Remembering our fallen soldiers this Memorial Day, 2022.
The Fight Against Human Trafficking
May/June 2022
Hello, Friends and Supporters,
In March I gave everyone an update concerning the status of our project to fight human trafficking in Alaska. In summary, our effort to begin Transit Monitoring at Ted Stevens International airport has been held up at Governor Dunleavy’s legal department while they reconsider a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that would support our 16 volunteers trained to help potential victims of human trafficking break free from their Trafficker. Today, we are no closer to launch.
We have the support of the Airport Chief of Police, Commissioner Cockrell of the Alaska Department of Safety, Commissioner Anderson of the Alaska Department of Transportation, Anchorage Mayor, Dave Bronson, and an impactful list of non-government organizations for victim support including Love Alaska; Priceless and Chosen, Alaska Aware, My House, Suite Hope, and Downtown Soup Kitchen Hope Center. We have every pillar of support we need for a strong platform of success but we cannot get the go-ahead to start helping potential victims.
I arrived in Anchorage in December of 2021 prepared to manage our project alongside the 16 trained volunteers and quickly pivoted to managing disappointment as our project was stymied. I was grateful to receive an offer to work as a Criminal Justice Technician with the Alaska Department of Safety Sex Offender Registry. The opportunity was timely and insightful and I am forever changed after having read the dozens of arrest reports related to victims and their offenders. Today, the insights gained from that assignment are fading as we continue to wait for project approval. Our liaison from the Governor’s office reported that our MOU wouldn’t be reviewed until after the first legislative sessions which were complete on May 19th, 2022.
Our latest update is that the MOU is under review with the Governor’s Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Law. The challenge I have with this lack of progress is that this office has had this document for review since (at least) January 4th, 2022 when I was told that the MOU was on hold. We are all well aware that this office has a packed schedule but the fact is, decisions are made on priority. The effort to fight human trafficking in Anchorage Alaska with Transit Monitoring is not a priority.
Love Justice International has placed me in the role of Project Management to ensure the success of this project and we will not be deterred. In absence of state government support, we have found other ways to fight. Working directly with the Federal Bureau of Investigations Violent Crimes Unit, we are supported in our effort to move victims to safety and work towards the prosecution of Traffickers. My relationship with the Downtown Hope Center and the 55-bed emergency women’s shelter exposes us to the predators pressing in on their victims and affords me the opportunity to build relationships with survivors. We are gaining ground in the fight.
Isaiah 55:1 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
There are three bills introduced, a portion of the People First Initiative, intended to address several public safety issues in Alaska. The three pieces of legislation focus on statutory changes in sex trafficking, victim protection, and sex offenses by putting people first and making Alaska safer. These bills are stalled and going nowhere. Track progress, or lack of, here: http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Home/BillsandLaws
I am beyond frustrated with the lack of priority on a project that will cost the State of Alaska NOTHING as a self-supported effort and potential to make a real impact on human trafficking. I am also awed and impressed with the non-government organizations, church members, volunteers, and supporters that are 100% behind this effort and its success.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers. Lives are being impacted and improved even in the face of bureaucracy. On this Memorial Day weekend, thank God for the soldiers that died for our freedoms and the families that love them. I’m reminded that only two defining forces have ever offered to die for me: Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for my soul, the other died for my freedom.
Hang in there. It’s a similar story in so many places. Doing primary prevention I’ve gotten stonewalled many times also, mostly by schools, when offering entirely free services. My theory is people don’t want to know the truth about sexual violence in their communities, so they resist efforts that will bring it to light. Easier to keep one’s head in the sand and pretend these problems only happen in other neighborhoods. And as you so very well know - this problem is - to varying degrees - everywhere.