By Susie Harvill
Advocates for Freedom, founded in 2010, is a nonprofit organization fighting human trafficking. We are a member of the Mississippi Task Force Council and are working with human trafficking task forces throughout the state. We have worked with legislators to change state laws and give law enforcement tools to bring justice for victims.
We have grown! We now have four strategic regions with directors who are busy training volunteers and speakers all over the state. There is the Gulf Coast Region, the Pine Belt Region (covering south central Mississippi), the Metro Region (covering Jackson and Central Mississippi) and the Crossroads Region (covering north Mississippi).
AFF has three pillars: awareness, education and collaboration. Traveling the state, our team shares information, provides encouragement and empowers people to help end human trafficking. We have presented to thousands of people throughout the South, and our speakers are amazing.
AFF AT A GLANCE
• Helped restore 213 victims
• Promotes the mantra: “If you see something, say something.”
• Encourages people to report possible trafficking to the national hotline: (888) 373-7888.
• Contact Advocates for Freedom at (228) 229-2754 or visit advocatesforfreedom.org to learn more.
Education is key. We have a middle and high school curriculum and an age-appropriate syllabus for preschool. This curriculum empowers our children with knowledge about how to stay safe.
We work with organizations, businesses, churches, law enforcement and nonprofits across Mississippi to disperse needed information, get the work done and help restore victims.
Our blue ribbon pins help unite the nation and remind Mississippians to know the signs of human trafficking and how to report it. Each pin has information that helps spread awareness of the cruelty and trauma of trafficking — a crime that affects all ages, incomes, colors, creeds and classes.
There are more slaves in the world now than at any other time in history. That’s why we, the executive board and our volunteers, give freely of our time, talent and money to the cause of stopping this modern-day slavery. We are dedicated to ending the exploitation, sale and enslavement of men, women and children. Won’t you help us?
Susie Harvill is the CEO and founder of Advocates for Freedom. She can be reached at affstopht@gmail.com or (228)229-2754.