When you fly Delta Air Lines, you can make a massive difference in the fight against human trafficking.

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. And in an effort to help passengers better understand the broken systems that leave people and communities vulnerable to traffickers, Delta will feature movies and documentaries* that accurately reflect the realities of sex and labor trafficking.

But Delta is doing more than that. And so can you.

In addition to making the movies and documentaries free to all passengers, Delta will also ask you to join the fight by making a contribution! By donating Delta Sky Miles or donating directly, you help Polaris work with victims and survivors on their exit strategies. Survivors also utilize flights to enter into long-term recovery programs or simply to return home to their families.

Our hope is that by becoming better informed about sex and labor trafficking, Delta’s passengers will feel inspired to DO SOMETHING about it!

Corporate partners like Delta help make our work possible. From training their employees to donating cash and Sky Miles, Delta fuels our response and prevention measures.

Polaris thanks Delta Air Lines for their demonstrated commitment to the cause!

*Polaris and Delta’s Top Picks

• 12 Years a Slave
• Food Chains
• Ghost Fleet
• Girl in Room 13
• I am Jane Doe
• Inside the Hidden Reality of Trafficking in America
• Shattered Dreams: Sex Trafficking in America
• Very Young Girls
• The Workers Cup

Stop human trafficking today

Help fix the broken systems that make trafficking possible so we can prevent it from happening in the first place.

Make a Gift

The post Take Action During Human Trafficking Awareness Month: Polaris and Delta’s Top Picks first appeared on Polaris.

“We couldn’t be more thankful to Marriott International for making this commitment to the fight against modern slavery,” said Bradley Myles, CEO of Polaris. “Through their donations, Marriott’s customers will support our work to disrupt trafficking networks and connect survivors to the help they need. We are grateful for Marriott’s leadership in the hospitality industry on this issue.”

To donate points, customers can visit Marriott’s featured nonprofits webpage at giving.marriottrewards.com. With more than 6,400 properties in over 126 countries and territories, Marriott recognizes and embraces its global responsibility and unique opportunity to be a force for good.

Polaris develops sustainable, service-oriented, and survivor-centric corporate partnerships to disrupt human trafficking at the root and establish trafficking-proof environments. By working with companies to identify and respond to human trafficking within their industries, Polaris and its partners seek to flip the modern slavery economy so it is no longer a high profit, low risk endeavor

People can receive help or report a tip of suspected human trafficking in the United States by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by sending a text to Polaris at “BeFree” (233733).

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About Polaris
Polaris is a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery. Named after the North Star that guided slaves to freedom in the U.S., Polaris acts as a catalyst to systemically disrupt the human trafficking networks that rob human beings of their lives and their freedom. By working with government leaders, the world’s leading technology corporations, and local partners, Polaris equips communities to identify, report, and prevent human trafficking. Our comprehensive model puts victims at the center of what we do – helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate. Learn more at www.polarisproject.org.

The post Marriott International Adds Polaris to Loyalty Points Donation Program first appeared on Polaris.

Delta’s sponsorship will ensure Polaris can staff the call center with experienced “Hotline Advocates.” With more calls coming in from survivors than ever, funding will help modernize the National Hotline and optimize the technology needed to provide the most effective and efficient service.

“The work of Polaris and the National Human Trafficking Hotline are integral to fighting human trafficking where we live and fly,” said Allison Ausband, Delta’s Senior Vice President – In-Flight Service. “A single call can protect a victim or change their entire trajectory, and that’s not to be taken lightly.”

The work of Polaris is pivotal to Delta’s proactive strategy to fight human trafficking and end modern slavery. Since 2011, when Delta was the first airline to sign the End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking (ECPAT) Code of Conduct, the global carrier has trained over 54,000 employees to spot indicators of human trafficking and supports anti-trafficking legislation across the U.S. Delta also gives customers the opportunity to donate SkyMiles through Polaris and the SkyWish program, which helps survivors seek a safe place, return to their homes, or receive critical or legal care.

