Debbie Pond
Debbie thrived with the challenge of forging a road less traveled in her 35-year career as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer (retired 2013). Debbie’s passion for people and advocating for change to support vulnerable and marginalized individuals has taken her to a variety of human services sector roles. Debbie is one of the founding members, and volunteers full time as Chair / Executive Director of U-R Home Awareness & Support Services. U-R Home is a York Region organization that brings education and awareness on human trafficking, supports survivors in having the life they desire and families whose children have been affected by sex trafficking. Debbie is on the Executive Leadership of York Region’s Community Partners Alliance to Stop Trafficking among other community collaboratives. Debbie’s love for people and travel has taken her on numerous extended volunteer trips to Africa where she works with young girls and women; empowering and providing opportunities through education to be the change in their communities. Human Trafficking: Hidden in Plain Sight in Our Backyard! We think it only happens to people living “over there” but IT Can Happen to Anyone and is happening in “our backyard”. Survivors say they lived in our communities but were unSEEN! Debbie believes that we can end all forms of sexual exploitation but it is each person’s responsibility to challenge the harmful attitudes and stereotypical norms in our society! Debbie will discuss what human trafficking entails, the many forms of exploitation, what it looks like in “our backyard”, how to recognize signs of trafficking and recruitment tactics. Does trafficking happen because people are poor or vulnerable? The role social media plays in human trafficking. How the mindset of a trafficked person impacts their ability to “just leave”. Debbie will share her experience of walking with families, survivors and the realities of their lives after exiting The Game. She will challenge you to become an Advocate and Assist in ending human trafficking in “our backyard”.
Debbie thrived with the challenge of forging a road less traveled in her 35-year career as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer (retired 2013). Debbie’s passion for people and advocating for change to support vulnerable and marginalized individuals has taken her to a variety of human services sector roles.
Debbie is one of the founding members, and volunteers full time as Chair / Executive Director of U-R Home Awareness & Support Services. U-R Home is a York Region organization that brings education and awareness on human trafficking, supports survivors in having the life they desire and families whose children have been affected by sex trafficking.
Debbie is on the Executive Leadership of York Region’s Community Partners Alliance to Stop Trafficking among other community collaboratives.
Debbie’s love for people and travel has taken her on numerous extended volunteer trips to Africa where she works with young girls and women; empowering and providing opportunities through education to be the change in their communities.
Human Trafficking: Hidden in Plain Sight in Our Backyard!
We think it only happens to people living “over there” but IT Can Happen to Anyone and is happening in “our backyard”. Survivors say they lived in our communities but were unSEEN!
Debbie believes that we can end all forms of sexual exploitation but it is each person’s responsibility to challenge the harmful attitudes and stereotypical norms in our society!
Debbie will discuss what human trafficking entails, the many forms of exploitation, what it looks like in “our backyard”, how to recognize signs of trafficking and recruitment tactics. Does trafficking happen because people are poor or vulnerable? The role social media plays in human trafficking. How the mindset of a trafficked person impacts their ability to “just leave”. Debbie will share her experience of walking with families, survivors and the realities of their lives after exiting The Game. She will challenge you to become an Advocate and Assist in ending human trafficking in “our backyard”.
This event is part of the Fall 2020 Speaker series.
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