SESSION ONE // PANEL DISCUSSION |
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| Guiding Principles for Those Serving Trafficked Persons in Michigan
Do we really want to help, and do no harm? If we aren’t carefully assessing the reasons why we provide services the way we do, and the ways we interact with survivors, it can be easy to mimic the behavior of traffickers, even unintentionally. We need to ensure survivors are in the “driver’s seat” by making their own choices, and feeling supported in those choices. The Michigan Human Trafficking Commission has worked to develop and deploy best practices for those serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and has identified and evaluated the “Guiding Principles for Agencies Serving Survivors of Human Trafficking” resource developed through the U.S. Administration of Children and Families. This session features a panel of Michigan experts who will explore lessons learned and practical ways to apply and implement these principles.
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MODERATOR: Kelly Carter Chair, Michigan Human Trafficking Commission Senior Attorney Specialist,Michigan Department of Attorney General
For the past 20 years Kelly Carter has served as an Assistant Attorney General, first in a civil litigation capacity, then for the past 15 plus years as a prosecutor pursuing some of the Attorney General's key initiatives.
In 2011, she was appointed Senior Attorney Specialist and, in addition to mortgage fraud, she prosecutes human traffickers - having obtained the first several convictions under the state’s human trafficking statute. Recognized as a statewide expert in human trafficking, Kelly is an in-demand speaker on human trafficking across the state, frequently providing training to law enforcement and others. Throughout 2013, she worked on the Human Trafficking Commission, serving as co-chair of the Professional Training sub-committee as well as a contributing member of the Commission’s Legislative and Policy sub-committee. Throughout 2014 she continued working on behalf of Attorney General on of the passage of the Commission’s legislative recommendations - testifying on over a dozen occasions before the House and Senate subcommittees considering the Human Trafficking legislative package. Now, with the convening of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission, she is again working with several subcommittees of the Commission, including co-chairing the Training and Education and Courts subcommittees, and contributing to the Policy and Legislation and Victims’ Services subcommittees. Prior to her duties in the Human Trafficking Unit, Kelly served in the High Tech Crime Unit and Child Protection Unit where she specialized in the prosecution of computer crime cases including Internet fraud, child exploitation, computer intrusion, threats and similar crimes. In that assignment she received hundreds of hours of training in all aspects of computer related investigation and prosecution as well as conducting training for hundreds of police officers and prosecutors. |
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Rev. Karen Gray-Sheffield Corporate Director of Open Arms and the Infant Mortality Program Ascension Michigan
Rev. Karen Gray-Sheffield is employed by Ascension Michigan and serves as a Corporate Director of Open Arms and the Infant Mortality Program. Open Arms strives to educate the community on the issue and impact of trauma and grief on children and adults and provides support and resources to crime victims and families who have been adversely impacted by violence. The Infant Mortality Project is a program that strives to empower families by providing health education and resources to mothers, and other family members to help strengthen and preserve families, reverse the high infant mortality rate among African Americans, promote literacy and increase access to healthcare. Rev. Sheffield has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Relations and a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling Education both from Wayne State University. She is a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a Certified Bereavement Counselor. She was appointed by the Governor in 2019 to serve as a Commissioner on the Crime Victim Services Commission. She Co-leads the Southwest Human Trafficking Task Force and has trained numerous healthcare providers on protocols to identify human trafficking victims. Healthcare providers play an important role in connecting these victims with agencies and community resources that will help them become independent of their abuser. Additionally, she is a licensed and ordained minister and serves as Senior Pastor of New Galilee Missionary Baptist Church on the Eastside of Detroit.