“We are honored to partner with Delta Air Lines in such a profound way and are beyond grateful for their support of the National Human Trafficking Hotline,” said Bradley Myles, CEO of Polaris. “Delta is a leader in the fight against human trafficking, working tirelessly to provide human trafficking training to their employees to help spot this crime and equipping survivors with resources they need to rebuild their lives.”

The National Hotline has been operated by Polaris for almost 10 years and has handled 38,000 cases of human trafficking. Since January, more than 6,100 cases have been reported, with a 10 percent increase in cases reported directly from survivors. The Hotline can be reached 24 hours, 365 days a year and in more than 200 different languages.

As part of the sponsorship, Polaris will also build upon the extensive training Delta provides to employees by developing new training and webinars, while tailoring the Hotline’s internal protocols to respond to questions and tips provided directly from Delta employees.

People can receive help or report a tip of suspected human trafficking in the United States by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by sending a text to Polaris at “BeFree” (233733).

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About Delta
Delta Air Lines serves more than 180 million customers each year. In 2017, Delta was named to Fortune’s top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the sixth time in seven years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 315 destinations in 54 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry’s leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Seoul, and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, and Facebook.com/delta.

About Polaris
Polaris is a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery. Named after the North Star that guided slaves to freedom in the U.S., Polaris acts as a catalyst to systemically disrupt the human trafficking networks that rob human beings of their lives and their freedom. By working with government leaders, the world’s leading technology corporations, and local partners, Polaris equips communities to identify, report, and prevent human trafficking. Our comprehensive model puts victims at the center of what we do – helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate. Learn more at www.polarisproject.org. Follow Polaris on Facebook and on Twitter.

The post Delta contributes $1M to Polaris, Supports National Human Trafficking Hotline first appeared on Polaris.

And the airline industry is fighting back, taking steps to eliminate trafficking from their networks and supporting survivors with help. In that vein, Polaris and Delta Air Lines are announcing a new partnership enabling Delta SkyMiles Members to directly support survivors of human trafficking through the SkyWish program.

Delta SkyMiles members with unused miles in their accounts can now visit the SkyWish page and donate those miles to Polaris, as well as a number of other charity leaders around the world. Polaris will then use the miles donated through the SkyWish program to pay for the airfare survivors need to return home, receive critical services, reunite with their children or families, or engage in survivor leadership opportunities.

Delta has also generously offered to match the first 3 million miles donated. These donations will make tremendous strides in helping cover the costs to get survivors the help and support they need, as well as ensure they have the ability to travel around the country for advocacy efforts without needing to worry about paying for their airfare.

Delta, a leader in domestic and international travel, has long-supported charities throughout the world, and Polaris is honored to be teaming up with them in such a profound way. To learn more about the SkyWish program or to donate some of your own miles, visit www.delta.com/skywish.

The post Delta Air Lines SkyWish Partners with Polaris first appeared on Polaris.

Unfortunately, traffickers all too often fly under the radar in hotels, because staff and managers do not know what signs to look for on their premises. Training employees in a variety of roles in hotels is critical, so they can be the eyes and ears of identifying potential victims in one of the most frequently documented trafficking venues.

To address just these concerns, Marriott International took a recent significant step in their efforts to combat trafficking, launching a human rights training program – focused on both sex and labor trafficking – to educate their associates around the world. Polaris provided input to an ECPAT-USA and Marriott collaboration for the training, which is being re-launched through the American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute (AHLEI).

Marriott International’s commitment to training staff in a variety of roles – from the hotel lobby and security personnel to guest rooms and hotel restaurants – provides a more comprehensive safety net for identifying potential victims. 

The training is already being put to good use. Prior to the Rio 2016 Olympics, hotel associates at the JW Marriott Hotel in Rio de Janeiro had to complete the new training program to ramp up for the influx of international visitors. 

Our involvement in Marriott’s training program and partnership with AHLEI and ECPAT is part of our larger initiative on hotels. We provide tools for businesses to identify all forms of human trafficking, analyze risk of trafficking in supply chains, and equip the National Human Trafficking Hotline to support potential victims who reach out for help. 

For instance, through our partnership with Wyndham Hotel Group, we have trained their hotel employees on signs of trafficking and continue to ensure survivors receive critical short-term shelter services through a Points for Polaris program with Wyndham. 

