Atlanta Trafficking Training
Friday, March 31, 2017
We thank the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport for support in the fight to end Modern Day Slavery
Participants filled the room and shared lunch, received a welcome from local government, airport and law enforcement representatives. Participants watched the movie SOLD and received training from Michele Krick, Donna Hubbard and Lynn Duddy on how to recognize and report human trafficking. Local NGOs : Out of Darkness, Street Grace, Wellspring, Women at the Well Transition Center and Youth Spark will also share the dark reality of human trafficking in Atlanta. Here are stories from local media:
Hartsfield-Jackson works to spot human trafficking
11 Alive – May 04, 2017
“airport” on CBS46 News at 4:30am
WGCL-ATL (CBS) – May 04, 2017
“Hartsfield Jackson” on FOX5 News @ 6:00
WAGA-ATL (FOX) – May 03, 2017
Atlanta Airport Boosts Efforts To Stop Human Trafficking
90.1 FM WABE – May 04, 2017
Atlanta Airport Boosts Efforts To Stop Human Trafficking
90.1 FM WABE – May 04, 2017
Donna Hubbard in ATL
Thursday, February 7, 2019
The City of Atlanta works with multiple partners in the fight to end human trafficking. But sometimes, the most powerful force is the force of one – local individuals who take a personal stand – even if it means working in the shadows of this dangerous industry to save lives.
Pastor Donna Hubbard is one of those people.
Hubbard understands human trafficking all too well. As a younger woman, she was drugged and victimized by a pimp – and sold as property to a gang – who threatened her children if she tried to leave her life of sexual exploitation.
Ironically, it was a stint in prison that set her free. And from that experience, she created Woman at the Well, a group that provides counseling and training to formerly incarcerated women and girls.
She has shared her story of hope and transformation at the United Nations and all over the world. Through her work with Airline Ambassadors International, Hubbard teaches front line airport personnel how to spot potential victims in what is literally a crime against humanity.
What’s worse, Hubbard says, is that many people who have been trafficked are typically victimized twice – once by the people coercing them – and a second time by the criminal justice system, where they are often prosecuted for crimes they were forced to commit while under duress. That’s what led her to her work with the Fulton County Community Court and Toriarn Weldon, an investigator for District Attorney Paul Howard. Over the years, Hubbard and Weldon forged a unique and unlikely partnership that has helped hundreds of victims of human trafficking.
On March 9th she will participate at an Awareness training in Waycross, GA and check out this new video shot Jan 29, when she joined Torian Weldon and Kathryn Griffin on the streets to document trafficking in Atlanta. Also at #EndHumanTraffickingATL.
#EndHumanTraffickingATL
The City of Atlanta works with multiple partners in the fight to end human trafficking. But sometimes, the most powerful force is the force of one – local individuals who take a personal stand – even if it means working in the shadows of this dangerous industry to save lives.Pastor Donna Hubbard is one of those people. Hubbard understands human trafficking all too well. As a younger woman, she was drugged and victimized by a pimp – and sold as property to a gang – who threatened her children if she tried to leave her life of sexual exploitation. Ironically, she says, it was a stint in prison that set her free. And from that experience, she created Woman at the Well, a group that provides counseling and training to formerly incarcerated women and girls.She has shared her story of hope and transformation at the United Nations and all over the world. Through her work with Airline Ambassadors International, Hubbard teaches frontline airport personnel how to spot potential victims in what is literally a crime against humanity.What’s worse, Hubbard says, is that many people who have been trafficked are typically victimized twice – once by the people coercing them – and a second time by the criminal justice system, where they are often prosecuted for crimes they were forced to commit while under duress.That’s what led her to her work with the Fulton County Community Court and Toriarn Weldon, an investigator for District Attorney Paul Howard. Over the years, Hubbard and Weldon forged a unique and unlikely partnership that has helped hundreds of victims of human trafficking. Recently, we followed them in South Fulton County to see their work up close. #EndHumanTraffickingATL
Posted by City of Atlanta Government on Tuesday, February 5, 2019
End Human Trafficking ATL Summit1
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Join us on Monday, March 11, 2019 when Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport marshals the power of community to address the issue of forced labor in Atlanta. The ATL End Human Trafficking Summit is a collective action to bring an end to this blight on society. This will be a day of expert panels and a powerhouse luncheon. You’ll leave inspired to make a difference for our most vulnerable victims. Let’s put an end to human trafficking for good.
The Summit is free but you do need to register. Here is the Eventbrite Link!
Special guests to include award-winning journalists: Chris Hansen, host of “To Catch a Predator;” Channel 2 Action News Anchor Jovita Moore (WSB-TV); Rose Scott, host of “Closer Look with Rose Scott” (90.1 FM – WABE Radio); Channel 2 Action News Reporter Mark Winne (WSB-TV); CBS46 Reporter Meghan Packer (WGCL-TV); and Atlanta Journal-Constitution Columnist Gracie Bonds Staples.
