Wednesday November 17th, 2010 - 10:00 am Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office 313 NE 21st St., OKC, OK Oklahoma City, Oklahoma- Nov. 17th, 2010 -  10:00 am - Oklahoma resident will receive award from FBI special agents at the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office this Wednesday morning in recognition of outstanding humanitarian service to his community through efforts in creating the Oklahoma Coalition to fight human trafficking and bring awareness to professionals thoughout the state concerning this crime.

After learning about human trafficking in 2005, Mr. Elam traveled to India, South Asia and the Philippines to work with organizations that rescue girls from sex trafficking. His international organization, Angel Eyes, helps support safe houses and prevention centers in Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines with teams on the ground working to rescue and restore victims of sex trafficking. While raising awareness and support for the global problem, Mr. Elam discovered that human trafficking and child sex trafficking is happening here in America as well.

Mr. Elam visited several of the Dept. of Justice Task Force cities to learn from them what our federal government is doing to combat this problem here in America... and then implemented that plan here in Oklahoma July 2008, forming the Coalition O.A.T.H. - Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans. In the first year of operation O.A.T.H. has partnered with over 80 federal, state and local organizations to service victims of trafficking found here in Oklahoma. In February of 2009 O.A.T.H. was asked to become the state-wide coalition to bring awareness, education and training about the subject of human trafficking and to assist in networking law enforcement agencies, service providers, NGO's, business leaders and the faith community in providing care for trafficking victims.

Additionally Mr. Elam gives oversite to the FBI Human Trafficking Task Force that meets monthly in Oklahoma City and the ICE Human Trafficking Task Force that meets in Tulsa where they are currently working active cases within our Oklahoma boarders. Mark Elam travels throughout the state giving awareness 101 presentations and conducts human trafficking training workshops around the state for law enforcement, DHS, OJA, shelters, health clinics, social workers, college campuses, schools and churches.

The Trafficking In Persons 2010 Report was released June 14 by the US Department of State and for the first time in the 10 years history of reporting the United States has listed itself among the countries being monitored for this crime of modern day slavery. The United States is listed as a source, transit and destination country for men, women, and children. More US citizens, both adult and children are found in sex trafficking than in labor trafficking. US citizen child victims of sex trafficking are often runaway and homeless youth. More Foreign National victims are found in labor trafficking than sex trafficking.

To view the full 373 page report go to:
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2010/142751.htm

A Multidiscipline Response to Labor and Sex Trafficking in Oklahoma

Speakers from around the nation and experts from federal, state and local law enforcement will conduct workshops for professionals and the general public to educate us on what has been happening right here in our own back yard.

Where:
NCED Conference Center
2801 East State Hwy 9
Norman, OK 73071
(405) 447-9000

When:
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
7:00 pm “Call + Response” Screening
8:00 pm Expert Panel Discussion – Community Q&A

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
8:00AM - 5:00PM (Central Time)

Check out our Conference Site for more details...

Washington, DC - March 25 - End Slavery Now (ESN) today announced the successful launch of the New Underground Railroad(NUR), designed to be the world's largest network of volunteers, facilities, service professionals and organizations fighting to end human trafficking. You can use this website to search by city, state or country to find the resources you need.

Lauren Taylor, ESN's founder and president, said: "Historically, the Underground Railroad-and the abolitionists who supported it-operated in secret, because slavery was still legal in southern states. But slavery is now illegal in every country on the planet, so people can be public in joining together to fight human trafficking.

Join up now at: www.newundergroundrailroad.net

Freedom Sunday will be held on February 21, 2010, the first Sunday of the season of Lent. The concept behind Freedom Sunday is to give faith communities encouragement and assistance so that the faithful can worship, intercede, and act with a clear focus on ending slavery in their communities and world.

It was the awareness, passion and faith of one man of God that brought our nation to deal with the injustice of slavery that existed in our in America and ended with a national crisis - Civil War to set the slaves free. Today, more people than ever before are enslaved around the world and right here in America again. Will a man or woman of God stand up and lead our nation to deal with the injustice this time?

Get your church involved on Sunday February 21st. Show the OATH video, pray for the victims of human trafficking to be set free, become a people of God that start a movement in your community!

Order your video and prayer guide now: info@oathcoalition.org

After two years of preparations, Oklahoma's first safe house for human trafficking victims will open in February to adult victims of sex trafficking. It is the first stage in a multiple housing program plan for Oklahoma that will include emergency shelters, safe houses, group homes, transitional living and re-introduction to successful "survivor to thriver" living through safe loving care and support, education, vocational opportunities, professional counseling and case management as well as inner healing through faith in Christ.

Go to All Things New web site to learn more and donate! http://www.allthingsnewcampaign.org/home