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Meet WKYC's Human Trafficking Awareness panel

We're hosting a panel discussion on the dangers, signs and efforts to combat sex trafficking.
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WKYC has partnered with the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking to raise awareness to human trafficking, how to spot red flags and how Ohio organizations are working to combat the problem.

WKYC will present the seventh annual Human Trafficking Awareness Program on Monday.

Senior health correspondent Monica Robins will moderate the conversation, which will be streamed live from WKYC's studios at 2 p.m. You can watch the discussion on WKYC.com.

WKYC and the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking have invited a knowledgeable panel to educate viewers. Meet the panel below:

Karen Walsh, President and CEO, Collaborative to End Human Trafficking

Karen Walsh is President/CEO of the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, an organization which began in 2007 in response to the need for information and action in northeast Ohio regarding the reality of human trafficking in our world, our nation, and our neighborhoods.

Karen was key to the Collaborative’s beginnings and continues to guide implementation of its mission to educate, advocate, and connect services on behalf of those who are trafficked. The Collaborative has presented thousands of programs regarding human trafficking to diverse audiences and now leads Greater Cleveland’s Coordinated Response to Human Trafficking, a multi-disciplinary group of 35 organizations creating a comprehensive and coordinated response to the crime in northeast Ohio. In 2016, she was instrumental in the development of the Human Trafficking Happens Here Too public awareness campaign. The campaign’s signage is at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and on Greater Cleveland RTA buses, billboards across Cuyahoga County, and materials distributed throughout northeast Ohio.

Karen is also an attorney who has worked on behalf of young people in both federal and state courts. Prior to practicing law, she worked with United States and international students as a teacher, resident hall counselor, and principal of a college preparatory, resident and day high school in Pennsylvania. She is a 2012 graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy and has served as a member of the Legal and Legislative subcommittee of the Ohio Trafficking in Persons Study Commission. Karen obtained her J.D. and B.A. from Cleveland State University and her M.A. from John Carroll University.

John L. Morgan, Detective, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department

John L. Morgan had been assigned with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Task Force (VCTF) from 2008 through 2015, specializing in Domestic Sex Trafficking investigations while working directly with The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Polaris Project.

In 2013, the Renee Jones Empowerment Center awarded him the first Distinguished Public Service Award for his work in this area. In 2015 he received the Law Enforcement Model of Justice award from the Justice League of Ohio also for his work in Human Trafficking. Detective Morgan has provided awareness training to numerous audiences and has become the go-to person for Human Trafficking matters in Northeast Ohio.

Detective Morgan has been employed with the Sheriff’s Department since 1999 and is currently assigned to the Ohio Attorney General’s Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force. He has also completed active duty combat tours with both the United States Marine Corps and The Ohio National Guard, participating in both Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

Teresa Stafford, Senior Director of Victim Services and Outreach, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center

Teresa M. Stafford is the Senior Director of Victim Services and Outreach at Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC). Teresa oversees the agency’s 24-hour response to survivors, criminal justice advocacy, Project STAR (sex trafficking, advocacy and recovery), Hogar Conseulo and administers professional development trainings across the state and on a national level.

Teresa has over 20 years of experience providing direct service to both offenders and victims of crime, with a specialization in sexual violence, domestic violence and families of homicide victims. Teresa attended Tiffin University majoring in Criminal Justice Administration. Prior to joining CRCC she held the position of Witness-Victim Coordinator for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, where she oversaw the creation of the Witness Victim Unit.

In addition to her current role Teresa is also the Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Response Team

Coordinator, a member of the Ohio Attorney General’s SART Training Team, advisory board

member for Safe Harbor Docket, Cuyahoga County Untested Sexual Assault Kit Taskforce

member and former Board President for Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. Teresa provides

expertise and consultation to communities developing their Sexual Assault Response Teams,

training to law enforcement agencies regarding the dynamics of sexual violence, human trafficking

and working with sexual assault survivors. Teresa specializes in working with faith based

communities, multi-disciplinary teams and systems to enhance their ability to respond to all

survivors of sexual violence in a trauma informed manner. Teresa is a social justice activist who

is committed to eliminating factors that marginalize survivors and increase their ability to access

services. Teresa also provides mentorship to new advocates in the field and is a leader with the

Women of Color Caucus in Ohio.

Teresa has received several awards over her career including the Gloria Pointer Award for

Supporting Families of Victims, Peter DeMarco Exemplary Service Award and National Sexual

Violence Resource Center Visionary Award.

Beau Hill

Beau has been an employee of The Salvation Army Harbor Light Complex since September 1996. He began as an accountant, moved up to Director of Business Operations, and in 2007 became the Executive Director of the Harbor Light Complex. He is eager, confident and mission-minded. He has built a reputation as someone who gets things done.

Beau has maintained the caliber and integrity of the Harbor Light programs and continues to seek ways to improve their efficiency. He gives careful attention to detail and is committed to the overall mission of The Salvation Army.

Beau has negotiated on behalf of The Salvation Army with a number of 3rd party funders, including HUD, State of Ohio, Cuyahoga County, City of Cleveland, United Way, Office of Homeless Services, etc.. He has prepared numerous contracts and agreements. He maintains extensive networking contacts in Cuyahoga County and in Columbus at the State of Ohio level as well as nationally and internationally.

MORE | WKYC hosts Human Trafficking Awareness livestream Monday

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