Notes from June 21st Meeting

Hello U-ACT!


Thank you to everyone who attended the Monday, June 21st meeting at Common Ground! We are so excited for the progress we're making in our Action Areas! For everyone who couldn't attend, here is a summary of the Action Areas discussed, volunteer opportunities available, and other important information. Thank you all for the time and energy you dedicate to combating human trafficking!

1. Exodus Refugee Human Trafficking Caseworker Valerie Schmitt generously attended the meeting and informed us about current and future opportunities to partner both individually and as a group with Exodus and the Julian Center.

*Current Opportunities:

a. If anyone has experience in marketing, videography, or graphic design and is interested in working alongside the Julian Center to create community awareness publications, please email Valerie Schmidt at vschmitt@exodusrefugee.org.

*Future Opportunities:

a. The Julian Center is creating human trafficking community outreach programs and, once these programs are in place, the Julian Center will need volunteers to serve on these outreach teams. If you are interested in this future opportunity, you must first complete the Julian Center's general volunteer training. Sign up for this free training by following this link: http://www.juliancenter.org/volunteer_individual.html


2. Amanda and Adam Bocik attended the meeting to tell us about an upcoming human trafficking fundraiser and awareness event to benefit Love146. Amanda, Adam, and a few other Indianapolis residents will be riding bicycles from Monument Circle to New York City from September 24 to October 2, 2010. They are in need of the following items/services:

a. financial donations

b. goods donations, i.e. lodging, food, energy bars, cycling gear, jerseys, cycling equipment, safety vehicle (large van/trailer) c. volunteers to publicize the event d. volunteers to organize a send-off event on Monument Circle on Sept. 24.

e. volunteers to spread the word about this event!

**All donations are tax deductible through Forkout.org. If interested, please contact Amanda Bocik at 317-695-3568 or ajbocik2gmail.com. Further information on the bike ride event can be found at www.ridefor146.org or www.love146.org.



3. If anyone is interested in financially or prayerfully supporting Laura's close friend Heather Blanch, who is serving an anti-trafficking non-profit in Cambodia, please email Laura at laura.pope@yahoo.com or uact.indy@yahoo.com.



4. We signed postcards to Senator Lugar asking for his support of CPCA. If you’d like to sign postcards or work on further legislative issues, please contact Sarah at pastorsarah@friedensucc.org or 317-881-6779 or 317-709-5857.



5. We continued to work on fundraisers and awareness events. If you have questions about these opportunities please see below or feel free contact us.



Thank you,

Laura and Sarah


Action Areas:
1) Summer/Fall 2010 Fundraising Event
Task: brainstorm and organize an outdoor fundraising event to benefit Pearl Alliance
Points to Discuss: bands/singers/dancers to perform (could be local), possible outdoor venues (downtown Indy preferable), marketing ideas, sponsor/donor ideas, fair trade vendors at the event

2) Freedom Scarves – We found out that you don’t have to use the looms if you know how to knit.
Task: knit scarves to raise funds for NFS
marketing/sales ideas
*Info about Freedom Scarves:
1. Freedom Scarf tags: http://www.flickr.com/photos/intocollidingentropy/sets/72157622429608580/
2. brands of yarn: Red Heart Light and Lofty (for adults), Red Heart Baby Clouds (for kids), can be
purchased at JoAnn Fabric's or online at herrschners.com
3. novelty yarns (to be mixed in w/base yarns above, if you wish):
http://www.herrschners.com/product.aspx?pid=95446,
http://www.herrschners.com/product.aspx?pid=95409,
http://www.herrschners.com/product.aspx?sku=711506P&qid=
4. looms: http://cottagemagpie.com/imgc/easy-loom-knitted-scarf-1.jpg, can be purchased at JoAnn Fabric's or Wal-Mart for $5-$9.
5. The typical child sized scarf is 2 1/2 inches wide and 4 to 5 feet long, depending on the age of the
child. They sell for $10.00. Teen and adult scarves can be made either 4 ($10) or 5 inches ($12) wide
(or even 2 1/2, for those who like thin scarves) and are 5 1/2 to 6 feet long (depending on the skein of
yarn).
6. instructional knitting videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pPIT9Us7ZE&feature=related,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgLYwCgF63E&NR=1


3) Ground Initiative
Task: create business-size info cards to leave in doctors' office bathrooms, etc. that inform victims of their rights and options for help
Points to Discuss: possible distribution locations, available community resources for victims, hotline info, other info to include on card

(Coasters to bars)

4) Julian Center Domestic Trafficking Volunteer Training
Task: review existing volunteer training programs and then assemble our own to serve domestic trafficking victims housed at the Julian Center (or elsewhere, in the future)
Points to Discuss: helpfulness of completing OVCTTAC Sexual Assault Advocate/Counselor Training (more info found at ovcttac.gov/saact/index.cfm)
*Please review the following org's existing training programs:
1. misssey.org
2. sharedhope.org
3. love146.org
4. free-international.org

5) Advocacy

Task: research current legislation that relates to human trafficking

Points to Discuss:

1) What are our best sources for information about current legislation?

2) Which state and federal representatives should be contacted?

*Child Protection Compact Act

*TVPA

Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act (S 2925)

Funding for several authorized programs related to child labor, forced labor, human trafficking and slavery in the FY 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill


*International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA)

Letters to the editor


6) Film Screenings/book groups

Task: raise awareness about human trafficking and efforts to abolish it by providing film screenings/book groups

Points to Discuss:

1) Compile lists of places to show films or discuss books

2) Design system to keep track of places that have been contacted and responses given

3) Continue to add to list of films and books

4) What social media tools might be available to assist with making connections and promoting our availability to do film screening and lead book groups


7) Contact database

Task: develop method of keeping track of contact information for names of leaders/organizations that we have partnered with, groups we’ve been in touch with about speaking engagements, groups with projects that we have helped with, ect….


8) If you are interested in becoming a Stop Child Trafficking Now Ambassador, please contact Laura Pope.