Webinar Replay Video #74: Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT)

1
00:00:04.470 –> 00:00:12.209
Steve Kessler: Good morning, everyone and welcome to the Infinit-I Workforce solutions. Fast Forward Webinar Series.

2
00:00:12.310 –> 00:00:16.609
Steve Kessler: My name is Steve Kessler, and I’ll be hosting the program today.

3
00:00:17.138 –> 00:00:26.329
Steve Kessler: I got to tell you folks, this is probably the most important webinar that we’ve done so far this year. And we do quite a lot of these couple of months at least.

4
00:00:26.490 –> 00:00:30.680
Steve Kessler: Today’s topic is about prevention and intervention

5
00:00:30.740 –> 00:00:35.779
Steve Kessler: combating human trafficking through the trucking bus and energy industries.

6
00:00:36.160 –> 00:00:54.660
Steve Kessler: We’re going to be speaking with a representative from truckers against trafficking. I’m hoping you all are very familiar with that organization, but we’re going to get some good feedback from Molly and some updated information about the things that they’re currently working on.

7
00:00:55.190 –> 00:01:08.459
Steve Kessler: I’m also joined today by our regular co-host, Mark Ray. Most of you know, mark has been in the industry here a long time and helps us out with a lot of things. As it relates to this industry.

8
00:01:08.630 –> 00:01:15.660
Steve Kessler: Just a couple of quick housekeeping items before I introduce our guest today.

9
00:01:16.144 –> 00:01:20.520
Steve Kessler: Everyone that’s joined us here is muted so we can’t hear you.

10
00:01:20.540 –> 00:01:26.059
Steve Kessler: But you do have the ability to communicate with us, through the chat box there.

11
00:01:26.310 –> 00:01:38.910
Steve Kessler: or the Q&A so, if you have a question, you can put it either in the chat or in the Q&A. And when we’re at the end of our presentation, we’ll try to take those questions and

12
00:01:39.130 –> 00:01:44.380
Steve Kessler: make sure that we answer as many of those as we can.

13
00:01:44.881 –> 00:01:51.020
Steve Kessler: Just to let everybody know I get this question all the time the webinar is being recorded.

14
00:01:51.160 –> 00:01:55.030
Steve Kessler: and we will be sending out an email with a link.

15
00:01:55.120 –> 00:02:06.560
Steve Kessler: So, you can access the recording. And that way you can share it with people that weren’t able to join today and make sure. We spread the message as much as possible.

16
00:02:07.060 –> 00:02:14.009
Steve Kessler: So having said that, let me introduce our guest today, our guest today is Molly Griffiths.

17
00:02:14.796 –> 00:02:19.660
Steve Kessler: She is the incorporate engagement manager for trucking against trafficking.

18
00:02:19.920 –> 00:02:25.289
Steve Kessler: You know. Molly educates members of the transportation industry about the realities of

19
00:02:25.320 –> 00:02:29.090
Steve Kessler: human trafficking and how they can help, how we can help

20
00:02:29.140 –> 00:02:31.170
Steve Kessler: eradicate the problem

21
00:02:31.797 –> 00:02:37.569
Steve Kessler: Molly communicates daily with stakeholders, managing relationships and developing contacts

22
00:02:37.580 –> 00:02:40.040
Steve Kessler: through programming and sponsorship.

23
00:02:40.520 –> 00:02:49.830
Steve Kessler: Molly has a BA. In psychology from St. Michael’s College, in Vermont, and her master’s in criminology from Regis University in Colorado.

24
00:02:50.200 –> 00:02:55.350
Steve Kessler: Molly’s been with truckers against trafficking since 2017,

25
00:02:55.360 –> 00:03:02.389
Steve Kessler: and enjoys engaging all aspects of the industry to find ways to work together, to combat trafficking.

26
00:03:02.750 –> 00:03:07.820
Steve Kessler: So, Molly, with that being said, I’m going to turn the program over to you.

27
00:03:09.000 –> 00:03:25.440
Molly Griffiths: Great. Thank you so much, Steve. I appreciate the introduction, and for you all taking time out of your busy schedules to be here today for this presentation. So, I am going to start my presentation with an overview of human trafficking.

28
00:03:25.440 –> 00:03:41.309
Molly Griffiths: We’re going to talk about what that looks like in the Us. Primarily how it intersects with the transportation industry and your jobs. We’re going to talk about what TAT offers, and then how you all personally and professionally can help us combat this crime.

29
00:03:41.310 –> 00:03:55.459
Molly Griffiths: I know some of you on the call may already be familiar with TAT, so you may know some of this information, but I hope to highlight some of our new training offerings, in addition to doing a bit of a deeper dive on this topic for those who might not be familiar with TAT.

30
00:03:56.220 –> 00:04:16.770
Molly Griffiths: I do want to give the disclaimer right up front that some of what I’m going to be covering today can be difficult to hear, especially in the 1st half of my presentation. I’m going to be focusing on the topic of sex trafficking primarily again, in the 1st part of my presentation, which will include sexual exploitation and talk of rape.

31
00:04:16.910 –> 00:04:27.529
Molly Griffiths: All material will be handled in a professional manner, and I do believe that although it’s really uncomfortable to hear. It is also necessary to hear, to fully understand the topic.

32
00:04:27.640 –> 00:04:43.080
Molly Griffiths: and so, I hope it pushes you outside of your comfort zone just a bit to help us further this work and help save more lives. That being said, I will not be offended in any way. If anyone needs to step away at any point in the presentation, feel free to please do so.

33
00:04:44.550 –> 00:05:12.510
Molly Griffiths: So, TAT or truckers against trafficking, as you may know us, is a Denver based international anti-human trafficking organization and at its core TAT is really about targeted systems change. We are going after the hearts and minds in order to raise up a mobile army of transportation professionals to assist law enforcement in the recognition and reporting of human trafficking in order to aid in the recovery of victims and the arrest of their perpetrators.

34
00:05:12.510 –> 00:05:25.359
Molly Griffiths: Our training, which is provided at no cost, is a really easy lift for companies to implement, and it provides actionable strategies which ultimately lead to the discovery and disruption of human trafficking networks.

35
00:05:26.140 –> 00:05:32.479
Molly Griffiths: Now, in name, we got started as truckers against trafficking, but we have really become so much more now.

36
00:05:32.490 –> 00:05:58.530
Molly Griffiths: and as you’ll hear throughout the presentation, we have scaled dramatically since inception TAT is now working with both the bus and energy industries, with training materials specific to those fronts. We have expanded into Canada. We have replicated our model in Mexico, and we’ve greatly expanded our State-based initiatives and our law enforcement training as well as working with leadership at the State level. In all 50 States. In the Us.

37
00:05:58.980 –> 00:06:09.419
Molly Griffiths: TAT is working across modes, across borders, and truly working to raise up a mobile army of change makers in various sectors and corners of North America.

38
00:06:10.520 –> 00:06:22.169
Molly Griffiths: So, we’re going to jump right into our human trafficking 101 focus right now. And I want to start this by defining human trafficking because it’s really important that we’re operating under the same definition.

39
00:06:22.260 –> 00:06:39.669
Molly Griffiths: Human trafficking is the exploitation of human beings through force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of either commercial sex. So, think prostitution, stripping pornography, brothels most typically pimps as well as forced labor

40
00:06:39.770 –> 00:06:49.739
Molly Griffiths: or labor trafficking. So, think sweatshops, agricultural fields, workers not being paid for their labor or being held against their will and forced to work long hours.

41
00:06:49.790 –> 00:06:52.499
Molly Griffiths: And all this is being driven by a trafficker.