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If you believe you have identified a potential trafficking situation, it is important to assess the immediate safety and welfare of the potential victims, guests, and staff. If you have witnessed or been informed there were incidents or threats of violence, alert security and/or law enforcement. If you have the opportunity to speak with the victim alone, ask if they would like assistance and provide them the National Human Trafficking Hotline number (1-888-373-7888) or send a text to Polaris at BeFree (233733).

Photo credit: Flickr / Elizabeth Greene

The post Polaris works with ECPAT-USA and Marriott International on Human Trafficking Training Initiative first appeared on Polaris.

At Polaris we deploy a comprehensive model to eradicate all forms of human trafficking. Grounded in data gathered from the lived experiences of survivors, Polaris responds to victims of human trafficking effectively and immediately; equips key stakeholders and communities to address and prevent human trafficking; and disrupts the business of human trafficking through targeted campaigns.

Polaris applies its data-driven model by implementing the following programs:

• National Human Trafficking Hotline – The National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) connects survivors of all forms of human trafficking to nationwide services to get help and stay safe, and shares actionable tips and insights with the anti-trafficking community.

• Strategic Initiatives – Polaris seeks to permanently disrupt specific trafficking networks through strategic interventions. Current campaigns include combating illicit massage businesses and sex trafficking of women and girls from Mexico.

• Data Analysis Program  – Polaris uses sophisticated data management and analysis technology to find out where and how traffickers operate so that we can put them out of business, keep them from harming more people, and help survivors find the services they need.

Polaris was built on a promise: to make freedom happen now for all victims of human trafficking. Donors have helped us keep that promise in communities all across the country. As the backbone of our support we count on you.

Don’t forget: all gifts will be matched, dollar for dollar—but only if you give before midnight. Double your gift: PolarisProject.org/GivingTuesday

The post Double Your Impact for Survivors on #GivingTuesday first appeared on Polaris.

If you’re in the Nats family, you’ve probably seen the video posted by Joe’s father, when Max and Joe played a game of catch while the team was at Citi Field in May. Since then, the video has been shared far and wide, with countless Nats fans reaching out to the La Roccas thanking them for sharing it. For those of us with an appropriate level of fierce rivalry between the teams, Joe reminded us why we love the game so much in the first place. There is nothing quite like seeing a kid get to watch a professional athlete, let alone play catch with one.

But there’s a part of the story not everyone knows about. Max launched a new Autographs & Athletes program earlier this year for his fans to get their favorite baseball items signed after making a donation to Polaris. Max wanted to sign the ball for Joe, so we reached out to his dad, told him to mail the ball to Polaris, and made it clear that this was a special exception and there was no need to make a donation.

Fast forward to June 29th when Max pitched against (and beat) the Mets at Nats Park. Joe had held off on mailing in the ball because he and his dad had been invited to the game, as well as out onto the field during batting practice. Max an Joe were finally able to meet, and Max eagerly signed the ball they had played catch with earlier in the season.

That’s when Joe handed a Nationals employee an envelope addressed to Polaris with $25 inside. It turns out that after his dad told him about our Autographs & Athletes program, Joe decided on his own to save up his allowance across five weeks. He made his own donation to help fund Polaris’s operation of the National Human Trafficking Hotline so survivors can continue to be connected with services across America.

To say we were struck by his generosity is an understatement.

The fight against human trafficking in the US and throughout the world is a steep battle. In fact, the International Labor Organization estimates that 20.9 million people are held in various forms of human trafficking worldwide in a criminal industry that reaps $150 billion a year in profits. $25 might not seem like a lot to some, but it in the face of so much exploitation and trauma, Joe spotlights the humanity at the core of the movement against this crime. And he proves that you don’t need to be a grownup to take a stand against modern slavery.

Since moving to DC in 2015, Max and I have been struck by the overwhelming generosity of the team and fans throughout the region. It truly is a family, and the Nationals have made it a priority to be intricately involved in our community with a focus on giving back to the vulnerable populations around us. And we see now that this charity extends all the way up to New York.