Rev. Sheffield has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Caring for Children Angel Award, Spirit of Detroit Award, Sojourner Foundation’s Women Helping Women Award and the Women of Excellence Award from the Michigan Chronicle. She loves helping families and through her work and ministry, she has helped to build positive bridges between faith-based institutions, law enforcement, community mental health agencies and healthcare systems. |
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Meredith Reese, LPC Chief Integrated Behavioral Health Officer Vista Maria
Meredith Reese, Chief Integrated and Behavioral Health Officer has been with Vista Maria since July 2003. In her current role, she is responsible for the integration of mental health and physical health services on campus serving all youth in care. Meredith holds a certification in Integrated Behavioral Health and Primary Care-Pediatric Track and has twenty years of extensive knowledge in areas of mental health, trauma, and adolescent development. Meredith holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. In addition, she is a featured speaker, presenter, and trainer relating to human trafficking, and trauma. Meredith is an active board member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Taskforce. Meredith raises awareness to stand against human trafficking through community advocacy and presentations. Meredith was the former recipient of the Department of Health and Human Services–Best Practice Award for her work and dedication to the anti-trafficking movement. In 2020, Meredith was named one of Crain’s Notable Women in Health. |
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Karen Moore Executive Director, Sanctum House
Karen Moore is a graduate of Michigan State University and was a global executive at Ford Motor Company. She went on to be the President/CEO of Ladywood High School and subsequently became the Executive Director at Sanctum House. Karen and her team developed the programs and processes to open the 24-month integrated care safe house for adult women victims of human trafficking. Sanctum House provides 24/7 coverage and offers mental healthcare, physical healthcare, substance use disorder support, legal support, life skills training, educational opportunities, spiritual growth and employment opportunities. She is a member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, a member of US Representative Brenda Lawrence’s Women’s Advisory Committee, a Board member of The Pearls of Great Price Coalition and is certified by the US Government to train on human trafficking on behalf of Health & Human Services. |
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Jeynce Poindexter Activist, Nationally Recognized & Awarded Advocate Case Manager, Ruth Ellis Center
Jeynce Poindexter is an activist, nationally recognized and awarded advocate, as well as a board member of Michigan's Woman's March. In her day-to-day role as a case manager for the Ruth Ellis Center, Jeynce also helps manage part of the housing departments Kelly Stough Project which supports LGBTQ community members that are also human trafficking survivors. Ms. Poindexter is also the Vice President of Trans Sistas of Color Project. TSOCP is an agency started over 11 years ago in the city of Detroit because of the deep-rooted structural racism, discrimination, and murder of trans women of color particularly Black trans women in and around the Detroit Metropolitan area.
Aside from her countless years of advocacy and rendering supportive services throughout the state of Michigan, Ms. Poindexter has had the privilege of working closely with Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer, even recently having the honor of her image being used as a graphic that covered the governor's bus as she traveled throughout the state as she won reelection. Jeynce also worked with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in 2019 to write the gender marker change policy for the state of Michigan and helped Secretary Benson to also craft the third identifier for policy for Michigan's gender non-conforming and non-binary folks.
Jeynce's strength, heart, compassion, and faith play a critical role in how she handles people. Her lived experiences and expertise have directly shaped her approach to serving people, all of God's people. Those who are often dismissed, dismantled, and historically marginalized and disenfranchised. |
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Lt. Wendy K Reyes Lieutenant Law Enforcement Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
Wendy Reyes is a lieutenant with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. She has been in the law enforcement field for over 32 years.
As a law enforcement officer, she worked the road patrol for 7 years and worked in an undercover capacity in Vice/Narcotic Unit. She then was promoted through the ranks to Captain. During her 8 years as Captain, she oversaw the investigation unit overseeing all investigations including: homicides, rapes, robberies, child crimes and special investigations. Just prior to the transition to Oakland County Sheriff’s Office she held her final position in Pontiac Police Department, as Chief of Police.
As a Lieutenant with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, she worked in an investigative capacity and special projects. She supervises the Auto Theft Unit, Friend of the Court Unit and Fire Investigation Unit. She worked on the Jurisdictions of Excellence Team in Lansing, creating training modules for law enforcement on “Trauma Informed Response to Sexual Assault” and is on a statewide policy making group for responding to sexual assault.
