Survive and Thrive honors 6 for efforts to end human trafficking in – Tallahassee Democrat

The Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC) recently honored six local changemakers and their teams for helping strengthen the community against sex and labor trafficking.

Founded in 2015, STAC assists human trafficking survivors and empowers communities with the tools to recognize, report and prevent trafficking.

As a member of the National Human Trafficking Hotline, STAC is the only organization in the Big Bend that exists solely to assist all sex and labor trafficking survivors regardless of age, immigration status, sex, gender identity or faith affiliation. STAC's mission also includes working to share information and educate the community.

The Gratitude Awards were presented as part of STAC's annual Imagine Freedom event, where the nonprofit also announced it had raised more than $61,000 for their survivor support and community education initiatives.

“This event shows how the issue of human trafficking is on the shoulders of the entire community – and that everyone can help when they understand that both sex and labor trafficking are here,” said STAC Executive Director Robin Hassler Thompson. “Learning the signs of how to recognize and prevent it is the first step.”

Local honorees included:

Marsha Crowle, Capital City Bank: Marsha Crowle, CCB director of compliance, has worked for years in bank security, helping financial institutions stop trafficking by best understanding how traffickers use the banking system. She has helped identify traffickers in law enforcement investigations, supported survivors and worked with STAC by educating the community and at Capital City Bank.

Suzanne Harrison, MD: Dr. Suzanne Harrison recently retired from the FSU College of Medicine and is a skilled and compassionate physician and teacher. She has worked tirelessly and extensively in this region to educate students and the community about many topics, including human trafficking.

Rick Minor, Leon County Commissioner: Commissioner Rick Minor is a local leader who has taken concrete and important action to prevent and stop sex and labor trafficking here in Leon County. His steadfast advocacy has resulted in Leon County taking many steps to strengthen the local responses to human trafficking including the creation of STACPRO, an online training for all businesses.

Associate Pastor Nick Quinton, Trinity United Methodist Church: Pastor Nick Quinton has brought the issue of human trafficking to the forefront of Trinity United Methodist Church and to many in the faith and non-profit communities. He did this by creating and convening “Shared Grace” at the outset of the pandemic and promoting training for all Trinity staff.

Heidi Otway and SalterMitchell PR: Heidi Otway, SalterMitchel PR president, and the SMPR team have gone above and beyond by providing STAC with invaluable pro bono public relations and communications assistance, greatly expanding this area's knowledge about human trafficking.

Pam Menendez, Lisa Coy and USF Team: Pam, Lisa and the USF team are the technical webinar support hosts for the Third Friday training webinars and other programs – over 34 in all – from STAC and the Big Bend Coalition Against Human Trafficking. They provide this service at no cost to STAC or program attendees.

Each Gratitude Award winner received a custom award featuring artwork from local artist Ann Kozeliski inspired by the Enso.

“When I was asked to create the artwork for this year's Imagine Freedom Awards, I immediately thought of the Enso. The Enso is a circle created in one stroke, in one breath, imperfect, and open to interpretation,” Kozeliski said.Attendees enjoyed a variety of trafficking-free foods, treats, and drinks from the event's host, Food Glorious Food and Trader Joe's, as well as local oysters from Oyster Mom, Deborah Keller.

“The evening was a true testament of a community coming together to fight human trafficking through awareness, education, and dedication,” said Judy Gagnon, president of the STAC Board of Directors.

Event sponsors who were celebrated included LiveGive850 Real Estate; Alicia Smith; Robin Hassler Thompson and Daniel H. Thompson; Kenneth P. Kato, M.D. and Nan Nagy; Debby Kearney; Kathy Villacorta and Tommy Warren; Susan Turner of Food Glorious Food; Tallahassee Community College; Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare; Rotary Club of Tallahassee; Fiore Communications; Law Offices of Carolyn LeBoeuf, Capital City Bank Group; Judy Gagnon; Sharon Maxwell and Howell L. Ferguson; E. Talley Morgan, CPA, LLC; Berger Singerman, LLP; Tallahassee Action Grants, Inc.; and Larry Schrecker, Truist Investment Services.