A WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, COURTNEY ALBERT
It is hard to believe that we are already halfway through the summer. GWTF has been hard at work over this last quarter and are excited to share our progress with you. I also want to take a moment to highlight an exciting upcoming event on September 20th. In 2025, one of our objectives is to prioritize human trafficking awareness and prevention by looking more in-depth at vulnerable populations and finding ways to stop trafficking before it begins. This event highlights a vulnerable population: indigenous women. Please Save the Date for this important, fun, and informative event… see details below.
INITIATIVES
Vermont Bar Association Training, ZOOM, VT
In June, we held an impactful and important training sponsored by the Vermont Bar Association and co-facilitated by our board member, Heather Ross, and founder, Courtney Albert; “Human Trafficking: What Every Vermont Lawyer Should Know.” Fifty-seven attorneys participated and took a deep dive into understanding the definitions and laws relating to this crime, case examples, the impact of these crimes on the victims themselves, as well as on their ability to disclose and be identified. Participants learned about trauma and how to take a trauma-informed approach with clients. Courtney and Heather highlighted the intricacies of how trauma can affect time lining, emotions, and memory, forced criminality as a definitive defense as well as civil remedies for survivors.
Partnership with Freedom Insight (formerly Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition)
Give Way to Freedom is supportive and excited by the restructuring of Freedom Insight. Our team is still in place, and Freedom Insight is welcoming a new executive director, Erika Keaveney. We are looking ahead to exciting new initiatives and keeping our important airport work full steam ahead, or shall we say “flying”?
In early May, our director Edith, Erin Albright of New Frameworks, and Sabra Boyd, writer and child trafficking survivor, presented a follow-up session at the ALEAN conference in Denver titled “Addressing Human Trafficking: Increase Effectiveness, Decrease Liability”. The session included steps for airports to be prepared with practical and clear training for airport personnel, definitive protocols, appropriate non-sensationalized messaging and signage, with survivor-centeredness at the heart of it all.
Rotary International and Rotary Club of Essex, Vermont
At the end of June, Edith wrapped up her year of being President of the Rotary Club of Essex. Her work during her tenure, amongst regular leadership and presidential duties, included several projects in keeping with Give Way to Freedom’s mission. A scholarship from Rotary International was secured for a graduate student, Grace Gray, who will be studying healthy food cultivation, distribution, and fair access in a sustainable way in Italy. A grant was awarded to the Club from Rotary District 7850 to rehabilitate a playground in Kysyl Bairak, Kyrgyzstan. Although a playground project may seem basic, in this circumstance it was pivotal to enhancing the community’s ability to thrive on multiple levels, including improving the lives of mothers by providing a safe place for their children to grow and learn. In Kysyl Bairak, most mothers have the dual roles of primary child caregiver and financial contributor, and it is necessary for the fathers to be migrant workers. The playground is now a community hub and was even featured on Kyrgyzstan’s equivalent of the show Good Morning America. The Club also consistently supplies food and volunteers at many of the local food security centers, as well as gives new warm puffer coats to local Vermont children who otherwise would not have one.
AWARENESS EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT – Save the Date!
In keeping with our prevention through awareness theme, we are partnering with the Red Sand Project and, excitedly, the Essex Cinemas and Magic Mann to do a screening of the moving documentary We Ride For Her along with a panel discussion with experts, including Chief Brenda Gagne of St. Francis/Sokoki Band of Missisquoi. The event is September 20th at 5pm at the Essex Cinemas in Essex, Vermont. There is no charge to attend, but at-will donations will be very appreciated.
Thank you for keeping current with our anti-trafficking work and your support of Give Way to Freedom! Please consider a donation – click here.