She most recently was chosen to be the Substation Commander for the Commerce Township jurisdiction. She is training and speaking in Michigan and Oakland County on Human Trafficking. Lt. Reyes has been a member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force for 13 years. She works with groups to combat Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking. And has had the honor to know and work with individuals who have been victimized by traffickers.
Lieutenant Reyes has a Bachelor’s degree in business leadership, and in 2014 she graduated from FBI National Academy. In 2016 she went to Nepal, trained law enforcement, prosecutors and NGOs on understanding trauma and victim centered investigations. |
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SESSION TWO // PANEL DISCUSSION |
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Integrating Survivor Voices in Michigan’s Anti-Trafficking Movement
Persons with lived experience of human trafficking have a compelling role to play in combating human trafficking effectively throughout the world, as well as here in Michigan. The anti-trafficking movement needs the leadership of those experts with lived experiences to ensure our work is both survivor-centered and trauma-informed. They are in a unique position to enact change on policy, organization, and at individual levels. The voice of those with lived experience must not just be a final stamp of approval on a policy or program, but rather an integrated part of all stages of our work.
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MODERATOR: Leslie King-Friday, BSW Survivor, Advocate, Author
Leslie King-Friday was trafficked at the age of 15 for over 20 years in Grand Rapids Michigan. On July 4th, 2000 Leslie’s life was changed forever. Through sincerity of her heart and an answer from God, Leslie was given a new lease on life and set to starting her life’s work. In 2005, Leslie utilized her experience, expertise, and inspiring example of a renewed lifestyle to open Sacred Beginnings, a safe haven that offers hope, and healing to trafficking victims. Leslie consults with law enforcement agencies, human service professionals, clergy, and others requesting direction and understanding in working with prostituted individuals. She also speaks at various conferences and academic institutions on the issue of human trafficking.
Leslie received her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Grand Valley State University in 2011. Her awards and recognitions include: 2005 Grand Rapids, Woman of the Year nominee, 2008 YWCA Advocate of the Year, 2011 Rising Hero Award, 2014 “50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan”, 2018 Michigan Liberator Award, 2019 Grand Rapids Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club Certificate of Achievement, 2021 African American Leadership Award, 2021 BBB Trust Award. |
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Alice Jay Founder of the Gateway & the Sister Survivors Network Human Trafficking Specialist, Neighborhood Legal Services
Alice is a Human Trafficking specialist for Neighborhood Legal Services and the 36th District Court. She is the author and creator of the book Out of the Darkness (A Survivor’s Story), the Survivor-led worksops Who Am I Now? and mentorship programs. She has over 13 years of experience working with those who have been trafficked and sexually exploited. She has been sought out to educate and train the University of Michigan Law Clinic, FBI, medical professionals, colleges, churches, legislators, and schools. She serves on Advisory Boards for the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission and the 36th District Court. Alice Jay is a survivor of child abduction, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation. She was trapped in that way of life for 17 years. She now has over 17 years of recovery and is a wealth of knowledge, which stems from hard-won experience. |
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Brigette Robarge-Henderson, BSW Survivor, Advocate
A strong and courageous survivor of human trafficking, Brigette has dedicated her life to acting as a supporter and advocate for those who have experienced exploitation, violence, and human trafficking.
Determined to channel her life experiences into something constructive, Brigette was conferred a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University. Today she uses her real-world knowledge and her formal education to reach out to those who have been traumatized by human trafficking and/or exploitation.
A highly sought-after subject matter expert, Brigette is credited with the development of multiple human trafficking trainings and presentations including collaborations with Child Protective Services, the Human Trafficking Awareness Tour with Senator Judy Emmons, Henry Ford Hospital Human Trafficking, and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority Summit on Ending Homelessness, etc.
