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Holiday Newsletter 2009 Happy Holidays! This year has been a busy year and a year of new opportunities. It has also been a difficult year in many respects, but the Institute was able to operate well during this economic downturn. Our education and outreach programs are strong and effective and our work load in outreach is greatly expanding. The Institute is fortunate to have a great group of high school and college volunteers and an active Board of Directors, providing both valuable program assistance and direction, respectively, to help us carry this additional workload. Our national professional training pilot program with the Covenant House is progressing well. The Institute staff trained Covenant House Atlantic City, New Jersey, this past spring and we’re scheduling the next training session for early next year in Here is an excerpt from a letter we received from Covenant House Atlantic City after training their staff: “Dear Alexis, It is with pleasure that I am writing to you today. Covenant House Atlantic City can't begin to thank you again for such an intriguing and educational human trafficking training this past month. The hands on experience that Ed, Frank and you brought to the training was very instrumental in understanding why human trafficking has become such an important topic to bring awareness to. Although human trafficking has gotten more attention in recent years, our young population has been battling this crime for much longer and it is only necessary for our staff to truly understand how our youth are becoming involved in these criminal circles… We truly appreciate your support and are very thankful that you were able to come to Covenant House Sincerely, Veanna Knoeller Covenant House The Institute’s preventative education program, funded through the Connecticut Office of Victim Services, is flourishing. This year, we have reached out to over 550 students and adults in-person. We focus on small classes and groups of adults in order to better facilitate questions and provide attendees with valuable information. For students, this consists of tools on how to avoid sexual predators and traffickers, online and in their communities. For adults, our education program teaches them how trafficking occurs in their communities and how adults can intervene in suspected cases of trafficking, thus becoming the eyes and ears of their community. Here is an excerpt from a letter we received from “Alexis, I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thank you so much for today. Both you and Mr. Barnaba are incredibly special people and I am grateful to have met you both. The forum was very well received despite all we had going on at church today. The statistics and facts were truly sobering. Sincerely, Sandy Clarke” In July, the Institute’s outreach program centered through Outreach through a soup kitchen is a unique program that is proving to be a powerful intervention technique. Outreach staff members have a better opportunity to reach out to youth and young adults who are at-risk or who are being exploited in a safer environment, such as a soup kitchen. Recently, outreach staff members have seen an increase in mothers with very small children. One such woman is Alicia,[1] who gave birth to a healthy baby boy one month ago. Alicia was 2 ½ weeks to her due date when she met outreach staff. She had little but the clothes on her back and was living in a shelter. Her mother, who lived close by, was willing to help watch the baby when it was born, but did not have the money to buy the baby clothing or supplies. Thanks to Julie Riggs and Kathy Molusis (and her friends), both active supporters of the Barnaba Institute, Alicia’s baby boy has bags and bags of new and gently used clothing and baby supplies. And because of generous individual donors like you, the Institute was able to purchase several boxes of diapers to help Alicia. The intergenerational consequences of homelessness, prostitution and trafficking are detrimental to families and communities. But the Barnaba Institute is making a dent in this national issue, one person and one family at a time. But the need is urgent and getting worse and we need your help. The Institute has successfully operated on a smaller scale for the past year, but we see an opportunity in 2010 to expand and grow to meet the increasing needs. The Board[2] of the Barnaba Institute has pooled in excess of $5,000 as a matching challenge to you. Please consider making a donation today (Click here to make an online donation)– in any amount - and your gift will be matched by the Board through December 31st. Appreciated securities are also accepted; please contact Alexis at 860-447-2060 to inquire about this option. Thank you for your time and for your past financial support. Best wishes, Alexis Taylor Litos, Executive Director CWNY Toasts Women in the Anti-Trafficking Movement CWNY Toasts Honorees at Annual Dinner The Center for the Women of New York hosted a celebration of women in leadership last week at the Douglaston Manor. Its 22nd Annual Dinner honored those who have shown an outstanding commitment to women’s rights and have made significant contributions to the community. Two honorees were directly commended for their efforts in the fight against modern day slavery: John Tandana, Vice-President, The United Nations Association-USA-Queens Chapter. The The CWNY believes supporting any cause for women’s rights ultimately supports the battle against human trafficking. “We recognized those who really worked on issues important to the CWNY with direct contact,” said Ann Jawin, founder and chair of the Center for Women, a non-profit organization dedicated to recording and aiding women’s struggles to achieve full equality in our society. It runs a number of programs on economic conditions of women, sex bias in employment, education, women and health, and legislative issues. The other women honored included: Chickie Bucco, President of Katz Direct; Hon. Elizabeth Crowley, NYC Councilwoman, District 30; Maxine Dangler, President Women’s Group, Unitarian Universalist Congregation; Patricia Mahecha, President, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Queens; Holly Park, Associate Broker Women weren’t the only ones in the limelight. The CWNY recognized the men who support our efforts with “Good Guy Awards.” Michael K. Grady, M.D., MBA, Vice-President, “When we started the organization, it was a different time,” said Jawin. “Women had lots of obstacles and had personal difficulty challenging the status quo. So it was important that men were supportive. We are grateful for the men who support our cause.” By Tanya Benedicto November 2009 Fair Trade Month October is Fair Trade Month, which celebrates the organized social movement promoting rights and assistance for producers in underdeveloped countries. It advocates for higher wages and an improved standard of living for producers; especially those who export handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, fresh fruit, chocolate and flowers. Supporters purchase goods that are Fair Trade Certified, which ensures the good was produced under agreeable conditions. This movement ultimately impacts the victims of human trafficking. Those who recognize Fair Trade Month can explore how consumers can go the extra mile by ensuring that Free Trade goods are available in their local grocers and propose necessary legislation to their government or write to retailers. In addition, the Fair Trade Month website (http://www.fairtrademonth.org) posts a new fact each day and an easy way to support the movement. For example, today’s suggestion is to host a Fair Trade Coffee Cupping Event. These small acts can go a long way in the lives of farmers but it ultimately paves a way for victims to escape human trafficking. With farms adhering to fair wages and workers rights, local women are able to work in safe and sustainable work environments. The Emancipation Network’s ( By promoting the Fair Trade movement and purchasing certified goods, consumers can improve the communities and livelihoods of farm communities in underdevloped countries. This ultimately combats poverty, one of the strongest contributing factors to human trafficking. By Tanya Benedicto (10/15/09) |