The first among several Rotary Foundation-funded trainings on Human Trafficking Awareness, Education and Prevention occurred Saturday, May 23rd at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel by People Against Trafficking Humans (PATH of WNY).A comfortable number (65) of pre-registered attendees made it through the 2” of rain that fell that Saturday. PATH’s Kamyia Jacobs and Grace Parr presented and Dr. Marty Floss, Hilbert College did pre- and post- knowledge assessment.
The Steering Committee made up of Paul Lehman (Chair and Rotary Club of Lockport}, Paul Saskowski (Rotary Club of Batavia), Dr. Tommy Gerbasi (Lewiston-Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Club) and Timothy Priano were present in their role of leadership. Lezlie Murch, Niagara -on-the-Lake Rotary from the Steering Committee was not present. Both she and the late John Boronkay (Orchard Park Rotary had contributed greatly to development of the global grant proposal.
Joanne Serkeyn, Lincoln, Ontario Rotary and District 7090 Governor-elect shared her thoughts and insights on the need for this training of community leaders and others.
Another opportunity for Rotarians across the district to take in the training will occur on Saturday, September 12th at the Cornell Extension Training Center, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport, NY. Watch for registration information in the coming month(s) at host Rotary Club of Lockport’s web site. This training will be conducted by Project Mona’s House (See the scope of the organization’s work at: https://www.projectmonashouse.com/about . )
While most people know that exploitation “is out there,” they may not realize how youth and others are trapped – even from the best of neighborhoods. It is hoped that Rotarians in Western NY and Southern Ontario will participate in one or the other training sessions and help identify organizational and institutional leaders to invite – multiplying the awareness, education and prevention message.
The global grant for this project would never have come together if it were not for the financial support of Rotary Clubs of: Batavia, Brantford Sunrise, Buffalo Sunrise, Ellicottville, Grand Island, Leroy, Lewiston/NOTL, Lockport, Niagara Falls Sunrise, ON, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Norfolk Sunrise, Oakville, Orchard Park, St. Catharines, and St. Catharines-Lakeshore. The match of these clubs' contributions by Rotary District 7090 District Designated Funds plus Rotary District 4690 was key to the project being made possible in part and by a grant from THE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL.
Questions or comments may be directed to Paul Lehman, Steering Committee Chair
716-984-5128