Fedele F. and Iris M. Fauri Memorial Lecture

Child Trafficking and Child Safety
10/19/2022 - 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Eastern

The Fedele F. and Iris M. Fauri Memorial Lecture on child welfare is presented annually in recognition of the former University of Michigan Dean and Vice President Fedele F. Fauri and his wife, Iris. Dean Fauri's leadership and accomplishments in the field of child welfare spanned nearly 50 years.

For this year's conference, we will focus on dynamics underlying child trafficking in and across local and global contexts. We will examine how and where child trafficking occurs; who is most vulnerable, and conditions under which child exploitation and trafficking place victims at risk. Experts will also speak about the consequences of child trafficking, measures taken to protect vulnerable children, and potential solutions to this enduring, global problem. In their remarks, panelists will integrate research and practice to inform policy at the local, state, national, and international levels.

CE Contact Hours Available.

Presenters

Ashlee Heiligman

Ashlee Heiligman is a licensed social worker with a Bachelor and Master of Social Work specializing in Direct Practice with Children and Families. Ashlee has 16 years of child welfare experience both in the U.S. and abroad. She is the Executive Director of Global Child Advocates which is a team of child protection specialists working to resolve the root causes of child trafficking and orphanhood. Ashlee also serves on the advisory network for Faith to Action Initiative. In 2017, she co-founded GCA’s social enterprise Sojourn Studio, which provides dignified work and a community of support for marginalized women in Thailand.

Pronouns: She/Her

Dr. Jacquelyn Meshelemiah

Dr. Jacquelyn Meshelemiah is an Associate Professor in the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University. She is the author and co-author of numerous publications, presentations, and trainings on human trafficking, human rights, social justice, and leadership at the university, local, national, and international levels. Her last co-authored pressbook (with Raven E. Lynch) is entitled, “The Cause and Consequence of Human Trafficking: Human Rights Violations”. She is the 2019 recipient of the Influential Scholar Award by the International Human Trafficking & Social Justice Conference award committee. She has held a number of leadership positions that include serving as the Associate Vice Provost (AVP) for Diversity and Inclusion at The Ohio State University, Director of Leadership Initiatives for Women of Color, the Master of Social Work Program Director in the College of Social Work and the Undergraduate Program Director in the College of Social Work. Professional travels have taken her to over half of the United States as well as to Africa, Europe, Asia, and Central America in her capacity as a visiting scholar, presenter, and researcher.

Pronouns: She/Her

Dr. Celia Williamson

Dr. Celia Williamson has been engaged in anti-human trafficking work for over 29 years. She has published numerous articles on the subject and has delivered over 200 presentations at various conferences and events. She founded the first anti-trafficking program in Ohio in 1993 and directly worked with victims in Toledo for several years. She has completed numerous federally funded studies, written several articles and reports, wrote four books on sex trafficking, and completed a memoir of her experiences as an anti-trafficking advocate. Additional accomplishments include: Founding the annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference; founding the Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition; and serving as President of the Global Association of Human Trafficking Scholars. In 2015, she became the Director of the Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute at the University of Toledo to further the mission of combating human trafficking through research, education, and engagement. Dr. Williamson teaches social work practice and human trafficking courses. She also produces a podcast called the Emancipation Nation Podcast and founded an online community called the Emancipation Nation Network.

Pronouns: She/Her