42
00:06:52.620 –> 00:06:59.579
Molly Griffiths: a victimizer. This 3rd person party, who is in control and making a profit off somebody else’s back.

43
00:07:00.850 –> 00:07:11.149
Molly Griffiths: Now, oftentimes, when we’re talking about the crime of human trafficking, especially when we’re talking about it in relation to the transportation industry, the crime of human smuggling comes up.

44
00:07:11.450 –> 00:07:19.609
Molly Griffiths: These terms are often incorrectly used interchangeably, which can cause some confusion, because these are 2 distinct crimes.

45
00:07:19.650 –> 00:07:30.889
Molly Griffiths: Smuggling is a crime against a country’s immigration law. So, this happens when someone illegally transports another person into a country that they do not have permission to enter. Usually, for a large fee.

46
00:07:31.740 –> 00:07:34.740
Molly Griffiths: Trafficking is a crime against a human being.

47
00:07:34.950 –> 00:07:38.219
Molly Griffiths: Movement does not have to occur in trafficking.

48
00:07:38.470 –> 00:07:45.570
Molly Griffiths: Someone can actually be trafficked out of a room in their own home, whereas smuggling requires that movement.

49
00:07:46.500 –> 00:07:51.969
Molly Griffiths: Now, can someone who has paid to be smuggled into a country easily become a trafficking victim?

50
00:07:52.290 –> 00:08:19.979
Molly Griffiths: Yes, and that is because traffickers are always looking for vulnerabilities to exploit, and the undocumented population may have a number of these vulnerabilities. Right? They might not know the language of the country they’re entering. They are desperate enough to leave their home country without the proper documents. Maybe they are fleeing a violent or oppressive regime, and lastly, they recognize that they’re entering a country irregularly, and as such they will likely have a fear of deportation.

51
00:08:20.000 –> 00:08:23.930
Molly Griffiths: And so, who are they not going to call if they end up being exploited.

52
00:08:24.380 –> 00:08:25.600
Molly Griffiths: Law enforcement.

53
00:08:26.380 –> 00:08:34.190
Molly Griffiths: Traffickers know this, and they can use these vulnerabilities against those who are being smuggled and turn that person into their victim.

54
00:08:34.770 –> 00:08:42.970
Molly Griffiths: Now, all that being said, do all people who pay to be smuggled into a country become a trafficking victim? No, absolutely not.

55
00:08:43.539 –> 00:08:46.970
Molly Griffiths: and are all trafficking victims in a country all foreign nationals?

56
00:08:47.250 –> 00:08:56.729
Molly Griffiths: No, in fact, the vast majority of sex trafficking victims in the Us. Are Us. Citizens. So, this is very much a homegrown problem as well.

57
00:08:58.430 –> 00:09:04.369
Molly Griffiths: Now, in order to provide a better understanding of this crime, we’re going to break it down into 3 simple truths.

58
00:09:04.950 –> 00:09:08.210
Molly Griffiths: Truth number one is that slavery still exist.

59
00:09:08.510 –> 00:09:17.070
Molly Griffiths: Now, at 1 point in time, in our country there was state sanctioned slavery, and while now it’s illegal to own another human being.

60
00:09:17.160 –> 00:09:21.489
Molly Griffiths: The realities of this crime show that human traffickers continue to enslave.

61
00:09:21.640 –> 00:09:25.760
Molly Griffiths: torture and profit off their victims on a routine basis.

62
00:09:27.610 –> 00:09:30.480
Molly Griffiths: And we can see this when we look at the scope of the crime

63
00:09:30.490 –> 00:09:42.890
Molly Griffiths: on a global level, there are over 50 million victims of human trafficking who generate over 236 billion dollars in profits for their traffickers on an annual basis.

64
00:09:43.770 –> 00:09:48.929
Molly Griffiths: The national human trafficking hotline reports that trafficking is happening in all 50 States

65
00:09:49.020 –> 00:09:52.000
Molly Griffiths: there is no state where this crime does not occur.

66
00:09:53.060 –> 00:09:59.779
Molly Griffiths: while certainly there are plenty of adult victims. Thousands of children are at risk of being prostituted in the Us. Each year.

67
00:10:00.640 –> 00:10:08.820
Molly Griffiths: and just like we find inherent racism in so many places, there is inherent racism in prostitution, and thus in sex trafficking

68
00:10:09.370 –> 00:10:17.539
Molly Griffiths: disproportionately victims of human trafficking are women and girls of color, and disproportionately, the buyers of these women and girls are white men.

69
00:10:18.670 –> 00:10:22.350
Molly Griffiths: and just to really bring the reality of this crime home.

70
00:10:22.410 –> 00:10:29.510
Molly Griffiths: The national nonprofit Polaris reports that victims may be forced to have sex up to 20 times a day.

71
00:10:30.350 –> 00:10:36.470
Molly Griffiths: Truly this statistic should read that they may be raped up to 20 times a day.

72
00:10:37.250 –> 00:10:48.670
Molly Griffiths: Now, unfortunately, probably the majority of us on this call know someone that has been a victim of sexual assault. And if so, you know how that one instance can turn someone’s life around.

73
00:10:49.420 –> 00:10:54.689
Molly Griffiths: Imagine that kind of violence happening over and over day after day.

74
00:10:54.940 –> 00:10:58.790
Molly Griffiths: This is the reality for many victims of sex trafficking.

75
00:11:00.520 –> 00:11:14.340
Molly Griffiths: I do want to dispel one myth before we move forward. And that is the myth that all trafficking begins with kidnapping, right? Probably many of us on the call have seen the movie taken or similar movies or TV shows about trafficking

76
00:11:14.750 –> 00:11:28.469
Molly Griffiths: while trafficking is commonly associated with kidnapping and kidnapping victims certainly do constitute a percentage of cases more commonly than not. There is some sort of pre-existing relationship between the victim and the trafficker.

77
00:11:28.530 –> 00:11:35.599
Molly Griffiths: That could be a casual online relationship. It could be a friend, a family member, or an intimate partner

78
00:11:35.980 –> 00:11:42.959
Molly Griffiths: with child trafficking victims in particular. Almost half of identified cases begin with some family member involvement.

79
00:11:43.530 –> 00:11:58.979
Molly Griffiths: What we really need to understand here is with this crime there is so much manipulation involved. The traffickers oftentimes don’t need physical chains or locked doors. They use the invisible chains of force, fraud, and coercion to keep their victims compliant.

80
00:11:59.550 –> 00:12:04.730
Molly Griffiths: and this is why a victim, being compelled against their will, can’t just run away or scream for help.

81
00:12:05.970 –> 00:12:11.580
Molly Griffiths: Force is, of course, everything you can think of from one off beatings to brutal assaults.

82
00:12:11.880 –> 00:12:13.340
Molly Griffiths: Victims are raped.

83
00:12:13.380 –> 00:12:19.379
Molly Griffiths: gang raped, forced into drug addiction, mutilated, tortured, knifed, and shot.

84
00:12:20.320 –> 00:12:34.230
Molly Griffiths: Fraud consists of false expressions of romantic interest or false employment offers, so they may promise someone a fantastic job in an exciting city like work as a model, and then they turn around and exploit that person into the sex trade.

85
00:12:34.630 –> 00:12:40.519
Molly Griffiths: Anytime false promises and lying about work conditions exist. Fraud is present.

86
00:12:41.410 –> 00:12:47.959
Molly Griffiths: but without a doubt the most powerful means the traffickers use to keep their victims under their control is coercion.

87
00:12:48.120 –> 00:12:50.479
Molly Griffiths: This could be threats to life.

88
00:12:50.490 –> 00:12:53.710
Molly Griffiths: threats to safety, threats to family members.

