HUMAN TRAFFICKING
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
On Saturday, November 16th LaShawndra Vernon, Dr. Debbie Lassiter, Nancy Yarbrough and Freida Pinto discussed the complex issue of human trafficking.
MEET THE PANELISTS
About Lashawndra Vernon
LaShawndra Vernon is a creative entrepreneur focused on improving quality of life, creative place making and advocating for international human rights. She has over 15 years of in and out of school time education experience working as a special education paraprofessional and managing Milwaukee Summer Stars recreation sites in Milwaukee County parks and schools. Her work is focused on developing programs with an equity lens. LaShawndra is a transformational mediator with practices informed by United Nations treaties and sustainability goals.
About Freida Pinto
Actress and Activist, Freida Pinto, is known for acclaimed films such as ‘Slumdog Millionaire,' 'Trishna,’ 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes,' 'Desert Dancer,' ‘Knight of Cups.’ Her upcoming films include Ron Howard’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ ‘Love, Wedding, Repeat,’ ‘Only,’ John Ridley’s ‘Needle in a Timestack,’ and a very timely and hard-hitting film on the world of global human trafficking, 'Love Sonia'. She has been involved with Girl Rising for 4 years.
About Nancy Yarbrough
Ms. Nancy Yarbrough is a Social Justice Activist, Victim Advocate, and Founder- Executive Director of Fresh Start Learning, Inc., (FSL) located in the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nancy knows firsthand that diminishing sex trafficking not only involves providing outreach and direct services to victims and survivors, but also creating widespread community awareness of the reality of sex trafficking.
Fresh Start Learning, Inc., is a 10 plus-year-old community-based organization that provides comprehensive, outreach and supportive services for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
About Debbie Lassiter
Dr Debbie Lassiter is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Convergence Resource Center. Dr Lassiter has provided support and mentorship to men and women rebuilding their lives after trauma for over 40 years. In 2012 Dr. Lassiter launched the Human and Sex Trafficking Support Initiative and began hosting community awareness events. In 2013 she led the collaboration to present The Epidemic and The Game – an annual community awareness event focusing on human trafficking highlighting a specific topic.
