2024 Liberator of the Year
Congratulations to the 2024 Liberator of the Year, Jennifer Markus
Jennifer Markus:
Jennifer Markus, a pediatric nurse and grieving mother, has become a powerful advocate for change after the tragic loss of her 15-year-old son, Braden, to sextortion in 2021. Braden, a vibrant and joyful teen, took his own life just 30 minutes after being manipulated and blackmailed online by someone posing as a peer. After a painful 10-month wait to learn the truth, Jennifer has watched with bittersweet pride as Ohio lawmakers passed House Bill 531, which classifies sextortion as a felony and strengthens protections for minors. This legislation not only honors Braden's memory but also empowers parents with faster access to crucial digital evidence, helping prevent similar tragedies.
2024 Individual of the Year:
Congratulations to the Individual of the Year, Gwen England!
Gwen England (Ohio)
Gwen England is a multifaceted professional with a diverse background that is grounded in the liberation of all people. She is an accomplished author, dedicated researcher, and a passionate advocate for justice reform. With nearly 15 years of experience in the criminal legal system, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting women affected by complex trauma and addiction. Currently, Gwen serves as the esteemed Program Leader for the CATCH Court specialized docket in Columbus, Ohio, where she plays a pivotal role in the restorative justice program designed to empower and bring healing to survivors of prostitution and sex trafficking. Her academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The Ohio State University and a Master of Arts in Social Justice from Methodist Theological School of Ohio, and she is currently pursuing her second master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration through Franklin University. During her studies in her Social Justice program, Gwen received the esteemed C. Everett and Mary Milburn Tilson Social Justice Award for her remarkable work with survivors of the sex trade. Gwen's professional journey is characterized by her unwavering dedication to making a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable individuals. Her significant contributions to the field of justice reform include expanding the CATCH Court docket to work with the Court of Common Pleas in hopes of avoiding prison sentences for women who have been trafficked into illegal activities. Over 100 prison years have been avoided because of her leadership and tenacity in fighting for survivors. Her work exemplifies a rare combination of expertise, empathy, and leadership, making her a respected figure in her field. Outside of her primary role in CATCH Court, Gwen is a researcher at the University of Cincinnati, with a focus on illuminating the experiences and needs of those involved in the sex trade. She is currently working alongside primary researcher Dr. Murnan, to develop, implement, and test a family program for justice-involved women who are survivors of trafficking. This research effort aims to establish interventions and supports that would create better outcomes for this population, which can be implemented throughout the state and, eventually, the country.
2024 Organization of the Year:
Congratulations to the Organization of the Year, Domestic Abuse Family Shelter (DAFS)!
Domestic Abuse Family Shelter (Mississippi)
The Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, Inc. is dedicated to breaking the cycle of abuse by maintaining a program with a broad base of services, community support, as well as local and state involvement. The purpose of DAFS is to provide victims of domestic violence, family violence, stalking, and human trafficking with the skills, tools, and understanding to make choices leading to violence-free living and to raise awareness of violence in the community at large. DAFS continues to provide and expand services while helping ensure victims are aware of shelter services and programs. Our programs continue to promote a collective position on awareness of domestic violence, family violence, stalking, and human trafficking as a community problem and a community responsibility.
Our goal is to increase and enhance the availability and accessibility of direct services to victims, including men, women, their children, and pets of human trafficking. Survivors of trafficking are as complex as other intimate partner crime victims, if not more so, often requiring a multidisciplinary approach to address severe trauma and medical needs, immigration and other legal issues, safety concerns, shelter, and other basic daily needs as well as financial hardships.
Current programs for victims of Human Trafficking include Emergency Shelter, a trained Human Trafficking Specialist/Counselor to assist victims, Counseling Services-Residential and Non-Residential, Direct Services using trauma informed and evidenced based practices, Transitional Housing, Outreach and Crisis Response.
2024 Volunteer of the Year:
Congratulations to Volunteer of the Year, Silvia Almond!
Silvia Almond (Florida)
I been with SOAP Project for several years representing here in Jacksonville Florida, where I bring events in my community several times a year, working hard to continually all year around educate my community and counties around me about Human Trafficking, about the signs on how to identify, about what to do when you find yourself in a situation if you identify a suspicious case, who do you call.
I also as a Soap leadership here I am able to work hands on with survivors and been part of the Northeast Human Trafficking Coalition I am able to work long side with law-enforcement here.
This journey for me is not over, My heart desire is to keep educating anyone and everyone about this crime every where I go.
Congratulations to Public Servant of the Year, Detective Joseph Scaramucci!