As for Joe, he should serve as an inspiration for others as we follow his lead and get involved in this issue.

Though, I will say, we caught one of his media interviews where he maintained the Mets are still his favorite team. So, here’s to also hoping he ditches the Mets and accepts his inner Natitude.

Blog: Flickr / Sean Winters

The post Meet the 11-Year-Old Mets Fan Teaming Up with the Nats Family to Fight Human Trafficking first appeared on Polaris.

Artist and activist Molly Gochman was appalled when she was first exposed to the seemingly formidable circumstances surrounding human trafficking. Learning more about the conditions that victims are often forced to endure inspired her to do something to remind us of the estimated 21 million people worldwide living in modern slavery.

In December 2014, Molly created Red Sand Project, a participatory artwork that uses bright red sand in sidewalk cracks to raise awareness of vulnerabilities that can lead to human trafficking. People of all backgrounds – from students to parents, artists to organizations, businesses to celebrities – have taken to the sidewalks to fill the crevices between pavement with red sand, posted their images on social media using #RedSandProject, and inspired conversations about trafficking and ways to end it. Since the Project’s creation, nearly 120,000 toolkits have been requested from people from all 50 states in the U.S. and around the world.

Today, Molly is an active philanthropist in the field as well. Now a generous donor to Polaris and a critical partner in awareness-raising, Molly’s philanthropy and activism have both expanded and refined as she continues to seek out the most effective organizations and projects in the field for combating trafficking. Molly’s efforts to champion this cause have contributed immeasurably to the public’s understanding of the omnipresence of this crime.

“Learning more about trafficking has eased my discomfort around this subject. I believe that together, we have the power to end this atrocity.”

Individuals or groups interested in participating in Red Sand Project can apply to be a local ambassador or order their free Red Sand Toolkit here. You can also follow the movement on social media @RedSandProject and with #RedSandProject.

Thank you, Molly, for not only financially supporting Polaris, but for your efforts to involve individuals and communities in raising awareness and helping restore freedom to survivors of human trafficking!

The post Donor Spotlight: Artist and Activist Molly Gochman Won’t Let You Forget About Trafficking Victims first appeared on Polaris.

Elaine McCartin of Polaris: You could do anything in your position. Why have you chosen to devote your time to improving your community and communities around the country?

Erica: There are a few reasons why. I would love to have a job with a real salary and desk and everything, but I also want to see my husband [Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer]. There aren’t many jobs that fit or have the flexibility needed when you’re living in three cities like I do. Working with Polaris is a way for me to work in my own way – a way that I can do something where I feel like I’m using my education, my skills, my talents, and I’m also giving back at the same time.

Part of it is selfish in the sense that I want to work and I want to feel valued. But the other part is because we are in so many different communities and because Max makes a significant amount of money, and a lot of it indirectly comes from the fans and the community supporting him. I think it’s really important for us to support the communities and give back, so everywhere he plays or has played, and in the places we’re from and where we live currently, we work in the communities and support organizations. I feel like if you’re not giving back, whether it’s your time or your money, you’re doing a disservice. It’s a value we have and something that’s important to us.

What are the issues you’re interested in and have worked in?

I initially started in animal welfare. I grew up in a family of huge animal lovers, and we were always rescuing birds, rabbits, squirrels – you name it, we were saving them. I started out fostering animals after college, and kind of kept keeping them all. Eventually, that became a problem, so I became an adoption counselor for a while. I also did a lot of fundraising events and worked at adoption events. For some reason I can’t separate my emotions from animal welfare, so it just gets too difficult because I want to save them all. It got to the point where Max said we cannot keep anymore pets, it’s time to move to something different.

That’s when I got involved in youth in sports and youth education, which we did a lot of in Detroit. At one point I did an event with Alternatives For Girls, and that’s how I got more involved in women’s empowerment, women’s welfare, even homelessness and other related issues. That then grew to trafficking.

I also do a lot of work in domestic violence, which has a fair amount of crossover with human trafficking. I love working for women’s empowerment, women’s reproductive rights and justice, as well as some other social welfare issues. I’m very interested in prison reform and different issues like that.