Also joining us will be Airport General Manager John Selden, Atlanta’s senior human trafficking fellow Ouleye Warnock, Airline Ambassadors International and Polaris representatives, elected officials, law enforcement, human trafficking survivors, and leaders from a cross-section of industries on the front lines of the human trafficking battle.
Special educational performance by The Positive Arts Movement, Inc.
Registration opens at 8 a.m. and program begins promptly at 9 a.m. Please bring registration ticket for entry. Walk-ins will not be admitted. GICC parking is available for a reduced rate of $5.
For more information, visit www.endhumantraffickingatl.org.
Convening at the Georgia International Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA, the Summit brings together cohorts across the spectrum of stakeholders seeking to draw the line on human trafficking. Registration opens at 8 a.m. and program begins promptly at 9 a.m. Please bring registration ticket for entry. Walk-ins will not be admitted. GICC parking is available for a reduced rate of $5. For more information, visit www.endhumantraffickingatl.org.
The day is hosted by Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and will feature a series of sessions with experts from various sectors, including communications, technology, elected officials, hospitality and transportation, corporate, law enforcement, airports and concessions. Panelists will participate in brief, but robust conversations about what’s being done in their respective areas to address the problem at this important opportunity to raise awareness.
General Session
Highlighting Airport, Local and Global Initiatives
Giving Voice to Victims
(Media – National NGO’s)
Still Standing
(Survivor Panel)
Buyer Beware
( Law Enforcement panel)
Safe Skies
( Airline Panel)
Getting to the Bottom Line
(Corporations)
Airline Ambassador survivor trainers will be featured as well as AAI colleagues on every panel.
This Summit was postponed from January 29 due to inclement weather.
See the video shot that night featuring our survivor trainer Donna Hubbard and Torian Weldon.
“The City of Atlanta is committed to ending human trafficking of all people. We will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of vulnerable populations and strengthen the systems necessary to help every citizen of Atlanta thrive.”
–Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
https://www.endhumantraffickingatl.org/
Delta’s in flight video 2019
Saturday, January 12, 2019
The airline intentionally chose to feature the campaign on its in-flight entertainment systems to “heighten customers’ awareness of a scenario potentially transpiring in the row in front of them,” according to a press release.
Holiday Escorts 2018
Thursday, December 13, 2018
See below this not from Aicha to Coordinator Margaret Whitehead.
“Bonjour Margaret,
How are you? We landed this morning in Paris. Qatar Airways is definitely an amazing airline with a competitive aircraft and a high level of customer service.
The girls were so nice, quiet and easy. Massoma threw up before landing in DOH and also before landing in CDG.
We requested assistance upon arrival and took 2 blankets from the flight in order to put them on the floor to change her diaper. IT WAS A BADLY NEEDED CHANGE!
Poor Massoma! She was wearing a dress and she had only a pajama for unique clothing. I used the only 2 diapers she had in her backpack so I asked Laury to purchased some at the pharmacy.I met Kathy at the police office in T2A with Abdul. It was great. A beautiful couple those 2 buddys.
We met Laury and Natacha, shared some key words and we boarded them to the PHL flight.Fortunately, one of the crew speaks Arabic (Zaccharia) I am so happy for the girls. They deserved both help and care.Thank you again to give me the opportunity to help children in need. I am tired but I feel so good (after a shower) and after a mission like this.Attached are some pictures we took during this trip… and I forgot to mention that we understood each other. Better than with Sadeq. Some words were different but they understood me and I understood them.Warmest regards,Aïcha TOUAHRIA, Cdg.SecurityLeads, Paris CDG
Note from Margaret – Here is the darling pic made in Grand Rapids as Natacha and Laury handed the twins over to their host parents in GSP. I think Childspring is making a Christmas card out of it for social media.
Also see below emails from Natacha who escorted the twins to their host families:
Hi Margaret !!The twin sisters are with the host family now !! The Gates !!
Such nice people.
That escort was a great experience.
With Laury, we would love to be the 2 escorts for the twin sisters on the way back to Cdg !!! Or Qatar.
They’re we’re so cute and so strong.
Not only flight attendants were in love with them but passengers too !!
Best regards,
Natacha
Here us the report from Linda Blixit about kids that came to the US from Poland for holiday visits with host families:
“
From Poland to pizza…it was a great day with two fine young gentleman who arrived happy yet hungry!! Arak and Bartek were so enjoyable to get to know as we waited in the Rotunda for continuing flights at Ohare Airport. Arak… the jokester. ..who we believe knows more English than he lets on to… settled right in…enjoying hats to handouts including sweets and socks…~ While Bartek..a future marine biologist… who can converse in at least four languages …held such mature discussions one would think he has lived in the States all his life.
