BCD's meet with Mayor Chris Bollwage

Last week, ten of our Campus Ministers who are known as Benedictine Cor Defenders met with Mayor Bollwage to discuss their continued desire to help raise awareness against the dangers of human trafficking, modern day slavery in our country.  According to the President's Advisory Council, "the Mayor's Offices plays a pivotal role to oversee the work of law enforcement in their towns and counties, but also have important convening power at the local level." 

Education is the key to keep our young people safe. It has been said, "knowledge is power".   Human Trafficking is the second fastest growing crime in our country.  It can happen anywhere to anyone.  It knows no race, creed, gender, nationality, or geographic locale. The Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives have an informative age-sensitive educational curriculum that draws upon the lessons of history to empower our young people to not be deceived and to take action to keep others safe.  

There is a program that shares, "If you See Something, Say Something."  If you see any of the warning signs, there is a 24 hour National Hotline Number for anonymous tips and or resources.
Simply Call:  1-888-3737-888 .

GOVERNOR CHRISTIE SIGNS BILL

  Dear Benedictine Academy,

We did it! Thanks to your support, we helped pass a stronger anti-trafficking law in New Jersey that helps survivors of all forms of human trafficking.Kate Keisel, Director of Polaris Project New Jersey

Christie signs sweeping human trafficking bill into law

Posted by: Jerry DeMarco       Posted date:  May 6, 2013 Cliffviewpilot.com

http://cliffviewpilot.com/christie-signs-sweeping-human-trafficking-bill-into-law/

 "Chris Christie today signed a series of measures that increase penalties for human resources, while providing resources to prevent it.

The Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection and Treatment Act –given final state legislative approval in March — addresses a crime estimated to claim up to 20 million victims worldwide.
Among other measures, it:

• creates a Commission on Human Trafficking to review laws and enforcement and make recommendations to state policy makers;

• establishes a ‘Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund’ to provide victims’ services, promote awareness, and develop training and educational materials;

• increases both financial penalties and prison time for those who traffic individuals.

At the same time, Christie signed bills  designating each January as “Human Trafficking Prevention Month” and Jan. 11 as “Human Trafficking Awareness Day.”
“As public officials, we have a solemn responsibility to prevent and protect citizens from the dark world of human trafficking,” he said.
The series of steps made official today, he said, “strengthens and expands the state’s ongoing efforts to aggressively combat this brutal practice, and also ensures that the victims of human trafficking receive the treatment they need.

NJ State Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (Bergen)

“There are two important messages contained in this bill.

To victims: You’re not alone.

 To perpetrators: We’re coming after you,” said one of the measure’s primary sponsors, state Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle.

FILMING AT BA!

It was a most exciting day as Ken Morris,  Ms. Debra Steinberg of Cadwalader, and the film production  team entered the BA hallways to interview and photograph Ken Morris with our Campus Ministry team, Benedictine's Cor Defenders.

 Ken Morris, Jr. is the great, great, great grandson of Frederick Douglass, the Father of Civil Rights, and the great great grandson of Booker T Washington.  Mr. Ken Morris is continuing his family's legacy to abolish slavery.  It was 150 years ago, when Frederick Douglass spoke out to change American slavery and call President Lincoln and the people to emancipate the slaves.  Today, Ken Morris speaks out to educate the American young people about human trafficking, modern day slavery.  "Education means Emancipation".   Benedictine Academy is their first Freedom Partner High School and one of the leading schools from across the country to help write the New Proclamation of Freedom presented in Washington DC.  This past year, Mayor Bloomberg has instituted the Frederick Douglass educational curriculum in all of the New York City Schools.  http://www.fdfi.org

Ms. Debra Steinberg is an attorney for Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP and the founder of VS.CONFRONTS. http://www.vsconfronts.org/  "VS. Confronting Modern Slavery in America is dedicated to heightening public awareness of human trafficking in America and providing a platform for anti-trafficking organizations and agencies to work collaboratively and innovatively together, outside their organizational silos, toward common goals. VS. is an innovative pro bono project conceived and executed by the Women’s Leadership Initiative of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP."

Taro Yamasaki is a Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist.  He is working on the documentary and will help to tell our story through photos: http://www.taroyamasaki.com/  Mr. Yamasaki  was amazing as he captured the deep beauty of every person speaking.  A gentle man truly filled with God's grace. 


Ms. Steinberg shared after her visit:

 "Thank you for inviting us into your school, introducing us to your amazing students, and inspiring us all to be better, stronger, more committed advocates for those who have neither voice nor ability to protect themselves. Each of your students, through  your guidance, holds “the power of one” to fulfill the promise of our XIII Amendment. I am so uplifted and so inspired by my short time in your school, with these wonderful girls. I know that the spirit of service, compassion for those less fortunate, and leadership, embodied in them, will inform their entire lives and, one by one, they will change this world for the better.      

 I can’t wait to finish the film and share it with you. Until then, my best regards and profoundest respect for the exceptional work you have done, are doing, for your students and our country." Debra

Ms. Steinberg is a most amazing woman who is ushering in a new era of freedom into America.  It truly was a privilege and a tremendous honor to be in the presence of such American heroes and extremely gifted and talented human beings.  We thank God for such a phenomenal opportunity to be with such accomplished beautiful people such as Mr. Ken Morris, Ms. Debra Steinberg, Mr. Yamasaki, Konstantinos (who was truly awesome behind the video camera), Joshua, Liz Butler, and Qian Wang.