89
00:12:54.060 –> 00:13:03.350
Molly Griffiths: This could be confiscating id or controlling money or withholding information from the victim about where they are, so they are completely dependent on their trafficker.

90
00:13:03.920 –> 00:13:10.330
Molly Griffiths: This could be threats to a young woman or a young mother that they’ll call child welfare services and take her child away.

91
00:13:10.640 –> 00:13:16.130
Molly Griffiths: or threats to that undocumented immigrant that they’ll turn them into immigration enforcement and get them deported.

92
00:13:16.710 –> 00:13:20.390
Molly Griffiths: Or perhaps it’s telling a young insecure teenage girl

93
00:13:20.480 –> 00:13:27.250
Molly Griffiths: that they’re going to post a sex video of her online for everyone at her school to see if she doesn’t do exactly what they say.

94
00:13:27.580 –> 00:13:31.679
Molly Griffiths: These are those psychological abuses that are so powerful.

95
00:13:32.320 –> 00:13:48.149
Molly Griffiths: And here I do want to point out that, according to the federal definition of sex trafficking, these 3 things, force, fraud, and coercion only need to be proved in an adult human trafficking case. Any minor that’s involved in a commercial sex act is a victim of human trafficking automatically.

96
00:13:48.160 –> 00:13:55.939
Molly Griffiths: It doesn’t matter if they’re smiling, or they look like they want to be there. That child needs an adult to stand up for them and do what they cannot.

97
00:13:56.520 –> 00:14:14.460
Molly Griffiths: And this is especially true, because not all victim’s self-identify as victims, they may be completely fooled by their trafficker. They think that this is what love looks like, or this life is all they’re worth. Or maybe one day it will just be the 2 of them living this happy life after this period of time.

98
00:14:14.580 –> 00:14:29.950
Molly Griffiths: That may seem strange to us. But when you consider how entrenched those psychological abuses are, and remember the fact that victims are often young teenage girls, and your average pimp is an older male. This is all too frequent a reality.

99
00:14:30.050 –> 00:14:34.980
Molly Griffiths: It is not the fault of these victims. They have been targeted and manipulated.

100
00:14:36.100 –> 00:14:37.660
Molly Griffiths: And how does that happen.

101
00:14:38.050 –> 00:14:43.770
Molly Griffiths: Traffickers prey upon vulnerabilities, and they frequently target children, using their hopes.

102
00:14:43.830 –> 00:14:51.109
Molly Griffiths: dreams, immaturities, fears, and disappointments as weapons to exploit their bodies for profit.

103
00:14:51.480 –> 00:15:04.450
Molly Griffiths: and while anyone can be susceptible to the forceful and manipulative methods that traffickers use children who are in foster care, or young adults who have recently aged out of foster care. Those experiencing homelessness.

104
00:15:04.640 –> 00:15:05.910
Molly Griffiths: runaways.

105
00:15:06.040 –> 00:15:14.959
Molly Griffiths: LGBTQ youth that may be experiencing pressure or disapproval at home, and people who come from abusive homes are particularly at risk

106
00:15:16.920 –> 00:15:18.380
Molly Griffiths: truth. Number 2.

107
00:15:18.830 –> 00:15:22.449
Molly Griffiths: The reality is that traffickers can be anyone.

108
00:15:22.590 –> 00:15:37.279
Molly Griffiths: even though many of us have a preconceived idea of what a pimp or a trafficker may look like right, especially when I say the word pimp. An image from a movie or media source might come to mind. When you hear that word. The reality is traffickers can be anyone.

109
00:15:38.410 –> 00:15:59.679
Molly Griffiths: just as this crime knows no racial, gender or socioeconomic bounds when it comes to who could be the victims? The same is true when we’re talking about who could be the perpetrators of this crime. You’ll see a snapshot on this slide of some folks who have been arrested on human trafficking charges in the Us. And if you can read any of the headlines, you will see there’s a former firefighter.

110
00:16:00.140 –> 00:16:01.340
Molly Griffiths: a teacher.

111
00:16:01.650 –> 00:16:03.259
Molly Griffiths: an army veteran.

112
00:16:03.560 –> 00:16:05.290
Molly Griffiths: even a diplomat.

113
00:16:06.980 –> 00:16:11.639
Molly Griffiths: And it’s not just the traffickers that are exploiting the victims. It is also the buyers

114
00:16:11.800 –> 00:16:19.690
Molly Griffiths: they are generating the demand for what the traffickers are selling, and we must remember, if there was no buyer there would be no victim.

115
00:16:20.370 –> 00:16:31.590
Molly Griffiths: This issue is central to the fight against trafficking, because we will not make a dent unless we also tackle the issue of demand. Unfortunately, traffickers know that there’s a market for what they’re selling.

116
00:16:31.640 –> 00:16:34.519
Molly Griffiths: If there wasn’t, they would move on and sell something else.

117
00:16:35.000 –> 00:16:51.280
Molly Griffiths: to help address societal attitudes, and to give men, especially tools for understanding how these crimes are linked, and how they can discuss this with other men. They know we created our addressing demand, man to man, video and resources, which I will mention again a bit later in the presentation.

118
00:16:52.620 –> 00:17:13.220
Molly Griffiths: The 3rd truth I want to share with you today is that human trafficking is happening in your backyard. I think we all want to believe that this is something that could never happen in our neighborhood, our town, our city, and that it’s just something that happens in a far-off nation on the other side of the world, or something that only happens in really large cities. But that is just not true.

119
00:17:13.859 –> 00:17:19.939
Molly Griffiths: It took me less than a minute to find these recent headlines, and, as you can see, they’re all over the Us.

120
00:17:20.819 –> 00:17:25.789
Molly Griffiths: And this is also happening in the proverbial backyard of the trucking industry.

121
00:17:26.160 –> 00:17:41.480
Molly Griffiths: Now, if you are familiar with TAT at all, you likely have heard this case study. This is Laura Sorensen and Aldair Hodza, who made national news when they were arrested in January 2015, at a Virginia truck stop where they had parked their RV.

122
00:17:41.960 –> 00:17:52.439
Molly Griffiths: According to the incident, report, officers were called to the scene, and were allowed inside the RV. By the occupants, who said they were just in the area on vacation, visiting Sorenson’s daughter.

123
00:17:52.920 –> 00:18:00.010
Molly Griffiths: The officers, however, noticed that this alleged daughter appeared frightened, and was exhibiting signs of malnutrition.

124
00:18:00.250 –> 00:18:10.370
Molly Griffiths: A State trooper took the young woman outside, separated her from the couple, and she immediately began to weep, and begged the trooper not to make her go back into the RV.

125
00:18:10.930 –> 00:18:17.319
Molly Griffiths: She told the trooper she was being held against her will and had been abused sexually and physically by the suspects.

126
00:18:17.870 –> 00:18:21.299
Molly Griffiths: She also said that the suspects threatened to kill or injure her family.

127
00:18:21.790 –> 00:18:30.559
Molly Griffiths: She said she had infections all over her body and couldn’t remember the last time she had anything to eat or drink, but that at least several days had passed.

128
00:18:31.170 –> 00:18:36.670
Molly Griffiths: After being placed in the ambulance. She told another investigator that the suspects had branded her on her back.

129
00:18:36.830 –> 00:18:41.309
Molly Griffiths: had inflicted Burns on other parts of her body and had lacerated her feet.

130
00:18:41.860 –> 00:18:51.810
Molly Griffiths: She also said that no one back home in Iowa even considered her missing, since the suspects forced her to communicate with family members, telling them that nothing out of the ordinary was taking place.

