A TAT sponsor for five years, Howes Products is serious about increasing human trafficking awareness. In the past few months, they have inducted TAT into the Howes Hall of Fame as the first inductee of 2021; they’ve arranged for TAT to be interviewed on two significant trucker radio shows as well as written up in print media; they’ve increased their TAT sponsorship level from Silver to Gold, making sure their donation is given in time for TAT’s $120,000 matching grant fundraiser; and they’ve used their influence in Rhode Island to talk about TAT to their own customers and their state’s CDL schools.

“We are truly honored and inspired by our induction into the Howes Hall of Fame,” said Kylla Lanier, TAT’s deputy director. “This is one more way in which our partners at Howes have shown their dedication to raising awareness about human trafficking and leveraging their networks on TAT’s behalf. Throughout the years we’ve worked with Howes, their heart for the victims of this crime has been evident both at a personal and corporate level. With more and more truckers getting involved each day, we genuinely appreciate the recognition by Howes, as it shines a light that will serve to draw in even more drivers, growing our network of eyes and ears even further in pursuit of our goal to eradicate human trafficking.”

“We are in awe of the incredible work being done by Truckers Against Trafficking and are truly honored to induct them into our Howes Hall of Fame,” commented Erika Howes, VP of Business Development at Howes Products. “With around 3,000 hotline calls having been made and over 1,300 victims having been identified so far, it is easy to see the real impact Truckers Against Trafficking is making. We invite everyone in the trucking and related industries to take action, get certified and become an everyday hero.”

The Howes Hall of Fame serves as a platform for Howes to acknowledge and thank all the great work that has, and does, go into the trucking and agricultural industries. With the goal of recognizing unique achievements across a broad spectrum of categories, the Hall provides a showcase that will live on for generations. The Howes Hall of Fame officially launched in 2020 as part of the Howes Family’s celebration of 100 years in business. It can be viewed now at www.howesproducts.com/HOF.

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 100 people gathered in Meridian, Idaho on Oct. 7 for TAT’s first Coalition Build (CB) in that state.

Co-hosted by the Idaho Trucking Association, Idaho State Police, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Transportation Department and TAT, the event drew Idaho Governor Brad Little and worked to help participants identify ways to partner together to combat human trafficking. Participants included law enforcement, government personnel and key industry representatives from trucking, bus and transit, along with employees from social service agencies.

As a result of the CB, law enforcement, industry and local transit agencies have committed to training their staff over the next few months. The Boise Police Department will be sharing materials from TAT and Busing on the Lookout (BOTL) with local bus and trucking companies, and Debbie Maxwell, from Treasure Valley Transit, held a training later in the month, which included members from the Idaho Anti-Trafficking Coalition. Maxwell said, "Treasure Valley Transit is committed to dedicating a portion of each safety meeting over the next year to human trafficking awareness."

Idaho has already adopted the full Iowa MVE model. The Idaho Transportation Department stocks ports of entry with TAT materials, and the Idaho Department of Education is introducing all bus drivers to BOTL materials by coordinating with the proper agencies.

Survey results generated positive comments about the speakers and the effectiveness of the training.

Colonialism has been a major contributing factor to the presence and growth of human trafficking in Canada, especially among the Indigenous population, according to the 2019-2020 report on human trafficking published by the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking.

To explore this topic, TAT hosted a virtual webinar on Oct. 26 called Connecting the Dots, with speakers and panelists which included Indigenous survivors and those who work directly with this population. Speaking at the webinar were Candice Shaw, executive director of the Ottawa Rape Crisis Center (ORCC), and Shelagh Roxburgh, senior analyst for the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, with panel members Kayla Spagnoli and Veronica Spade from Minwaashin Lodge, and Bryanna Brown, survivor-advocate.

