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Updated Press Release for Sept. 27, 2018

SAFEAMERICA Leases ATL Kiosk to ‘Inform Travelers’ of Human Trafficking, Opioid and Other Safety Issues

SafeAmerica’s #1 Goal: Save Lives, Advance National Agenda (Including End Daylight Savings by Labor Day;

Keep Kids Off ‘Un-Air-Conditioned School Buses during August)

Atlanta, GA – The Safe America Foundation will hold a news conference at the State Capitol on Thursday, September 27, at 11:00 am to announce plans to launch several initiatives this fall to rescue young women and men from human trafficking while helping veterans and opioid victims get to medical treatment centers.

During its News Conference, Safe America will unveil its first ‘HUMANS Care’ transport vehicle donated by AMR (American Medical Response). The Foundation will also unveil plans to open an information kiosk at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (photo below) starting Nov. 1 that will inform travelers of signs of women and men being victimized for sex.

Support for the programming has grown this summer, with attendees including State and Metro Leaders such as Georgia Public Service Commission Vice Chairman Tim Echols, Clayton County Chairman Jeff Turner and State Representatives Paulette Rakestraw and Michael Smith.  Also expected are: DeKalb County Commissioners Gregory Adams and Larry Johnson; State Senator Kay Kirkpatrick and State Senator Ed Harbison plus Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom’s Senior Fellow, Ouleye Warnock.

The event will take place at the Georgia State Capitol in the South Wing located near the main rotunda.  

“Solving human trafficking – and help opioid addicts and human trafficking victims get to medical facilities is a major problem,” noted Safe America CEO Len Pagano. “With more than 1,500 people a month unable to get to hospitals, we’ll help take a role in improving transportation and educating the public on what to look for when they’re out on-the-street.”

Pagano noted that Safe America’s ‘HUMANS Care’ program is growing a collaborative partnership with organizations including Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the City of Atlanta, the Atlanta Veterans Administration,youthSpark, American Medical Response, WellStar Atlanta Medical CenterFulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority.

Among individuals who have helped kick off the HUMANS Care program are: Kim Ryan, President of WellStar Atlanta Medical Center (AMC); Terence Ramotar, Regional Director of AMR; DeKalb County Super Commissioner Gregory Adams; Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Boyce; Dr. Joshua Murfree, COO of the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority (FDHA) and Jennifer Swain, Executive Director of youthSpark.

“We value our partnership with Safe America and we appreciate the recognition for our efforts to support safer and healthier communities throughout the many systems we serve in Georgia,” said Terence Ramotar, Regional Director for AMR. “As part of our collaboration, we are pleased to donate the HUMANS Care transport vehicle as a way to get more help to more people, which is what AMR is all about.”

In addition to the fighting human trafficking, Safe America will announce a study on the potential of Georgia (and other states)ending Daylight Savings Time by Labor Day; and, delaying the start of the school year in 2019-20 until early September (to reduce heat exposure on school buses and early morning ‘transportation’ in the dark). Both topics will be part of the November 2 Fall Forum at the Federal Reserve Bank as well as the November 17  Brain Camp at the Delta Flight Museum. Safe America is also launching a ‘Safe South’ initiative, with Clayton County Chairman Jeff Turner heading the organization.

“Safety has grown to be the #1 issue every day – everywhere,” noted Pagano. “We need to redefine decisions – from how early to start the school year to making sure kids don’t have to walk in the dark to catch a school bus. These and other issues – like teaching how to survive active shooters and having Boy and Girl Scouts receive more training – can be as important as investing $60 million in tax dollars, currently being discussed by gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp.”

As to human trafficking: it has become a top issue for Atlanta, with the 2019 Super Bowl – being held at the Mercedes Benz Stadium – viewed as a key attraction at having more juveniles brought to Atlanta for sexual pleasure.

Today, human trafficking is considered a modern day slavery, touching every corner of the globe. This multi-billion criminal enterprise is the fastest growing crime in the world. Human trafficking involves both commercial sexual exploitation and labor servitude. The average age of entry for victims is 12-14 years old.  One of the goals of the Safe America Foundation is to work towards ending this crime, as well as helping others with opioid addictions and veterans with PTSD.

The Foundation will discuss this and other topics on November 2 at the Federal Reserve Bank. For more information on the conference, visit https://trainingforglobalsafety.org.