131
00:18:52.840 –> 00:19:05.499
Molly Griffiths: According to the report, she later told a state police investigator that she was forced to perform a sex act on Hodza in another unknown male that same day, inside that RV at that truck stop parking lot

132
00:19:05.840 –> 00:19:08.869
Molly Griffiths: the encounter had been arranged through a Craigslist Ad.

133
00:19:09.490 –> 00:19:13.329
Molly Griffiths: This is what sex trafficking can look like in our country.

134
00:19:14.320 –> 00:19:28.959
Molly Griffiths: And so, in response to those realities of human trafficking, tap began in 2009, and our mission is to educate, equip, empower, and mobilize members of key industries and agencies to combat human trafficking.

135
00:19:30.230 –> 00:19:39.560
Molly Griffiths: Tet recognized that members of the trucking industry initially, and now the bus and energy industries, as well through their sheer numbers, extensive travels.

136
00:19:39.610 –> 00:20:06.300
Molly Griffiths: and the nature of their jobs, could provide an extra set of eyes and ears for law enforcement in recovering victims and having pimps arrested, especially since in the course of their everyday jobs, professional drivers are often in places where they could potentially come into contact with victims of human trafficking. So, places like truck stops, rest areas, gas stations, hotels and motels. Although the list on the screen here is certainly not exhaustive.

137
00:20:06.570 –> 00:20:16.639
Molly Griffiths: We have to remember that pimps take their victims wherever they can make money. They are always counting on everyone thinking that the person being sold is just a prostitute.

138
00:20:17.580 –> 00:20:27.120
Molly Griffiths: If all drivers were trained, though, and knew what to look for, and had to immediately report it, imagine how many victims would be recovered and pimps arrested.

139
00:20:27.180 –> 00:20:28.939
Molly Griffiths: This is what it’s all about.

140
00:20:29.520 –> 00:20:38.690
Molly Griffiths: TAT has 3 main goals to do this. The 1st is to saturate trucking bus energy and related industries. With our training materials.

141
00:20:39.690 –> 00:20:57.400
Molly Griffiths: You will see on this slide here examples of our free industry, specific training materials, the cornerstone really being our training videos that can easily be implemented into new driver orientation or regular safety trainings. We now have 3 different videos for the trucking industry.

142
00:20:57.550 –> 00:21:06.410
Molly Griffiths: Our original video, which was geared towards over the road drivers. Anyone that’s long hauls stopping at truck stops rest areas.

143
00:21:06.510 –> 00:21:14.530
Molly Griffiths: We also now have a video for local drivers. So those folks in and out of neighborhoods deliver to homes and local businesses.

144
00:21:14.860 –> 00:21:22.329
Molly Griffiths: and a 3rd video for movers and in home delivery professionals. So, any drivers that are actually going into homes.

145
00:21:22.940 –> 00:21:34.360
Molly Griffiths: as you can see on the screen. We also have videos for those in the bus industry. So, we have one specific for motor coach and transit drivers as well as a video for school transportation drivers

146
00:21:34.670 –> 00:21:38.410
Molly Griffiths: and a video for the energy industry as well.

147
00:21:38.540 –> 00:21:55.720
Molly Griffiths: All these videos introduce the topic of trafficking and what that looks like. They provide survivor testimony and gives guidance from law enforcement on how to identify red flags and how to report it to either 911, if they’re seeing a crime in progress or the national human trafficking hotline.

148
00:21:56.080 –> 00:22:23.459
Molly Griffiths: These videos are all very powerful, and it’s a great easy way to get this information across. They are all under 25 min now, and we work with companies like, I said, to make implementing them as easily as possible, whether that’s through a safety meeting online, through TATs website or through a learning management system like Infinit-I’s. So, the great news is that Infinit-I has been a great partner for years, and they’ve had our over the road training

149
00:22:23.660 –> 00:22:43.409
Molly Griffiths: video in their system for many years, but they will soon have some of our other newer courses available also. So that includes the local drivers, movers, energy, school transportation and motor coach. So that is coming very soon, which we are very excited for, and very grateful for Infinit-I’s continued support.

150
00:22:43.690 –> 00:22:49.080
Molly Griffiths: TAT also offers wallet, cards, and window decals, which I’ll talk about in a minute.

151
00:22:49.390 –> 00:23:12.269
Molly Griffiths: posters, brochures, and toolkits. So, if your company takes the training and Infinit-I system, but you want some more of those printed materials, you can just send us an email requesting those, and we would be happy to send them to you again. Everything is free of charge. And you can just email [email protected] on our website to request those.

152
00:23:13.630 –> 00:23:22.019
Molly Griffiths: So along with all of those training videos, we would love to get a wallet card or our app into the hands of as many people as possible.

153
00:23:22.020 –> 00:23:46.989
Molly Griffiths: Both the physical wallet card and the digital smartphone app. List out all of those red flags to look for, including those for sex trafficking which we’re focusing on today, but also for labor trafficking. They list out red flags for drivers who are staying at truck stops those who are home every night, and those for the people that are going into homes, as the red flags are slightly different. But the app is just really a wealth of information.

154
00:23:46.990 –> 00:23:47.660
Molly Griffiths: and

155
00:23:47.690 –> 00:24:12.299
Molly Griffiths: we have links to call 911, and the hotline, if they see something suspicious. There is also a service Provider Directory. So, if they find themselves interacting with the victim and need a service provider in the area, there’s a list of those and other great tools as well. We did update our app earlier this year, so I would encourage all of you to download it or to update it if you’ve had it downloaded previously.

156
00:24:12.660 –> 00:24:34.759
Molly Griffiths: as it’s a really much more robust app than previously, and I would also encourage you to tell your drivers to download this maybe if you have company tablets or phones or devices, this would be a great app to download on those as well, and you can find this again. It’s a free app. Just search for truckers against trafficking or TAT app in your app platform.

157
00:24:36.180 –> 00:25:03.359
Molly Griffiths: We also released a version of our app for Elds called eTAT. So, it has a lot of the same information as our regular app. It lists out all of those red flags to look for just without the data, heavy videos. And we are actually going to have some more resources coming to eTAT. Soon. We went through a rebrand earlier this year. So, we’ll be updating it to look more like our regular app. It will have our new logo and then it will have, you know.

158
00:25:03.440 –> 00:25:14.869
Molly Griffiths: a bunch of the other things that the regular app has just in the form of QR code. So, it’s not going to be using up data. But rather, we’ll have links that the driver can scan a QR code

159
00:25:14.930 –> 00:25:32.180
Molly Griffiths: on their phone, and that will allow them to either call a tip into the hotline or some find some of those videos and resources that I mentioned. So, this is a great tool. If your company has eld in your in your trucks. To reach out, we can send you this free app.

160
00:25:33.380 –> 00:25:48.269
Molly Griffiths: I also want to highlight our window decals, which are stickers for cab windows, and they list the human traffic and hotline numbers for the Us. And Canada. And I’m going to read you just a brief case study involving our window decals because I think it’s a really great example of its use.

161
00:25:48.870 –> 00:25:57.899
Molly Griffiths: So back in 2018, professional driver, Arian Taylor pulled into a California business to make a delivery. At about 3 30 Am.

162
00:25:58.150 –> 00:26:04.209
Molly Griffiths: Shortly after he received a knock on his cab door, where he found a 19-year-old woman standing outside his truck.

163
00:26:04.520 –> 00:26:10.439
Molly Griffiths: As he spoke with her, he learned that her friend’s older boyfriend was trying to force her into prostitution.

164
00:26:10.830 –> 00:26:15.890
Molly Griffiths: After she had refused and argued with him, he dumped her in the parking lot and sped off.

