Meeting of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission
July 31st, 2024
Williams Building, Lansing, MI
Called to Order:
Chairwoman, Melissa Palepu, called meeting to order at 12:31PM.
Agenda Item:
Call to order and Welcome. Chairwoman Melissa Palepu welcomed Commission members and the public.
Members Present:
Not in attendance:
Agenda Item:
Roll Call. Diana Almusowi took roll call of the Commission Members.
Agenda Item:
Action Item: Approval of the Minutes from Wednesday May 22nd, 2024: There are no corrections needed for notes. Motion to approve minutes as drafted. Approved by Jonathan Walden. The minutes will be posted onto the website. Melissa Palepu informed everyone that the website will be taken down in the next week or so to rearrange and update the information on there. The website will become more user friendly and helpful with resources.
Agenda Item:
Report of the Commission Chair: Melissa Palepu stated that the committee can continue to help get the word out regarding the commission and building connections. If everyone can work together with more people, we will accomplish a lot more. She had stated she has gotten the requests regarding which subcommittees they had asked to be on and put them in those, she stated those that are volunteers should be getting information from their committee chair soon. She stated if anyone would like to get the notes regarding the subcommittees, she can send them out again. The subcommittees should begin working on their agenda and actions items that are specific to them.
Melissa Palepu discussed the student program sponsorship that would be with MA in which a 3,000-dollar sponsorship is awarded to the winner. This would be to have students submit a form of media and a winner can be selected. This would expand on the idea of getting the human trafficking commission out and working in an education and information way. Denise from MAB was here to elaborate more on that. Denise stated that there would be a registration for the students to register for it in September, they have until December to submit, and a winner is chosen in March. She stated that the commission can provide the students with information like giving them statistics, facts, people to interview, events that spotlight the topic, and so forth. The commission would give the students the resource and direction and they will submit their project based on that. Denise stated that all the submissions are given to us, for the commission to use, however there may be licensed material involved that would need to be reviewed prior to the state using it due to copyright. This would be a program that would extent to both high school and college students, and it will operate statewide. Katie Papke stated information regarding trauma informed learning may also be provided to the students so they can have more background regarding human trafficking and being trauma informed. Melissa Palepu stated this would be a way to get into schools and to get people discussing a topic that they may not be discussing yet. The public awareness subcommittee can potentially assist in this process. Jonathan Walden stated that the students may even interview the board members potentially as well. Ben O’Hearn was concerned on the topic of interviewing regarding victims, and how that may play out. Melissa Palepu stated that the students do have advisors to assist them, and as stated prior by Katie Papke, the students can be given resources. Jonathan Walden asked Denise if there are things in place to ensure students are aware of more trauma related matters. Denise stated that if they were provided the criteria Katie Papke had mentioned that would be great. She stated that the students would not have access to victims, unless that was a provided for them to interview. She stated that potentially the students may have to complete certain readings/documents to interview said victims. She stated that a waiver would have to be completed anyway, anytime someone under the age of 18 years old is in front of a camera. Katie Papke also mentioned not using language victims and begin using survivor, and the survivors who volunteered to do interviewers would be the ones placed on the potential list. Melissa Palepu stated public awareness can make the list of the survivors with the training information. Denise informed that the deadline is in August if the commissions wish to be a part of it. Katie Papke said she may assist with drafting and providing to the board members. Melissa Palepu stated she can work with those that are apart of the public awareness subcommittee in assisting and providing resources.
Melissa Palepu asked to approve the 3,000k sponsorship. Michael Draminski motion to approve, Jeff Getting second. All in favor, none opposed, motion did carry.
Melissa Palepu stated she will get the money over to MAB. Tiffany Martinez and Jeff Getting can work with Katie Papke on working on the template for the students.
Public Comment: Melissa Palepu opened the floor for public comment.
Tiffany Martinez put information in the chat regarding an event for Standing Together Against Trafficking in September. She stated many nationally well-known speakers will be of attendance. There is a small fee and if that is an issue, she asks for those to reach out to her for a waiver. Melissa Palepu stated she will also email it out to everyone apart of the mailing list.
Lady Tee Thompson stated there is an event on Saturday and she is extending the invitation out to the commission, and she will also provide Melissa Palepu the flyer so she may email it out.
In Lansing, someone had asked Melissa Palepu about some bills that were being worked on. Melissa Palepu stated she testified on those bills last year, she is not sure where exactly they are now. She stated she was aware the goal was to merge the senate bill and the house bill, and the house bill has more content to it. She stated she had not heard anything negative from the floor and there is a good legislature in place that does want to do work on human trafficking.
Tyesha Foster is a survivor and was reaching out regarding additional resources for her issue. Melissa Palepu asked her to email her again since she got an error message prior.
Mary Ottinot was having connection issues and asked if there was anything discussed that was not on the agenda. Melissa Palepu stated that there was nothing additional and she can expect the subcommittee chair to reach out to their volunteers in the next few meets regarding their action items.
Theresa Briand stated she was also having issues with CPS as Tyesha Foster had mentioned. They stated they will connect after the meeting.
Tracey Cooley works with the Freedom Project and the bar association and asked Tyesha Foster about her case. They stated they will connect after the meeting,
Melissa Palepu stated she will get those individuals that wish to be connected, connected after the meeting.
In Lansing - She stated she is making an appearance to get to know the committee members, she is a survivor and wants to make connections with the commission. She stated her start up works to identify forced labor as well as child and organ trafficking. They use a simple data method to use data profiles to target specific scenarios for trafficking. She was thanked for her attendance.
Robin Bolz had asked for resources for clinical approved screening assessment that can potentially be implemented in their clinical setting. Katie Papke provided a website with a protocol on how to administer it in a clinical setting for the screening tools.
Announcement of next meeting: The next meeting will be September 25th, 12:30pm, both in person at the Williams Building in Lansing and via Teams. If you wish to attend virtually, please get to Melissa Palepu 48 hours before to get the link, please drop your information in the chat if you wish to join the mailing list.
Adjournment: Melissa Palepu adjourned the meeting at 1:37pm.
