Mayor Launches New Human Trafficking Initiative

Mayor Brand today announced the launch of his Human Trafficking Initiative, a program designed to bring together local agencies and departments that seek to expose and prosecute violators, and care for those who have experienced human rights violations associated with trafficking to keep Fresno on the path to securing community wellbeing for all.

“In the summer of 2018, I called together a group of leaders representing this vibrant and desperately-needed anti-trafficking movement to look at five key areas: enforcement, prevention and education, data and networking, labor trafficking, and resourcing,” said Mayor Brand.  “The work of this group has given me even greater hope that a unique, community-wide, collaborative approach is emerging here in Fresno that is not only gaining momentum in terms of impact, but also deserving of our continued support and investment.”

Each one of the five key areas has a series of goals that addresses the scope and nature of the human trafficking issue in Fresno, including focusing on activities of concern, implementing best practices in this critical area, and identifying action steps and signs of progress.

Mayor Brand also highlighted the significant progress already made along Parkway Drive, where a number of hotels have long been a magnet for illegal activity that includes human trafficking.  The Administration has organized a Motel Owners Association, is enforcing building codes, and has successfully executed targeted enforcement operations that recently resulted in 25 arrests.

The Mayor’s Human Trafficking Initiative features a partnership among law enforcement, schools, faith-based organizations, congregations, and an effective network of non-profit organizations all dedicated to preventing human trafficking and rescuing and restoring victims.

The partners include:

• City of Fresno
• Fresno Police Department
• Fresno County District Attorney’s Office
• Fresno County Department of Social Services and Child Welfare
• Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health
• Fresno EOC Central Valley Against Human Trafficking
• Fresno County Office of Education
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Breaking the Chains
• Marjaree Mason Center
• Mollie’s House
• Beauty for Ashes
• Live Again Fresno
• Made For Them
• Central Valley Justice Coalition
• Fresno Pacific University’s Center for Community Transformation
• Catholic Charities
• Centro La Familia
• Consulate of Mexico
• Saint Agnes Medical Center
• Central Valley Community Foundation

Mayor Brand added, “The fact that slavery still exists in this world – and especially here in the Central Valley – is unacceptable. We cannot rest until human trafficking and slavery has been ended.”