165
00:26:16.400 –> 00:26:26.459
Molly Griffiths: She was cold, exhausted, had no money, no identification, and was carrying everything she owned in her arms, and was desperate to get back home to Denver

166
00:26:26.840 –> 00:26:30.840
Molly Griffiths: at that point, Arian told her. I’m going to find you a way to get you home

167
00:26:31.380 –> 00:26:44.549
Molly Griffiths: after getting her warm in his cab and giving her water to drink, he looked at one of the 2 TAT stickers prominently displayed on his window, which the victim had been eye level with when she knocked on his door and he called the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

168
00:26:44.800 –> 00:26:47.739
Molly Griffiths: They worked with him to secure the woman’s shelter for the night

169
00:26:47.820 –> 00:26:55.809
Molly Griffiths: a prepaid cab ride to that shelter and a chaperone train ride back to Denver the next day, where she was reunited with a family member.

170
00:26:56.430 –> 00:27:03.660
Molly Griffiths: He took care of the woman until she was placed in the cab and even gave her his personal cell phone number in case, she needed anything else.

171
00:27:04.520 –> 00:27:22.729
Molly Griffiths: This is a really great example of how, having tap trained drivers and having signage like this decal around, helped a driver know who to call to get this woman services. The decal on his truck also potentially showed the victim that he was someone that could help. So, it really served as a twofold purpose.

172
00:27:24.590 –> 00:27:36.239
Molly Griffiths: TAT also works extensively with law enforcement and government agencies to facilitate the investigation of human trafficking. Every agency has a role to play in ending this horrible crime.

173
00:27:36.330 –> 00:27:57.699
Molly Griffiths: We firmly believe that trucking and law enforcement need to be partners in closing loophole traffickers. And so, we routinely bring together federal state and local agencies with key industry stakeholders on a routine basis to do just that through our coalition builds. And if you sign up for our newsletter or follow us on our social media channels.

174
00:27:57.750 –> 00:28:08.460
Molly Griffiths: You can learn about these coalition builds. They happen all throughout the year in various places across the country and in Canada. So, sign up, and you can be informed of those in your area.

175
00:28:09.920 –> 00:28:33.119
Molly Griffiths: Tet’s final goal is to marshal the resources of our partners to combat this crime. So, of course. The only way that we can do this work is through our partnerships with trucking, bussing, manufacturing, shipping industries as well as law enforcement, and government agencies, who offer their time, experience, and influence. To further this work. In a number of ways

176
00:28:33.120 –> 00:28:53.079
Molly Griffiths: we are always very grateful to our industry partners who have decided to invest in this work, whether that’s training their own employees or encouraging another key industry stakeholder to become involved with the program or partnering with TAT, to get the word out like hosting this webinar. Today we are continually grateful for those who are helping us move the needle.

177
00:28:53.760 –> 00:29:03.720
Molly Griffiths: and that includes our sponsors. I have to give a quick plug to our driving force in North Star, sponsors, ups Berger, North Foundation and rush truck centers.

178
00:29:03.730 –> 00:29:21.079
Molly Griffiths: as well as all of our corporate sponsors on the screen. Here you’ll just see our gold level and above sponsors, but we are truly grateful for all of our sponsors and all of our partners for allowing us to do this work and helping us offer this this training material to those in the industry for free.

179
00:29:21.810 –> 00:29:27.009
Molly Griffiths: and that includes our private donors as well. Again, our gold level and above donors featured here.

180
00:29:28.730 –> 00:29:46.659
Molly Griffiths: Now, when we talk about making an impact, I want to share that we have now trained over 1.9 million people so far with this material, and not only that, but truck drivers alone, have now made thousands of calls to the national hotline, and those calls have helped recover countless victims.

181
00:29:46.830 –> 00:29:49.170
Molly Griffiths: many of whom were minors

182
00:29:49.350 –> 00:29:59.469
Molly Griffiths: in a 5 year span the national human Trafficking Hotline reported that in over 41% of cases truckers had reported to them involved victims that are minors.

183
00:29:59.790 –> 00:30:19.489
Molly Griffiths: And that is just one small slice of the data pie, right? There’s not really a way currently to track calls made to 911 or to local law enforcement. So, this is likely a lot higher. But this hopefully gives you just an idea of how impactful the trucking bus and energy industries can be in combating this crime.

184
00:30:20.820 –> 00:30:47.279
Molly Griffiths: Ultimately all of this comes back to a risk management approach. And, as we like to say, really making tap part of the safety culture, the company culture of your organization. So, we encourage companies to create a culture that values your truckers against trafficking and those who are doing this work. Your employees are really invaluable in the fight against human trafficking, and so to encourage them in these efforts. Your acknowledgment of the role they play is really important.

185
00:30:47.510 –> 00:31:09.269
Molly Griffiths: and to help you actively seek to recognize these efforts as well as keep this issue front of mind. We have a couple of options here that you might consider adopting 1st and foremost, is always to train your employees with the TAT materials. Again, you can easily do this through Infinit-I system and reach out to us for some of the other materials.

186
00:31:09.850 –> 00:31:32.120
Molly Griffiths: You can adopt an anti-trafficking in persons policy. So, we have sample language around this, as you can see on the screen that we can send you. But it’s essentially a policy that’s on the books that you can implement at your company. That prohibits things like purchasing of commercial sex during company time and using company resources like phones computers.

187
00:31:32.120 –> 00:31:54.130
Molly Griffiths: That seems like it would be a pretty obvious thing. But we find that most companies do not actually have anything on the books that prohibits this. And most studies around this topic actually show that people are purchasing commercial sex during work hours. So, this is a really easy, simple way that you can get a policy on your books to show your employees what your stance is on human trafficking.

188
00:31:54.550 –> 00:32:05.369
Molly Griffiths: You can help make TAT part of the safety culture at your organization like I mentioned, and one great way to do that is to ensure that TAT that your drivers

189
00:32:05.370 –> 00:32:30.340
Molly Griffiths: know, to let you know, or their supervisor know, if they have made a call to the hotline or to 911, so you can consider nominating them for our yearly Harriet Tubman award, in 2013 Tac created this award to honor members of the trucking industry whose direct actions impacted those victimized by human trafficking. That award has now been expanded to include members of the bus and energy sectors as well.

190
00:32:30.340 –> 00:32:48.170
Molly Griffiths: and we had winners from all of those various sectors, truck stop employees, truck drivers, bus employees. The goal is really to recognize those whose actions helped recover the exploited, improve the lives of victims, or prevent human trafficking from taking place.

191
00:32:48.420 –> 00:33:01.579
Molly Griffiths: The winner of this award gets $5,000 in a prize package courtesy of our partners at progressive commercial. And it’s really just a great way to shine a spotlight on the industry and honor folks who have made a difference.

192
00:33:02.900 –> 00:33:28.550
Molly Griffiths: because all of these efforts ultimately bring it back to the folks that you see here on the screen, and the millions of men and women like them, that diligently and safely deliver products throughout our nation. All of the people that you see here are changemakers, and Harriet Tubman award winners whose direct action helped change a life. They all have really incredible stories. You can read more about them and others on our website.

193
00:33:28.900 –> 00:33:33.120
Molly Griffiths: But I’d like to call your attention today to the guy in the top right?

194
00:33:33.570 –> 00:33:45.269
Molly Griffiths: This is former Conway truckload driver, Kevin Kimmel, who just happened to be at the same truck, stop that! Laura Sorensen and Aldair Hodza pulled their RV back in January 2015,

195
00:33:45.270 –> 00:34:11.939
Molly Griffiths: Kevin noticed a couple suspicious behaviors, such as Hodza, going back and forth from the Rv. To the Convenience store, a lot and different men knocking on the door, but it was really when he saw what looked like a young woman try to stick her head out the window, only to have it snapped back that he realized something was seriously wrong with the situation. I’m going to play a short video clip now where Kevin tells his story.