One of the 109 webinar participants, Kavita Ambu, the Safety and Compliance Administration supervisor for Wesbell Logistics, said, “I believe the panel that presented today did an exceptional job of recognizing that colonialism and Indigenous rights are still something we are fighting against today. They also reframed the lens through which individuals may view Indigenous peoples, based on a bias that may have been taught to them at an early age through history books/education systems. They recognized that violence towards the Indigenous community has deep roots, but it is possible for change … and to realize that trafficking is not just what you see in movies/tv-shows; it could be something as modern as getting an invitation to network in the modeling industry through your Instagram DMS. It does not just have to be getting picked up on the side of the road, but instead can be using technology and social media to access and target vulnerable populations easily. Therefore, it is now more important than ever to recognize the signs of trafficking and be aware of the resources available to you.”

When surveyed, 100 percent of participants said they learned more about some of the unique challenges Indigenous survivors face and that they’d recommend the training to others. The action steps they’d consider taking included continuing to learn about indigenous experiences and colonialism, sharing this information with their company or agency, considering supporting local indigenous organizations and advocating for government to implement the TRC and MMIWG calls.

Speakers and panelists provided information from personal experience and resources including the UCLA Law Review, Human Rights Watch and the Canadian Journal of Women and Law. They shared action steps people can take, such as ONN – 5 ways your nonprofit can take action now to support Indigenous communities and TVO - Five ways you can put the ‘calls for justice’ from the MMIWG report into action. But Roxburgh stressed, “Though many people may be asking for clearer direction regarding what they can do, the reality is that much of the work has to begin with learning and unlearning. As is often stressed, truth comes before reconciliation, so, overall, my recommendation is to emphasize education and reflection over action as the starting point.”

Resources they recommended included Imagining a Better Future: An Introduction to Teaching and Learning about Settler Colonialism in Canada, Fem North Net – Colonialism and its impacts, KAIROS MMIWG Info-Hub – Films and Documentaries, National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Institutional, Knowledge Keeper & Expert Hearings and 16 resources to help settlers understand and advance Indigenous reconciliation.

Berger North is offering TAT a $120,000 matching grant if we can raise that amount by year’s end. Won’t you help us? Double your donation by giving now.

Read more here from Polaris: https://polarisproject.org/blog/2021/01/human-trafficking-does-not-happen-in-a-vacuum/

Nov. 2 – Illinois Coalition Build, Bloomington, IL, FDP and Susan Dold, TAT systems administrator, attending; Esther Goetsch, CB director, and Beth Jacobs, TAT field trainer, presenting

Nov. 2 – Sold virtual conference, Laura Cyrus, Corporate Engagement director, presenting 

Nov. 4-5 – Atlas World Group Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX, Laura Cyrus, Corporate Engagement director, presenting 

Nov. 8 – FDP at UPS, Commerce City, CO, Brandy Belton, FDP director, and Susan Dold, TAT systems administrator, presenting

Nov. 8 – Kriska Transportation, Canada, Liz Williamson, TAT training specialist and survivor-advocate, presenting virtually to driver fleet

Nov. 9 – Fall 2021 Let’s Talk about Forced Labor virtual workshop of the University of Arkansas, sponsored by J.B. Hunt, with Greer Woodruff, senior vice president of Safety, Security and Driver Personnel at J. B. Hunt, John Kimzey, driver/mentor, Kendis Paris, TAT executive director, and Liz Williamson, TAT training specialist and survivor-advocate, presenting

Nov. 10 – Zonta Group of Lamar, virtual, Louis Greek, TAT training specialist, presenting

Nov. 10-11 – Protective Insurance Claims and Safety Seminar, Carmel, IN, Laura Cyrus, Corporate Engagement director, presenting 

Nov. 10 – Southeast Virtual Truck Stop Training, Louie Greek, TAT training specialist, and Liz Williamson, TAT training specialist and survivor-advocate, presenting

Nov. 16 – Louisiana Bus and Casino Coalition Build with FDP, Shreveport, LA, Annie Sovick, BOTL director, Louis Greek, TAT training specialist, and Beth Jacobs, TAT training specialist and survivor-advocate, presenting, and Susan Dold, TAT systems administrator, attending

Nov. 23 – Day & Ross, Canada, Liz Williamson, TAT training specialist and survivor-advocate, presenting virtually to driver fleet