What groups have you worked with?

I work with Chrysalis in Arizona for domestic violence, and they’re wonderful. I’ve worked with the Humane Society, and we’re actually going to do some work with them here in D.C. I worked with a great organization called Lost Our Home Pet Foundation in Arizona, I volunteered with the zoo in Arizona to get my connection with tigers and wildlife, we’ve worked with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Alternatives For Girls, Salvation Army, and just started connecting with Streetlight out in Arizona. It’s very scattered, but there is somewhat of a rhyme to the reason. The one big thing I find that connects it all is giving a voice to the voiceless, or those whose voices who have been taken away or hindered. That’s the common theme through everything.

You’ve gotten the chance to meet survivors of various crimes and injustices throughout your work. What have you learned from them and how has that interpreted how you move forward?

I’ve learned to really keep an open mind and not stay with preconceived ideas or judgments. The different survivors I’ve met have experienced sex trafficking and labor trafficking, they are immigrants and U.S. citizens, young, old, male, female, LGBT – it’s opened my eyes to the fact that there isn’t one set of victims, there isn’t one type. That’s been a great lesson.

When I think about the survivors I’ve met and the memoirs I’ve read, and their perseverance through these terrible, terrible situations and the way they can come from this trauma and come out on the other side and lead productive lives, it just puts things into perspective and it’s very inspiring. I’ve been inspired by a lot of the survivors I’ve met.

What do you hope to accomplish as a Polaris ambassador?

I would really like to play a role in supporting relevant legislation and see it passed, and create relationships with different representatives so that we can pass these policies locally and nationally. I would also like to help open people’s eyes to this issue. When I first got involved I thought it was just one set thing in one set area, but now I’ve gotten to see how many different types of trafficking there are and the different networks and just – it really is almost like a freefall and you just keep going and going. So I would like to help Nats fans, social media followers, or anyone I encounter have a better grasp on what trafficking is, where it is, how it is – just a better understanding of it overall.

2015 is coming to a close and New Year’s is around the corner. What are your goals for 2016?

Work on self care – that’s one I’m learning from you guys. But really a lot of it is just using my voice more and putting myself out there in situations I normally wouldn’t. I like to try to stay behind the scenes with Max’s career, but I want to use the voice that I’ve been given and this amazing city I’m in and just go full force in trying to do whatever I can to help the community here and help in the fight against human trafficking.

The post Portrait of an Advocate: An Interview With Erica May Scherzer, Polaris Ambassador first appeared on Polaris.

She observed disturbing things happening next door with her neighbor’s children, and then started noticing suspicious patterns of behavior: strangers going in and out of the home, expensive cars coming by to pick up and drop off the girls, and unusual trash appearing on the curb. One 11-year-old neighbor talked about going to work. Another child talked about money coming in because his sister was working. “From a neighbor’s perspective, this was very difficult. I’d watched these children grow up. The situation was heart wrenching,” Ariel said.

Ariel was concerned about the children but was hesitant to speak up and involve herself, fearing for her own safety and wanting to make sure that she reported the situation to people who could help. “I watched these neighborhood children become trafficking victims and had no idea what to do or where to turn until I found the Polaris Project,” she said.

As the situation got worse, she found and went to Polaris’s website for information and made the decision to call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center* hotline and report what was happening: “When I finally called the hotline, I must have spent 30 or 45 minutes on the phone, reporting everything I’d seen and heard over the years. It was a huge relief to talk to someone who knew about trafficking. I asked for a follow-up call. The hotline worker called me back to let me know that Polaris had contacted the local police.” She was grateful for Polaris’s resources and pleased with how we handled the case she reported.

Now Ariel donates to Polaris through the Combined Federal Campaign so that she can be a part of the movement to end human trafficking. She has partnered with us since 2009!

Thank you, Ariel, for sharing this story, calling the hotline, and donating to Polaris. Your experience, and that of children who become trafficking victims, is exactly why we do the work we do!

*The NHTRC is now the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Photo credit: Flickr / Paul Sableman

The post A Neighbor’s Call: Ariel Confronts Trafficking in Her Own Backyard first appeared on Polaris.