196
00:34:26.270 –> 00:34:28.999
Molly Griffiths: I finished up night deliveries early in the morning

197
00:34:29.380 –> 00:34:34.750
Molly Griffiths: ended up finding a truck stop about 40 miles outside of Richmond, Virginia, to take my 10 h break.

198
00:34:35.530 –> 00:34:39.429
Molly Griffiths: so I was filling out my paperwork and 2 slaps over. There was an Rv.

199
00:34:39.460 –> 00:34:47.740
Molly Griffiths: This one was back in a truck lot and it didn’t look typical. It was kind of beat up, had black curtains. I saw a middle aged man walk out and knock on the door.

200
00:34:48.159 –> 00:34:52.350
Molly Griffiths: Well, the door opens, he goes in, and I’m still filling my paperwork out.

201
00:34:52.480 –> 00:34:56.819
Molly Griffiths: And I looked over, and I saw what looked to me to be a young girl. Look out!

202
00:34:57.470 –> 00:34:58.619
Molly Griffiths: And then she vanished

203
00:34:58.950 –> 00:35:02.170
Molly Griffiths: like she was pulled away from the window, and the curtain was pushed back over.

204
00:35:02.800 –> 00:35:05.559
Molly Griffiths: And I thought, you know, this is a bad situation here.

205
00:35:06.280 –> 00:35:12.039
Molly Griffiths: Nothing was reminding me of what a family situation would be, and I thought about it another couple minutes, and I said, you know.

206
00:35:12.240 –> 00:35:14.769
Molly Griffiths: this could be something pretty ominous.

207
00:35:15.110 –> 00:35:17.249
Molly Griffiths: and so I just got the smartphone out.

208
00:35:17.310 –> 00:35:21.350
Molly Griffiths: gave him a call, and told him where I was and what I thought might be going on.

209
00:35:22.180 –> 00:35:27.050
Molly Griffiths: and not 5 min later 2 sheriff vehicles and 2 State troopers pulled in.

210
00:35:27.810 –> 00:35:28.930
Molly Griffiths: and from there

211
00:35:29.750 –> 00:35:30.859
Molly Griffiths: kind of unwound.

212
00:35:34.100 –> 00:35:38.659
Molly Griffiths: I feel real good about being able to put 2 people in prison that don’t need to be out floating around.

213
00:35:42.420 –> 00:35:51.840
Molly Griffiths: You know. Traffickers have done an amazing job convincing us that she’s just a prostitute, and that we should just turn and look the other way.

214
00:35:52.110 –> 00:36:13.359
Molly Griffiths: And this is a really highly effective business model for them, isn’t it? Because we’re all looking away, and they are effective. They and the buyers are effectively raping America’s women and children and making a ton of money while doing it, and they’ve also convinced us that this problem is too big, too dark, and too heavy for us to do anything about it.

215
00:36:13.560 –> 00:36:15.830
Molly Griffiths: But they are wrong.

216
00:36:16.950 –> 00:36:41.309
Molly Griffiths: If traffickers count on our ignorance and our apathy that nobody knows, and nobody cares enough to do anything about this. Then we must know, and we must care, and time and time again, history has borne this out. History has shown that when good men and good women do care and do know and get involved, they can actually change a person’s life.

217
00:36:43.060 –> 00:36:47.500
Molly Griffiths: Truckers against trafficking is like the glue that’s going to bond the industry.

218
00:36:47.720 –> 00:36:54.459
Molly Griffiths: You guys are the ones that are putting out the materials. You’re putting out all the information. Everybody’s got smartphones now, everybody’s on Facebook.

219
00:36:54.860 –> 00:36:59.950
Molly Griffiths: I mean, just a sheer barrage of the information has done nothing but good.

220
00:37:00.190 –> 00:37:05.719
Molly Griffiths: you know. At the end of the day, you get your load there you get it there safe. You get it delivered on time, and maybe you save somebody’s life.

221
00:37:08.520 –> 00:37:09.930
Molly Griffiths: What I’ve learned is

222
00:37:10.150 –> 00:37:12.489
Molly Griffiths: human trafficking is a huge problem.

223
00:37:12.820 –> 00:37:17.680
Molly Griffiths: you know. And now I have an understanding. There’s an oppressor. There’s the oppressed.

224
00:37:17.800 –> 00:37:25.410
Molly Griffiths: and they’re not doing this to make money for college, or whatever your thought might be. They’re doing this

225
00:37:25.600 –> 00:37:26.840
Molly Griffiths: to stay alive

226
00:37:27.130 –> 00:37:29.869
Molly Griffiths: because there’s somebody on the other end of it forcing it.

227
00:37:31.680 –> 00:37:57.279
Molly Griffiths: That’s the power of the trucking industry. That’s the power of someone who has the courage to take a second look. And that’s what trucking is able to do. That’s what taxi drivers or bus drivers or law enforcement personnel or hotel workers, whoever you may be, wherever you are. If you take that second look, then, what you’re able to do by getting involved is you are effectively helping to change a life.

228
00:37:57.620 –> 00:37:59.120
Molly Griffiths: What we’re asking for.

229
00:37:59.550 –> 00:38:02.390
Molly Griffiths: you know, Kevin Kimmel had the courage to look again.

230
00:38:02.780 –> 00:38:13.959
Molly Griffiths: Kevin Kimmel recognized. You know what? There’s something not right. And he had the courage to make a call and get involved. And now he’s helped unlock her pathway back to freedom.

231
00:38:18.620 –> 00:38:26.490
Molly Griffiths: no matter what it may look like on the outside, no matter what it may seem like that moment in that parking lot, or wherever you may be.

232
00:38:27.000 –> 00:38:39.390
Molly Griffiths: Person is a human being. She’s so much more. She is not just a victim in that moment, but she is a survivor. She is an overcomer; she is somebody that has a future.

233
00:38:39.610 –> 00:38:46.500
Molly Griffiths: and we need the courage to look again. We need the courage to see that our actions in this moment

234
00:38:46.590 –> 00:38:49.349
Molly Griffiths: will unlock the path to her freedom.

235
00:38:52.730 –> 00:38:58.029
Molly Griffiths: Well, I got a call from the State police. They wanted to know if I could give my phone number to her. And I said, Yeah, that’d be fine.

236
00:38:58.220 –> 00:38:59.880
Molly Griffiths: And I think she was still in the hospital.

237
00:39:00.500 –> 00:39:03.320
Molly Griffiths: and she told me how much she appreciated it.

238
00:39:03.790 –> 00:39:07.920
Molly Griffiths: and she said something to the regards of a guardian angel. And it’s like.

239
00:39:07.980 –> 00:39:10.249
Molly Griffiths: No, that’s not the case. No.

240
00:39:10.600 –> 00:39:19.029
Molly Griffiths: I just made a phone call, and I’m glad I could help you, and I hope you go on and have a healthy, you know, a healthy and happy life. Try to put this thing behind you.

241
00:39:21.120 –> 00:39:24.570
Molly Griffiths: We need to get back to a place where somebody is in need

242
00:39:25.160 –> 00:39:26.080
Molly Griffiths: we step up to.

243
00:39:27.020 –> 00:39:30.209
Molly Griffiths: There’s a lot of things in life that aren’t so obvious.

244
00:39:30.970 –> 00:39:32.100
Molly Griffiths: This isn’t 1 of them.

245
00:39:46.200 –> 00:39:49.429
Molly Griffiths: My name’s Kevin Kimmel, and I’m a trucker against trafficking

246
00:40:02.360 –> 00:40:16.119
Molly Griffiths: so as you could hopefully hear in that video today. Thanks to Kevin’s call, that young woman is back home with her family in Iowa, and Sorenson and Hodza were sentenced to 40 and 41 years in prison.

