them hope. She is currently completing her degree in Criminology at the University of Tampa.

Title:

Consul of Sweden to Nevada

Organization:

Co-Founder of Awareness Is Prevention

Presentation Title:

The Effectiveness of The Swedish Model

Presentation Description:

Trafficking is a multi-billion dollar business globally.  The solution has to focus on mitigating, or curbing, the business model.  To stop the demand is the most effective way.  The decision to focus on the demand was based on the consensus of gender equality and a human rights perspective.  Sweden’s policy is very clear, that prostitution can never be regarded as a legitimate profession because it is always exploitation.  In this sense the extent of the consent to provide prostitution is deemed secondary to the understanding that the transaction involves exploitation at some level.  Trafficking is therefore an extension of human exploitation at every level.  It is crucial to change the mindset of purchasers & purveyors of commercial sex.

Bio:

Lena Walther opened the Consulate in Nevada 2006.  She began her career with the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1976 and had assignments in Bangkok, Laos and South-Korea.

Upon moving to the US, she worked for International Monetary Fund.  After becoming an American citizen, she continued foreign assignments with the US Embassies in Madrid, Vienna and Paris.  She has lived in 10 countries and speaks seven languages.  She moved to Las Vegas in 1997 and has been an entrepreneur since then.  In 2014, she co-founded a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, Awareness Is Prevention (AIP), which brings awareness of sex trafficking of minors.  AIP conducts targeted training programs for Law Enforcement agencies, the Clark County School District, private schools, NGO’s and other organizations.  A new program “Awareness through the Arts”, offering competitions for vulnerable youth, is being introduced in 2019.

Title:

Chair & Professor

Organization:

Social, Behavioral and Human Sciences, University of Washington

Presentation Title:

PRESENTATION: Black Girlhood Interrupted: Physical and Sexual Violence in the Lives of African American Girls; DOCUMENTARY: Let Me Tell Ya'll 'bout Black chick: Violence Against Black Women in Pornography

Presentation Description:

PRESENTATION: Black Girlhood Interrupted: Physical and Sexual Violence in the Lives of African American Girls

Bio:

Armed with my first adult library card, at age 12 I checked out the book Scream Quietly or the Neighbors Will Hear. This book was one of the early academic efforts to investigate domestic violence. Today, I spend my professional life writing, training and consulting. My primary goal is to produce research that can be applied to real life problems. For example, I create culturally sensitive training material for domestic violence/sexual assault advocates.

In 1997, after completing my second post-doctoral fellowship at the University of New Hampshire, the opportunity to help build an institution and a psychology program drew me to UW Tacoma. I teach a range of psychology courses related to violence and sexuality, including Family Violence, Human Sexuality, Sex Crimes and Sexual Violence, Sexual Deviance.

I study the long-term consequences of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. I also investigate the hypersexualization of young women in the media.

Title:

Child Advocate

Organization:

Jacob Wetterling Resource Center

Presentation Title:

“There’s a Dream That We Dream How the World Should Be….”

Presentation Description:

Patty will share lessons learned about child safety following her son’s abduction. Understanding the continuum of child sexual abuse, and the contributing factors of today’s social environmental to sexual harm. we also need to focus on the vision and work to build healthier, more respectful relationships. We need to teach our children about relationships and respectful boundaries so that they don’t grow up to become someone who would exploit another. Let’s talk about what are we fighting for.

Three Objectives or Takeaway Ideas:

1. Have increased understanding of child abduction and exploitation and how to replace fear with knowledge.
2. Understand the collaboration needed to stop harmful behaviors
3. Share the hope for a world where children have the right to grow up safe and follow their dreams.

Bio:

Patty Wetterling is the mother of Jacob Wetterling, who was abducted at the age of eleven by a masked gunman on October 22, 1989 near his home in St. Joseph, Minnesota. On September 1, 2016, nearly twenty-seven years after his abduction, Jacob’s remains were found, and his abductor arrested. Throughout her healing process, Patty has continued to search for prevention solutions and to seek answers to build a better safer world for children.

Patty co-founded the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center (JWRC) and Team H.O.P.E. a national support group for families of missing children.  Patty co-authored the books, “When Your Child is Missing:  A Family Survival Guide,” and “Perspectives on Missing Persons Cases.” Patty has become a nationally recognized educator on child abduction and sexual exploitation of children.

Patty was Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children from 2012-2015 and remains a champion of hope for families whose children are still missing and for prevention of sexual exploitation and abduction.

Title:

Director

Organization:

National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance

Presentation Title:

BREAKOUT: Cultivating the Supply; & BREAKOUT PANEL: Continuum of Care: Lessons and Advice from Long-time Direct Service Providers

Presentation Description:

What is the national landscape of those being recruited into the heinous world of human trafficking? This section will discuss vulnerabilities of victims, early childhood trauma, the impact of broken familiar relationships, and how services providers can respond.

Bio:

Melissa is the Director of the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance.  For nearly 8 years Melissa worked at The Samaritan Women, a long-term restoration home for survivors of domestic human trafficking.  She has seen firsthand how isolating it is for those working with survivors of sexual exploitation and is passionate about building a community that empowers and encourages those in the trenches every day.

While at The Samaritan Women, Melissa worked to increase awareness and deepen community engagement on issues around human trafficking, spearheaded advocacy campaigns, hosted nation-wide gatherings and conferences, and supported staff and residents through their spiritual journey.

Prior to joining The Samaritan Women, Melissa worked with the White House’s Faith-based and Community Outreach Office at the United States Agency for International Development, Dr. Ron Sider with Evangelicals for Social Action, and with Bread for the World.

Melissa has her master’s degree in International Development from Eastern University and her bachelor’s in International Relations from American University.