Soad was so generous to everyone…~ keeping us all on point. Meantime… Andi, George and myself enjoyed the sheer essence of anticipation waiting for our guests of honor to arrive. As we said our goodbyes…heading to our individual gates…we all realized this bittersweet moment will be one treasured forever. Once in Atlanta Bartek felt instantly at home returning to his host family…greeting Mark and Michelle with a big reunion hug~ he is now officially ready to take on the Game of Throne series, the holidays, a trip to Florida, and even some snow sledding during the next month with his host family ….in his home…away from home! Goodbye Bartek! Until we meet again~xo
Christmas Angels
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
December 15, 2018 will offer a day of holiday food, fun and festivities. This Christmas we are raising funds to support the children and their guardians, human trafficking survivors and families under Fulton County Community Court supervision. The participants will enjoy the Christmas Holiday season at a day of celebration including arts and crafts, lunch, games, face painting and a walk on the “Red Carpet.” Our community partners this year include : New England Patriots Fan Club Atlanta, Airline Ambassadors Intl. , Starbucks, Synchrony Financial, Publix, Kroger , and Wal Mart Union City. Our party will be hosted this year at the Atlanta Water Works Lodge.
This is the 11th year Woman At The Well Transition Center will celebrate the Christmas Angels Children’s Holiday Event with the theme “THE SPOTLIGHT BELONGS TO YOU” featuring the children in a photo on the red carpet.
Our mission is to assist incarcerated, formerly incarcerated women , those impacted by the criminal justice system and survivors of human trafficking to regain their lives, their families and their dignity
Our holiday event is scheduled for: DECEMBER 15, 2018 1pm – 5 pm. The Christmas Angels Holiday Event is our annual opportunity to show these women, children and their families the love and embrace of community. While we experienced tragic natural disasters this year we want these children and families to enjoy a day without the reminder of living without their mothers presence, or overcoming unspeakable experiences.
Please look into your hearts and dig into your pockets and give. No donation is too small. Its not always easy, but it is always rewarding. In advance WATWTC would like to thank you and pray a prosperous holiday season. OUR 2018 WISH LIST: * $5 & $10 gift cards * Unwrapped toys for children aged 1-16years * Monies for transportation, venue, photography and activities costs for 75 children. And family members. * warm hats, gloves and scarves for women and children. Financial Donations can be made here : gofundme.com/ChristmasAngelsHolidayEvent . All donations are tax deductible.
Please call or email for donation and toy pickup – 404-629-7765 and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS
July Escorts 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
Note from Margaret Whitehead – Escort Coordinator
Here are some pics from Kathy Garza’s escort on 03 Jul. She is an ORD agent and has only been in the program about a month. But what a super terrific escort she has turned out to be! On this trip, I was asked by Frontier Horizons for an escort to go to MGA and accompany 4 Nicaraguan orphans to MIA. We were only given 3 days notice but Kathy, who was visiting family in LIM, said she would take the all nighter LIM/MIA, go on to MGA and travel with them back to MIA. Their destination was ORF but she was supposed to only get them to the ORF gate then she could go back to ORD. However, their flight from MGA was late and they misconnected, causing her to have to spend the night with them in MIA. She must have been exhausted by then but she never once complained. The next morning she took them to the ORF gate, then she went on home to ORD.
Note from Kathy Garza to Margaret!
Hi Margaret,
I hope everything well by you, here are some pictures with the kids.
It was very rewarding to see smiles in their faces after a long wait and the overnight. We even had time to learn how to crochet …ha ha !!! Thanks!!
Kathy
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This is Monique Best, American Eagle flight attendant escorting 5 year old Aydin home to GUA from EWR after facial reconstruction surgery.(Crew upgraded him to First Class and he got to sit by the window!
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And below is little Loudethiana leaving her family and arriving with her host family in Atlanta
Loudethiana Jacqueline & parents in Haiti
Loudethiana Waiting To Board for ATL
Loudethiana Boarding Plane
With host family in Atlanta
Life changing escorts in June 2018
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Picture on right is Monique Best, American Eagle flight attendant escorting 5 year old Aydin home to GUA from EWR after facial reconstruction surgery.
Note from Director of Children’s Medical Escort Program – Margaret Whitehead:
Isabel Moss and Ron Harris escorted this boy from Honduras scheduled for the same open heart surgery that Ron had a couple of years ago. Isabel brought him TGU/MIA and Ron reassured him on the way to STL. Both Spanish speakers escorted him on the most important journey of his life.
