The Williamson County Association for Family and Community Education will host a Human Trafficking Awareness Conference on Thursday, January 11, 2018.
In Tennessee, 94 teens a month are deceived, tormented, and sold, usually for sex. Yet, whenever we speak about this modern slavery called human trafficking right here in our own backyard, people say, “I had no idea.” By increasing awareness, we reduce the freedom traffickers have to operate in Williamson County. The Williamson County Association for Family and Community Education, in conjunction with UT Extension, has partnered with the United Methodist Women of Franklin First United Methodist Church to coordinate the 2018 Williamson County Human Trafficking Awareness Conference which will coincide with National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
This event takes place on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Thursday, January 11, 2018, at Franklin First UMC, 120 Aldersgate Way, off Mack Hatcher Parkway. The conference will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m., with registration at 8:30 a.m. The event is designed for leaders in education, government, and community organizations. Information and strategies will be presented for all attendees to share with their associates at work or in the community as we continue to form alliances to fight human trafficking.
The day will open with Williamson County Mayor, Rogers Anderson, followed by keynote speaker Rick Stout, special agent with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Tim Estes, founder and CEO of Digital Reasoning in Cool Springs, will describe how their software program “Spotlight” tracks sexual predators. We will also hear a survivor story, followed by a panel discussion led by Jill Rutter, Director of Community Outreach of End Slavery Tennessee.
Panelists will include Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Long, Franklin Police Detective Cory Kroegar, and Rev. Jason Brock. Register for the Human Trafficking Awareness Conference by January 8, 2018 at: http://franklinfumc.org/event/human-trafficking/. Enjoy the low conference cost of $10 thanks to the generous underwriting by the Franklin Breakfast Rotary, Williamson County Association for Family and Community Education, three local Family and Community Education Clubs, as well as in-kind donations by Franklin First UMC and School Facility Management.
Seating is limited to 125 so early registration is recommended. A boxed lunch is included in your registration. A certificate of 5 contact hours will be provided. In the event of inclement weather, please check the church website for cancellation information. The event will not be rescheduled. Participants are encouraged to bring gift cards to donate to End Slavery Tennessee clients. While identifying and rescuing a victim is the work of professionals, the guiding principle for this conference is for the community to recognize cues when someone is in danger of human trafficking. By doing so, the conference will equip you to teach others with whom you work how to recognize these signs and develop networks to offer assistance. It’s one small way to make a difference–and awareness is the first step.