In 2020, Brigette was honored to receive the Rising Phoenix Award, presented by The Intentional Living Collective, in recognition of her work as an advocate for those who have experienced exploitation and human trafficking. Brigette also sits on multiple boards including The Michigan H.E.A.T. Coalition, and the Michigan Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board, Governor’s Office.
Master of Social Work, Walden University, 2022-Present Bachelor of Social Work, Eastern Michigan University |
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LUNCH // KEYNOTE SESSION |
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| “New” University of Michigan Human Trafficking Law Clinic & Lab
For over a decade, the Clinic relied solely on legal tools and direct representation to fight human trafficking. The Lab, launched in 2022, endeavors to create change at policy, service, and industry levels through collaborative partnerships across the nonprofit, corporate, and governmental sectors. They believe the law is an incomplete, imperfect solution to reducing exploitation and that interdisciplinary, cross-industry collaboration is necessary. The vision for the Clinic + Lab partnership is that the work with individual survivors in the Clinic will help ensure the Lab is victim-centered and informed by lived experience.
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SPEAKER: Bridgette A. Carr Founding Director University of Michigan Law School's Human Trafficking Clinic
Professor Bridgette Carr, '02, is the associate dean for strategic initiatives at Michigan Law and a faculty affiliate at the Center for Positive Organizations at U-M's Ross School of Business. Carr has dedicated her career to advocating for the rights of human trafficking victims and advancing comprehensive domestic and international anti-trafficking policies. Her work focuses on driving paradigm shifts in the way human trafficking victimization is perceived and addressed, and helping reintegrate victims by developing legal solutions that address the complex issues of coercion and victimization around compelled service and its aftermath.
As the founding director of the University of Michigan Law School's Human Trafficking Clinic, the first clinical law program solely devoted to addressing this issue comprehensively, Carr, her colleagues, and a new generation of trainees have provided free legal services to victims since 2009, supporting the wide-ranging needs of men, women, and children, both foreign nationals and U.S. citizens, who have been victimized by a range of trafficking crimes. Using the U-M clinic as a model, Carr is working with university partners around the world to develop similar programs to combat human trafficking and train law students and has helped establish university law clinics in Mexico, Ethiopia, and Brazil to broaden the network of legal experts who can address the issues of compelled service that transcend international borders. She is the lead author of the first casebook on human trafficking law and policy, which examines the cross-section of criminal justice, civil and human rights, immigration, and international law that frames these issues.
Carr regularly provides human trafficking training to law enforcement, government officials, and health care providers, as well as consultations to state and national authorities on the issue of human trafficking. She is a member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Taskforce, a collaborative effort to identify and rescue victims, prosecute offenders, restore victims, and educate people in Michigan about human trafficking, in both sexual and labor exploitation. In 2013, she was appointed to Michigan's first Commission on Human Trafficking by Attorney General Bill Schuette. She also has served as a consultant to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the UN agency focused on criminal justice for victims of human trafficking and migrant smuggling. She has appeared as an expert on human trafficking on The Today Show, MSBNC, and National Public Radio, and has been quoted in The New York Times and many other news outlets. During law school, she was a Michigan refugee and asylum law fellow with Amnesty International. Prior to joining the Law School faculty, she was an associate clinical professor at the University of Notre Dame Law School, where she led the Immigrant Rights Project. In 2008, she was awarded a Marshall Memorial Fellowship to study human trafficking issues in Europe. |
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SESSION THREE // PANEL DISCUSSION |
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Creating a Standardized Data Reporting Framework for Michigan A decade ago, Shared Hope developed a legal framework that challenged states to enact laws that comprehensively address the crime of child sex trafficking. When they launched the first State Report Cards, the majority of states received an “F” grade, reflecting the reality that many states’ laws failed to even recognize the crime of child sex trafficking. Over the years most states improved their grades, and collectively, the country has made exciting progress. However, 10 years has also led to new research and opportunities to listen to survivors, providing waves of information that require us, as a nation, to confront where we are and where we should be going. Join Katie, clinician and survivor leader, Sarah from Shared Hope, and Kelly from the Michigan Attorney General’s office as they discuss Shared Hope’s new reporting system, Michigan progress and challenges, and an overview of current bills and initiatives in progress in our state. |
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MODERATOR: Elizabeth Moon-Carter, MSW Executive Director of Social Services The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division
Elizabeth Moon Carter is the Executive Director of Social Services for the Salvation Army in the Great Lakes Division (most of Michigan). She is a Commissioner for the State of Michigan’s Human Trafficking Commission and serves as the Chair of the Data Committee. Her experience working with survivors of human trafficking began 15 years ago in Kansas City, where she served as an interpreter for Spanish-speaking survivors of labor trafficking. Under her direction, the Salvation Army in Michigan is currently assessing its programming and mapping a strategy to include services for survivors at as many locations as possible.