On June 26 we had 7 separate trips to accompany a group of Polish orphans to their host families throughout the U.S. The kids have been selected by an orphan hosting agency in the U.S. to spend over a month with these pre-approved host families to familiarize them with living in a family unit. Since most are teenagers who have lived most of their lives in Polish orphanages, it give them something to look forward to, then provides them with lifelong memories of this very special trip. Our children’s escorts will accompany these kids to Seattle, Omaha, Atlanta, Boston, Newark, Raleigh-Durham, and Bentonville, AR. These trips are all on 26Jun.
Additionally, on 25Jun we will have one of our medical escorts accompanying a 17 year old boy from Honduras to St. Louis where he will have open heart surgery. When the sponsoring agency told me that he was extremely nervous about flying, about his upcoming surgery, and especially about making this trip without his mom, whose visa was denied, I decided to ask Ron Harris, one of our escorts and an AA flight attendant who has had 2 open heart surgeries in the past 5 years and Ron agreed to meet him in Miami and travel with him to St. Louis. This is so good because Ron speaks fluent Spanish and we determined the boy will have the same type surgery Ron had. I was also able to get Isabel Moss, a native Spanish speaker to go to Tegucigalpa and accompany him up to Miami.
Also on 25Jun we will have a medical escort who works in the Tampa Admirals Club escorting a little 4 year old Haitian girl back to Haiti from Atlanta where she had surgery to correct her bladder extrophy. Jacqueline Faust, this escort, brought the little girl here in April and asked to escort her back to her homeland.
Donna Hubbard
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Pastor Donna Lynne Hubbard
pastorwatw@yahoo.com
Donna Hubbard is firstborn child of the late author and Community Arts Activist Nayo Watkins and Charles “Charlie” Hubbard. After being gang raped her life became a series of abandonment, abuse, addiction, gang crime, exploitation, prostitution and violence. She was sold to a pimp, trafficked and finally became gang property. Donna served a total of 10 years in and out of jails and prisons. Donnas’ commitment to serve God prompted complete surrender to a greater destiny and purpose. Paroled in 1993 to Atlanta, Georgia she founded the Woman at the Well Transition Center: “Our Mission is to assist incarcerated, formerly incarcerated women and women and girls impacted by the criminal justice system and human trafficking, to regain their lives, their families and their dignity. WATWTC provides training, counseling, and direct services to formerly incarcerated women and girls, including street intervention with trafficked girls and women, relapse prevention and employment readiness. WATWTC has provided services and training to 6000 women and girls. Ordained in 1995 as a minister, Donna holds the titles of Preacher, Teacher, Pastor and Elder. WATWTC celebrates 20 years of nonprofit service this year.
She has served as a consultant at the county, city, state and national level in various positions with government and non-governmental agencies.
Her Consultant resume includes:
*Atlanta Working Committee to reduce prostitution, and sex trafficking in the Greater Atlanta,
*National Office of Women’s Health addressing trauma impact on women.
*Community Liaison to Fulton County Community Court, Fulton County Office on Juvenile Justice, and the Georgia Department of Corrections.
* ICAO Working Group to develop Human Trafficking Awareness Protocol for Cabin Crew
Donna Hubbard has been a featured speaker for the Santa Marta Group at The United Nations where she received a standing ovation before the General Assembly. She was a featured speaker at the 2017 AVSEC Conference in Dubai.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION:
2018 American Mothers Inc. National Mother of Achievement
2016 SKYE Kingdom Community Service Leadership Award
2014 Clayton County Grass Roots Leadership Institute, Class Pres.
2011 Omega Psi Phi Mentoring Program – Community Service
2009 University of Kentucky 15th Annual Black Women’s Conference, Lexington, KY
2002 Atlanta Women’s Network – Woman of Significance Award
2001, 2002, 2003 Intl Black Women’s Congress, Orlando, FL, Newport News, VA,
2000 Atlanta Magazine – Women Making a Mark on the Millennium
2000 Catholic Social Services Community Service Award, Atlanta, GA
1999 “Millennium Woman” National Family Alliance, Chicago, Ill
Donna works with Airline Ambassadors International as a Certified Human Trafficking Awareness Trainer and has facilitated trainings in Hungary, Latvia, and Japan and was featured in the 52nd training of airline and airport personnel to prepare for 2017 and 2018 Super Bowls in Houston, Texas and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Donna is employed as a Flight Attendant for American Airlines. She earned her BS in Theological Studies and her MA in Christian Counseling at PCIE Seminary Program, Los Angeles, CA. Donna’s proudest of her role as mother of 7 daughters and 1 son, 10 grandchildren and 8 great grand children.
Delta is intensifying its efforts to raise awareness of human trafficking ahead of the Super Bowl coming to Atlanta.
Bravo to Donna Hubbard who has overcome inner and outer hurdles to become an inspiration to all and a key voice increasing awareness of human trafficking!