247
00:40:16.740 –> 00:40:22.970
Molly Griffiths: That young woman calls Kevin her guardian angel, and he calls himself a trucker against trafficking.

248
00:40:24.550 –> 00:40:31.960
Molly Griffiths: So I know I’ve been talking for a while about this heavy subject, and you might be thinking, How can I get more involved? What can I do?

249
00:40:32.390 –> 00:41:01.590
Molly Griffiths: 1st and foremost, as I’ve mentioned, train your employees implement this training at your company for your current drivers and your future hires. Again, as I’ve mentioned, we have a few different ways that you can do this, but it is really easy to do an Infinit-I system. The training is always free of charge, and it takes less than half an hour to complete after you implement the training. We ask that you let TAT know how many people that have been through the training by registering as a TAT Trained Company on our website

250
00:41:01.630 –> 00:41:25.290
Molly Griffiths: that greatly helps us track our impact across the nation. And we would love to get your numbers added to that 1.9 million people trained. We’d also ask that you utilize our other training materials in addition to the videos. So, path out, those wallet cards, put window decals in your company trucks, if you’re able to, or your buses, hang posters in your terminals or break rooms.

251
00:41:25.570 –> 00:41:32.470
Molly Griffiths: make sure your drivers know about the TAT app and consider downloading the eTAT app. If you have Elds

252
00:41:33.010 –> 00:41:47.820
Molly Griffiths: in addition to training your drivers, I would also encourage all of you to take the training yourselves. This information in particular, the course that is for local drivers is really applicable to everyone, not just professional drivers.

253
00:41:48.010 –> 00:42:13.260
Molly Griffiths: Most of us are in and out of neighborhoods on our day to day lives. We’re going into local businesses, restaurants, spas, stores. So, take that training and download the free TAT, app yourself, look over those red flag indicators, both for sex trafficking which we focused on today, but also for labor trafficking. And this is especially true. Also, if you travel for business, or you’re on the road a lot in your personal life.

254
00:42:13.570 –> 00:42:19.189
Molly Griffiths: Again. We all have the opportunity to witness this crime, and we can all make a difference in fighting it.

255
00:42:20.030 –> 00:42:40.480
Molly Griffiths: Another way to get more involved is to learn more about the issue of demand. As I mentioned earlier in my presentation, we have a training video and resources to help with this topic. Our addressing demand video is also an Infinit-I system. So, you can check it out there. And you can find the rest of our materials on this topic. On our website

256
00:42:40.550 –> 00:42:46.770
Molly Griffiths: at chat nonprofit.org. We also offer a webinar specific to this topic as well.

257
00:42:47.510 –> 00:43:07.300
Molly Griffiths: I would encourage you to reach out to TAT, to discuss other ways, to get involved. So, this could be implementing that anti trafficking in persons policy that I mentioned, ensuring your drivers receive ongoing training. So, sharing some of those case studies with your drivers at safety meetings which we can send you.

258
00:43:07.350 –> 00:43:12.539
Molly Griffiths: utilizing our social media guides. So, if you have company social media channels.

259
00:43:12.640 –> 00:43:24.010
Molly Griffiths: we have a really great toolkit that has pre-made posts and graphics with some statistics and information that is important to this movement.

260
00:43:24.030 –> 00:43:35.820
Molly Griffiths: You could host a webinar like todays from a series of webinars that we offer on various topics you could induce us, introduce us to another potential partner, which is a great way to get more involved.

261
00:43:36.170 –> 00:44:05.350
Molly Griffiths: and you can keep the tap free resources on hand as well. So, if you go to truck shows or various industry events throughout the year, having some of those wildcards to pass out to your other colleagues is a great way to help spread the message, and we do have a number of other levels of involvement. So we are always really excited to discuss ways that your company can get involved, based on what works best for you and your company. So please don’t hesitate to reach out to start those discussions.

262
00:44:05.740 –> 00:44:29.569
Molly Griffiths: If you are interested in getting involved on a personal level, you could consider volunteering with us so this could be helping out at an event that we need volunteers, for we have what we call our Freedom Drivers Project, which is a renovated show trailer, essentially a museum on wheels, and that tours across the us and Canada. We go to various truck shows throughout the year corporate events, state fairs.

263
00:44:29.750 –> 00:44:54.289
Molly Griffiths: and occasionally we do need volunteers to help. At those events. Another volunteer opportunity can even be done today. This would be for our school transportation program, and it involves using our school transportation outreach toolkit to reach out to your local school district and ask them to implement TATs training for school bus drivers. We all live in a school district, whether we have kids that attend the school or not.

264
00:44:54.460 –> 00:45:15.120
Molly Griffiths: And so this is a really great way to help spread the message locally. So again, it would just be downloading that transportation outreach toolkit on our website. That toolkit has sample verbiage. You can use pre-made letters. So, it involves just finding out who makes those decisions in your school district. Whether that’s the super

265
00:45:15.120 –> 00:45:27.740
Molly Griffiths: superintendent or whoever and sending those letters to that person to encourage them to get in touch for that free school bus driver training. And that’s a fantastic way, like I said, to help TAT reach

266
00:45:27.740 –> 00:45:35.589
Molly Griffiths: a lot of the school districts that we don’t have reach into. We are a relatively small staff, and so that helps us spread the word greatly.

267
00:45:36.640 –> 00:45:47.830
Molly Griffiths: And lastly, I would really encourage you to take this message back home to your dinner tables, talk to your friends, your kids, your gym buddies, your community members about this topic.

268
00:45:47.930 –> 00:45:54.580
Molly Griffiths: Our kids especially, really need to hear what trafficking actually looks like. And they need to hear that from someone they trust.

269
00:45:54.710 –> 00:46:14.849
Molly Griffiths: We do have a few additional new resources that can help. With this. We have some parenting resources on our website, one on how to talk to your kids about human trafficking, one on how to talk to your kids about porn. And then another community resource guide for other ways to get involved and help spread this message in your community.

270
00:46:14.980 –> 00:46:20.760
Molly Griffiths: Again, you can find those on our website, or you can email us to send a Pdf copy to you.

271
00:46:22.870 –> 00:46:32.030
Molly Griffiths: Human trafficking is really one of the greatest human rights violations of our time, and while the majority of people desire to make an impact with their lives.

272
00:46:32.030 –> 00:46:55.499
Molly Griffiths: to go beyond the bottom line and ensure that their careers affect lasting change for the good. Not everyone is always in a position to make that a reality. But the trucking bus and related industries are TAT is working. The industry is rallying around this cause and proving that they are leaders in this fight. We are creating positive systems change that is having a measurable impact.

273
00:46:55.590 –> 00:47:00.350
Molly Griffiths: So, I hope I’ve empowered you to understand our mission and methods a bit more.

274
00:47:00.360 –> 00:47:10.109
Molly Griffiths: and I hope that you can continue to find your own ways to share this information with others and help build us. Help us build this mobile army.

275
00:47:10.560 –> 00:47:21.809
Molly Griffiths: Thank you so much for having me today. I’m happy to answer the questions you have. If any have come up either now or offline. If you want to write down my contact information.

276
00:47:22.980 –> 00:47:25.460
Steve Kessler: Molly, thank you so much.

277
00:47:25.700 –> 00:47:33.773
Steve Kessler: Wow, there’s a whole lot more involved here than I guess I realized. And things are changing. And you guys have responded

278
00:47:34.160 –> 00:47:42.739
Steve Kessler: to the way things have changed over time, a couple of questions that popped into my mind. You know, one of the things that I know

279
00:47:42.930 –> 00:47:51.179
Steve Kessler: happens with human beings is they hesitate to do something. I don’t want to get involved. I don’t have time.