Master of Social Wor (Clinical), University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2005 – 2009 Bachelor's degree, English/Spanish, Asbury University, 2000 – 2004 |
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Kelly Carter Chair, Michigan Human Trafficking Commission Senior Attorney Specialist, Michigan Department of Attorney General
For the past 20 years Kelly Carter has served as an Assistant Attorney General, first in a civil litigation capacity, then for the past 15 plus years as a prosecutor pursuing some of the Attorney General's key initiatives.
In 2011, she was appointed Senior Attorney Specialist and, in addition to mortgage fraud, she prosecutes human traffickers - having obtained the first several convictions under the state’s human trafficking statute. Recognized as a statewide expert in human trafficking, Kelly is an in-demand speaker on human trafficking across the state, frequently providing training to law enforcement and others. Throughout 2013, she worked on the Human Trafficking Commission, serving as co-chair of the Professional Training sub-committee as well as a contributing member of the Commission’s Legislative and Policy sub-committee. Throughout 2014 she continued working on behalf of Attorney General on of the passage of the Commission’s legislative recommendations - testifying on over a dozen occasions before the House and Senate subcommittees considering the Human Trafficking legislative package. Now, with the convening of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission, she is again working with several subcommittees of the Commission, including co-chairing the Training and Education and Courts subcommittees, and contributing to the Policy and Legislation and Victims’ Services subcommittees. Prior to her duties in the Human Trafficking Unit, Kelly served in the High Tech Crime Unit and Child Protection Unit where she specialized in the prosecution of computer crime cases including Internet fraud, child exploitation, computer intrusion, threats and similar crimes. In that assignment she received hundreds of hours of training in all aspects of computer related investigation and prosecution as well as conducting training for hundreds of police officers and prosecutors.
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Kris McNeil President and Executive Director Measurable Change
Kris McNeil is the President and Executive Director at Measurable Change, a non-profit dedicated to eliminating complex social issues through leadership, research, education, and strategic project development. With a current focus on exposing and disrupting the business of Human Trafficking in Michigan, Kris serves on the Research & Data Collection, Training & Education, and Public Awareness Subcommittees for the Michigan Attorney General Commission on Human Trafficking. Kris has worked with hospital systems, healthcare providers, medical device manufacturers, global automotive suppliers, multi-state utilities, publishers, and non-profit organizations bringing organizational clarity and strategy to their information, products, and systems. His professional experience includes engagements with clients such as Travelocity, NiSource / Columbia Gas, Herman Miller, Metro Health, Winston & Strawn, Thomson Reuters, National Safety Council, American Concrete Institute, Haworth, Delphi, American Axle, MED-EL, Hurley Medical Center & Foundation, and Child Advocacy Centers of Michigan. His work has resulted in organizational alignment across multiple departments, teams, and stakeholder groups, created workflow and governance efficiencies through process and technology, and delivered integrated digital strategies to increase customer engagement and loyalty.
Studied Visual Communications at Kendall College of Art & Design, Graduated in 2000 |
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Special thanks to our lunch and program sponsors: |
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