Human trafficking awareness event planned Jan. 31 in Hyannis
Ten years ago, while working with international students, Inna Taylor encountered human trafficking on Cape Cod. She later went to Moldova and Ukraine to make a documentary on human trafficking in the former Soviet Union and that's how her journey to raise awareness about human trafficking began.
Taylor, along with her husband Andrew, started a nonprofit Changing the World.
Great Awakening Coffee House, in partnership with Changing The World, is hosting its 3rd annual Human Trafficking Awareness Event on Wednesday in Hyannis.
The event starts at 6 p.m. at the coffee house at 20 Independence Drive, Unit B.
At this year's event, Robin Levasseur, a human trafficking survivor, will share her own journey and experiences at her talk, "A Story of Hope with Robin Levasseur." Levasseur is a survivor of 20 years of commercial sex trafficking, domestic violence, homelessness and drug addiction.
"We'll have local nonprofits who are involved in education, awareness or communication about human trafficking at the event, and they'll be introducing their work in the community and beyond," said Inna Taylor.
After the keynote speech, there will be a panel discussion with local leaders in the community including a local trafficking survivor, members of the Barnstable Police Department, and one of the prosecutors from Cape & Islands District Attorney's office.
The event will be both in-person and livestreamed on Facebook.
Gov. Maura Healey's administration has been leading the charge against human trafficking and other crimes against women. Yesterday, the administration announced awards through two grant programs that it says will enhance enforcement and victim services for survivors of human trafficking, domestic and sexual violence, and stalking.
Through a human trafficking grant program six district attorney's offices received grants totaling $472,428, a press release from the administration said. That state grant program, now in its second year, was designed to support prosecutors’ efforts to combat human trafficking and enhance their capacity to identify, assist, and provide referral services to those most hurt by the practices.
The office of Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois received $97,051 from the program
The administration also said $3.3 million in federal funding was awarded to 43 state, local, and nonprofit agencies through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant program. Agencies which were selected to receive awards in 2022 were invited to apply for continued funding. The recipients are eligible for up to two additional years of funding, which is provided through the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance.
From the VAWA grant program, the Mashpee Police Department received $62,431 and the Yarmouth Police Department got $74,438.
Victims service agency Independence House Inc of Hyannis received $134,924. The Martha's Vineyard Community Center in Vineyard Haven received $37,243.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Hyannis coffee shop to host human trafficking awareness event Jan. 31