280
00:47:51.230 –> 00:47:53.885
Steve Kessler: you know. What do you say to somebody. If

281
00:47:55.110 –> 00:47:56.450
Steve Kessler: that says

282
00:47:56.490 –> 00:47:59.670
Steve Kessler: you know what if I turn in something and I’m wrong.

283
00:48:00.080 –> 00:48:12.769
Steve Kessler: or if I do, and there, there’s a crime that’s been committed? Am I going to have to go to court and testify, and all that? Curious of what your reply would be.

284
00:48:13.690 –> 00:48:37.329
Molly Griffiths: Yeah, that’s a great question. We always say that it is much better to report something that you think is potentially human trafficking than to not report it and have that person continue to go through those experiences. Kind of the protocol I would say. That’s best to follow is, if you are witnessing a crime

285
00:48:37.360 –> 00:48:53.319
Molly Griffiths: in real time. We always say to call 911 1st report, that that crime time is really of the essence in these cases because oftentimes victims are moved from place to place. So they don’t know where to go for help. So

286
00:48:53.440 –> 00:48:55.410
Molly Griffiths: call 9 1 1 report that

287
00:48:55.570 –> 00:49:24.800
Molly Griffiths: if it is someone that is unsure. What they’re looking at. They think maybe this is something suspicious, but they aren’t quite sure they can always call that national human trafficking hotline number to work through that with a representative on the phone. They are run 24, 7, and they have those folks available to help answer questions, and determine if it might be trafficking, and if they do determine that they will likely ask the driver to hang up with them and call that into 9, 1 1

288
00:49:24.800 –> 00:49:54.759
Molly Griffiths: and so that’s why 9. 1 is always the best, the best place to call first.st But if you aren’t really sure you just think something’s off. That is what they’re there to do their help. They’re there to help answer questions, and it is all anonymous. So, a driver does not have to provide their own information, their personal information if they don’t want to. And so, it is a really easy lift to call. You can also text or submit something online to get that information into the right hands without it, you know.

289
00:49:54.810 –> 00:50:07.319
Molly Griffiths: making you do anything more. We are not trying to have drivers get involved. You know we don’t want them to go up to the driver and confront them in any way, or excuse me to go up to the trafficker and confront them in any way

290
00:50:07.370 –> 00:50:31.459
Molly Griffiths: that could be potentially dangerous for the driver. It could be dangerous for the victim, and that could also potentially lead to issues in the investigation. So, all we are doing is asking them to make the call from the anonymity of their cab. So, it’s a really easy thing to do. It’s okay. If they’re wrong, if they call it in, and it turns out to not be trafficking, it’s just a couple minutes wasted. But if they are right.

291
00:50:31.860 –> 00:50:35.259
Molly Griffiths: that has huge impact on the lives of many.

292
00:50:36.540 –> 00:50:49.390
Steve Kessler: Very true. So better safe than sorry, you know. If you think something’s going on, go ahead and say something one of the things that that I wanted to make sure everybody understood and thank you so much for all

293
00:50:49.440 –> 00:50:52.000
Steve Kessler: kind things you said about our company is

294
00:50:52.673 –> 00:50:59.369
Steve Kessler: we do have or will have all of the updated materials that you mentioned. So, we’ll

295
00:50:59.420 –> 00:51:09.860
Steve Kessler: in fact, our company. We do business with all these different types of companies. So, over the road local, the movers, energy motor code schools.

296
00:51:10.180 –> 00:51:13.850
Steve Kessler: all of that content will be available in our system.

297
00:51:14.270 –> 00:51:17.819
Steve Kessler: I do want to let everybody know

298
00:51:17.890 –> 00:51:19.889
Steve Kessler: that if you

299
00:51:20.000 –> 00:51:28.479
Steve Kessler: want to get some information or want to understand how to get access to the content. So, if you want to do your part

300
00:51:29.085 –> 00:51:44.529
Steve Kessler: just give us a yes or no. Here we’ll reach out and help you get the content. If you don’t have it, we’ll tell you how you can access it, even if you’re not a current customer. We have a special place set up

301
00:51:44.530 –> 00:52:00.730
Steve Kessler: for anybody to do the training free so you can assign it out. Make sure all your drivers and other employees get the content. You’ll know that they’ve looked at it. Then they’ll have a little certificate at the end that says that they took the training. So

302
00:52:01.840 –> 00:52:09.590
Steve Kessler: One last thing I’m going to recommend all of our customers and prospects out there is, I think, this content

303
00:52:09.610 –> 00:52:21.780
Steve Kessler: should be something that’s done at every single new driver. New employee orientation. When you bring on a new person. This should be part of your orientation content.

304
00:52:21.810 –> 00:52:27.310
Steve Kessler: and then I would highly recommend that this be repeated annually, at least

305
00:52:27.410 –> 00:52:29.660
Steve Kessler: for every person in the company.

306
00:52:30.520 –> 00:52:38.379
Steve Kessler: Our LMS. Makes that real easy. You can set it up one time, and it’ll repeat annually until you turn it off. So.

307
00:52:39.530 –> 00:52:46.449
Steve Kessler: anyway, thanks to you, Molly, for joining us today is really fantastic information.

308
00:52:46.620 –> 00:52:58.189
Steve Kessler: Oh, by the way, I wanted to ask if they want to get the app, you can also get that at the app store or the play store. The different places where we all go to get apps. Is that correct?

309
00:52:58.430 –> 00:53:04.789
Molly Griffiths: That is correct. Yep, it’s a free app. So just search for truckers against trafficking or chat. And that should pop right up for you and.

310
00:53:04.790 –> 00:53:05.620
Steve Kessler: Very good.

311
00:53:05.620 –> 00:53:09.119
Molly Griffiths: Just finding it feel free to reach out to us, and we can send you the link.

312
00:53:10.260 –> 00:53:26.100
Steve Kessler: Very good once again, Molly. Thank you so much for joining us, and I’ll remind everybody that we’ll be sending out an email with a link to this this webinar that was recorded. Please share it with friends, family, anybody that you know.

313
00:53:26.120 –> 00:53:29.369
Steve Kessler: to make sure we can all be part of this. So.

314
00:53:29.370 –> 00:53:34.339
Mark Rhea: Eva. I’d like to challenge everybody to send a quick chat message to Molly, thanking her and

315
00:53:34.450 –> 00:53:38.076
Mark Rhea: and communicating their support for her

316
00:53:38.560 –> 00:53:56.630
Mark Rhea: truckers against trapping. This was you empowered me. I don’t know. I can’t speak for the other people, but you certainly got at least one person empowered in your presentation. So, if you’re still on, throw a big thank you, and a and a comment of support to Molly on the chat line. Thank you all very much.

317
00:53:56.900 –> 00:54:00.860
Steve Kessler: Yeah, I see a lot of people jumping on. So, it was very much appreciated

318
00:54:01.242 –> 00:54:20.999
Steve Kessler: Molly. And we’re going to have you back as you continue to develop all this stuff, we want to remind everybody every year, so I’ll hope to have you join us on another webinar at least soon. So, thank you much, Molly. Appreciate it. Thanks to everybody that joined us.

319
00:54:21.200 –> 00:54:24.829
Steve Kessler: Thank you. Look forward to having you on our next program. Thanks, Molly.

320
00:54:24.830 –> 00:54:26.740
Molly Griffiths: Greatly appreciate it. Thanks all.

321
00:54:26.740 –> 00:54:28.219
Steve Kessler: Alright, bye.