Pensacola, Fla. –– Los Drs. Andrew Denney y Melinda Lewis, miembros de la facultad de la University of West Florida College of Education and Professional Studies, han sido invitados a servir como miembros del Pensacola Task Force for Human Trafficking (Grupo de Trabajo de Pensacola para la Trata de Personas).
Organizado por el Florida Department of Children & Families y el Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, el grupo de trabajo tiene como objetivo reunir a agencias gubernamentales y socios comunitarios para abordar mejor los temas de trata en los condados de Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa y Walton. Es uno de los varios grupos de trabajo en todo el estado ordenados por la Cámara de Diputados 7141, aprobada a principios de 2016.
“La trata de personas ocurre en nuestra área, y mucha gente piensa que no,” dijo Denney, profesor asistente en el Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice de la UWF. “Muchas personas son conscientes del tráfico sexual, pero también hay un aspecto laboral, especialmente con el número de hoteles y atracciones en la Costa del Golfo y nuestra proximidad a Nueva Orleans, Atlanta y otras ciudades más grandes”.
Denney dijo que el grupo de trabajo se reunirá inicialmente mensualmente mientras trabaja para desarrollar programas e iniciativas de alcance comunitario.
A través de su trabajo con la UWF Criminal Justice Student Association, Denney anteriormente ha ayudado a colocar estudiantes internos de Pensacola en el KlaasKIDS Search Center for Missing & Trafficked Children.
“Como instructor de cursos de tráfico de personas en la UWF, me apasiona difundir la palabra sobre varias formas de esclavitud moderna.” dijo Lewis.
Para obtener más información sobre los esfuerzos del Florida Department of Children & Families’ contra la trata de personas, visite
http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/human-trafficking. Para obtener más información sobre la UWF College of Education and Professional Studies, visite uwf.edu/ceps.
Two UWF Professors Join Human Trafficking Task Force
Pensacola, Fla. –– Drs. Andrew Denney and Melinda Lewis, faculty members in the University of West Florida College of Education and Professional Studies, have been asked to serve as members of the Pensacola Task Force for Human Trafficking.
Organized by the Florida Department of Children & Families and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the task force aims to bring together government agencies and community partners to better address human trafficking issues in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. It is one of several task forces across the state mandated by House Bill 7141, passed in early 2016.
“Human trafficking does happen in our area, and a lot of people think it doesn’t,” said Denney, an assistant professor in the UWF Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “Many people are aware of sex trafficking, but there is also a labor aspect, especially with the number of hotels and attractions on the Gulf Coast and our proximity to New Orleans, Atlanta and other larger cities.”
Denney said the task force will initially meet monthly as it works to develop community outreach programs and initiatives.
Through his work with the UWF Criminal Justice Student Association, Denney previously has helped to place student interns with the Pensacola-based KlaasKIDS Search Center for Missing & Trafficked Children.
“As an instructor of human trafficking courses at UWF, I am passionate about spreading the word on various forms of modern day slavery,” Lewis said.
For more information about the Florida Department of Children & Families’ efforts against human trafficking, visit their http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/human-trafficking. For more information about the UWF College of Education and Professional Studies, visit uwf.edu/ceps.
