Human Trafficking

For more in-depth learning and engagement, attend a training about human trafficking.

• EnligHTEntalks, led by DeAndre’ Marshall, offers trainings and Critical Conversations to the general public, with a particular focus on educating children, youth and young adults throughout Georgia about human trafficking and exploitation.  DeAndre’ led training for the International Human Trafficking Initiative.
• Schools, houses of worship, community organizations and companies are all working with EnligHTEntalks to learn more about the warning signs of trafficking and what to do when they arise.

EnligHTEntalks offers the following sessions:

• Training — Human Trafficking: Learn, See, and Do Something
• Training — Parents and Caregivers: What You Need To Know To Keep Youth Safe Online
• Critical Conversation about Safety for Children
• Critical Conversation for Young People

For more information, contact DeAndre’ Marshall at: 404-849-5735 or [email protected]

Meet the Trainer:

DeAndre’ Marshall was introduced to human trafficking more 20 years ago as an art therapist for girls at Angela’s House, one of the first safe houses for sexually exploited girls.

Since then, DeAndre’ has spent her career in the nonprofit and faith sectors. Most recently, DeAndre’ was the Director of Training at the International Human Trafficking Institute and a consultant to YouthSpark.

There are several organizations around the metro Atlanta area fighting human trafficking and helping victims.

• Advocates for Children
• Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia, Inc.
• Street Grace
• Wellspring Living
• Youth Spark

Many other organizations across the country and globe work in the fight against human trafficking. You can learn about some of those groups here:

• Coalition of Immokalee Workers
• Culture Reframed
• Defend Young Minds
• ECPAT-USA
• Fair Trade Campaigns
• National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)
• Shared Hope
• Trafficking in America Task Force
• World Without Exploitation

Are you or someone you know being sold for sex or made/forced to work for little or no pay and cannot leave? Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or the Statewide Georgia Hotline for Domestic Minor Trafficking at 1-844-842-3678 for help.

¿Está usted o alguien usted conoce está vendido para el sexo o hecho/forzado a trabajar por poco o ningún salario y no se puede dejar? Llame al Centro de Recursos de la Trata de Personas Nacionales a 1-888-373-7888 o Linea directa del estado de Georgia para reporter Trafico Domestico de Menores a 1-844-842-3678 para obtener ayuda.

More information here.

IHTI fought sexual and labor exploitation in Metro-Atlanta and beyond. During its three-year strategic period, IHTI:

• Trained more than 50,000 people to “Learn Something, See Something and Do Something about Human Trafficking.” 
• Mobilized the city when Atlanta hosted the Super Bowl in 2019.  
• Coordinated strategy sessions with the business community, aiming to disrupt business models that allow children to be exploited. 
• Offered a range of online trainings and events.   
• Launched “Critical Conversations,” primarily focused on trainings for college students. These conversations brought in guest speakers to discuss social media and trafficking and other emerging issues.  

Read the progress reports from IHTI

Annual report 2020 

Annual report 2021

Final report 2018 – 2021 

Click here to read a letter from NCCHR CEO, Jill Savitt, about the conclusion of the International Human Trafficking Institute.

Deborah Richardson, a lifelong civil rights advocate, launched the International Human Trafficking Institute in 2018 after Atlanta won the bid to host the NFL Super Bowl in 2019.  While human trafficking is a problem endemic to Atlanta year-round, Richardson recognized that an event like the Super Bowl provided an opportunity to shine a bright light on this issue and mobilize people to take action.

Deborah founded IHTI as a three-year campaign to raise awareness about the scope of human trafficking and to highlight – and disrupt – its business model, focusing on how the purchasers of sexual services from minors operate, also called the “demand” side of trafficking.

A core strategy of IHTI was to generate widespread engagement. To achieve this, Deborah convened and managed the Metropolitan Coalition to End Human Trafficking – a multi-sector coalition – with leaders from companies, government, educational institutions, civic organizations, nonprofits, and philanthropy.  The Coalition became a united city-wide effort that raised awareness about trafficking across metro Atlanta, strengthened the safety net for children at risk of trafficking, and disrupted trafficking’s business model by focusing on the purchasers of sex from minors.

In addition to steering the Coalition, IHTI created widespread awareness and engagement across the city with its powerful “Learn Something, See Something and Do Something about Human Trafficking” trainings.  By the end of IHTI’s three-year strategic period, it achieved its goal of training more than 50,000 people to understand what human trafficking is, and how individuals can work to eradicate human trafficking from their communities.

In 2021, the Center honored Deborah Richardson for her visionary founding of the International Human Trafficking Institute and for her lifetime of advocacy. Click here to watch the video tribute.

Because of Georgia-Pacific’s deep commitment to human dignity, the protection of freedom, and respect for the rights of others, the company partnered with IHTI to focus intensively on addressing the scourge of modern-day slavery.

Georgia-Pacific’s CEO, Christian Fischer, spearheaded trainings for employees of Georgia-Pacific based in Atlanta on the warning signs of human trafficking and what to do in response.

In addition, Georgia-Pacific:

• Provided outdoor billboard space on Atlanta’s public transit (MARTA) for a public-service advertising campaign during the 2019 Super Bowl.
• Participated as a leader in the Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee, which put a strong spotlight on efforts to fight human trafficking using the attention of that global event.
• Provided event space for community convenings as well as video production services for IHTI materials.
• Supported IHTI’s work over its three-year strategic period with generous philanthropic grants, and continues to make financial donations to anti-trafficking organizations including Covenant House, Wellspring Living and Youthspark Atlanta.

In recognition of its leadership, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the parent organization for IHTI, awarded Georgia-Pacific its 2019 Power to Inspire Award, an annual prize that recognizes individuals and organizations that promote and protect human rights and dignity.

To learn more about Georgia-Pacific’s efforts as a partner of IHTI, click here.