EMU Today

YPSILANTI – The Eastern Michigan Women’s Resource Center will host a virtual panel event on “Sex and Human Trafficking Awareness.” The event, titled “Taking a Stand II, we are not for sale,” will be hosted via ZOOM on Wednesday, January 27 from 6-7 p.m.

The virtual discussion forum with the EMU Women’s ResourceCenter will bring forth information and resources on human trafficking, sex trafficking, labor trafficking awareness and prevention tools. According to the event page, it will help the EMU campus community, as well as communities in our society, to combat against this pervasive, social injustice issue that is plaguing the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Pre-registration to receive the Zoom ID and passcode can be done through the Eventbrite registration page.

Kimberly Ferrell, an EMU Women’s Resource Center programmer and EMU doctoral student will host the event. It will include a panel of experts speaking on the topics, including the following people:

●      David Manville: Manville is the president of SPARROW FREEDOM PROJECT, an anti-human trafficking organization based out of South Lyon. SFP responds to emergency needs of survivors of sexual exploitation, provides awareness training, offers art associated awareness and is involved with area youth/church groups to make them aware of trafficking issues. Manville has presented more than 70 times on Human Trafficking issues.

●      Elizabeth Donovan: Donovan is the coordinator of the Paralegal Studies Program at Eastern and teaches courses in the Paralegal Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies departments. Before joining EMU, she was a professor of law and a director of clinical programs. In her Human Trafficking Law Clinic, she represented survivors of labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and other violent crimes.

●      Catherine Wilman: Wilman is the community relations officer for the Eastern Michigan University Police Department. Officer Wilman has been a police officer with EMU PD for over 12 years. Officer Wilman has also been a member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force for more than eight years. She is also the lead instructor for EMUPD’s Rape Aggression Defense, (R.A.D) Systems self-defense program. Additionally, when the Special Victims Unit (SVU) was formed over five years ago at EMU, she was among the first members of the department to join.

●      Maha Casey: Casey is a doctoral student in EMU’s Educational Studies Program. She is a research scholar, author, speaker and overseas mission worker in South Africa for oppressed Black African Women. She is also a speaker on “Women of Color” issues, domestic violence and assault.

For more information about the event, contact Kimberly Ferrell, EMU Women’s Resource Center doctoral fellow, at kdixson@emich.edu.

For more information about the EMU Women’s Resource Center, visit the center homepage.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.