2024 Public Official of the Year:
Detective Joseph Scaramucci
Detective Joseph Scaramucci began his career in law enforcement in 2004 and was promoted to Detective in 2008 with the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, investigating Crimes Against Persons. Since creating a Human Trafficking Unit in 2014, Detective Scaramucci has conducted sting operations resulting in the arrest of more than 600 sex buyers, and 159 individuals for human trafficking and related offenses, which has led to the identification of 280 trafficking victims. He has further advised and testified in the State House and Senate, assisting with the creation and passage of laws leading to harsher penalties for human trafficking, as well as working against laws that would have added further burdens on victims. He is further employed as a consultant, contracted to provide training and technical assistance for numerous Department of Justice- funded Enhanced Collaborative Model task forces, as well as other national and international anti-trafficking organizations. He has trained 581 agencies throughout 44 states, 28 federal and DOD agencies, as well as law enforcement agencies in 11 countries, and provides technical support for their human trafficking operations and Investigations.
2024 Business of the Year
Congratulations to Business of the Year, Freedom Studios!
Freedom Studios
Freedom Studios exists to bring meaningful employment to survivors of human trafficking. Our mission is to give survivors the keys to freedom to unlock a new and better chapter in their lives through empowerment, training, and economic independence.
When we learned that human trafficking was happening not in some far-off place, but right in our own city, we knew we had to do something to help. One of the major obstacles a survivor faces as they come out of their trafficking situation is employment. They may have legal and addiction issues as well as deep trauma that prevents them from being able to conceptualize how to start over. This resonated with me deeply as I was just starting over as a single mother of three young children in the fall of 2019. I knew how difficult it can be to get back on your feet as you create a new life for yourself. I had been making candles in my kitchen as a hobby for years prior and knew how calming it was for me, I believed it could be therapeutic for survivors as well. There are multiple facets of positive impact with our program. The work itself is therapeutic, survivors can earn a living wage and get back on their feet financially, we have created a community of support, and we are able to raise awareness about human trafficking with our products.
We partner with a local non-profit that ensures each survivor has safe housing, counseling and support systems in place. Coming to work in the studio is truly an escape for them where they don't have to think about the past. We aim to create an uplifting atmosphere with positive music and therapeutic tasks. The fragrances bring a calming effect, working with their hands, such as creating bath bombs and pouring candles is therapeutic and the repetitive tasks such as hand labeling all of our items bring a sense of stability. We are aware of any triggers that a survivor may experience and accommodate accordingly. The awesome thing about our studio is that all of the women relate to each other and encourage each other on each step of their journey as well. We believe empowered women, empower other women.
There are countless stories of healing and breakthroughs we have been blessed to witness in the lives of the 24 survivors who have walked through our doors. One of our full-time employees had come out of an emergency situation right before starting with us in the spring of 2020. After being trafficked for many years, she was told she would never see her children again. She worked hard and prayed DILIGENTLY and right before Christmas in 2021 she was reunited with her children! She is the sole breadwinner for her family, and we do not take that responsibility lightly. She has been with us since nearly the beginning, and she is now a Freedom Studios shift leader and mentor to new employees. We have been so blessed to see her flourishing. She is truly an inspiration to us every day.
There are challenges as well. I think feeling like the problem is so large and knowing that this is continually happening around the world feels overwhelming at times. We try to focus on what is before us each day and what we can do. We know we may not be able to change the world, but if we can impact one life for the better it is worth it!
Knowing that these women and their families are depending on us is what keeps us going. We have the privilege of seeing day in and day out the impact this program has on them, and we want to continue to do all we can do to see them empowered.
I think most people feel that the issue of human trafficking is so vast, what can they really do to make a difference? We created Freedom Studios to be a tangible way for the average person to join the fight against human trafficking. When you purchase a Freedom Studios product you are literally making a difference in the lives of survivors. We could not employ survivors without customers like you, and each time someone shares our products and mission they are raising awareness about human trafficking within their communities. You can make a difference!"
2024 Student Group of the Year
Congratulations to Student Group of the Year, Knights of the RELM!
It is with immense gratitude and humility that we accept this nomination for theLiberator Awards. This nomination represents the incredible efforts of the Knights of the RELM and the University of Central Florida’s Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery. To be nominated for the Liberator Awards is not just an honor but a testament to the collective power of education, advocacy, and action in the fight against human trafficking.
First and foremost, we want to thank the organizers of this remarkable event for creating a platform that uplifts and recognizes those committed to eradicating human trafficking. Your dedication inspires us to push boundaries and strive for meaningful change every day.
To all our students in the Knights of the RELM, this nomination is a reflection of your passion, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to justice. You have turned learning into leadership, compassion into community, and awareness into advocacy. Through your workshops, events, and outreach, you have not only educated your peers about the intersection of human trafficking and the hospitality and tourism industries but have also ignited a spark of change that extends far beyond our campus.
As student leaders of Knights of the RELM we hosted initiatives on human trafficking to include:
In-person workshop on how to identify being groomed for trafficking.
In-person workshop on what sugaring and grooming look like for college students.
In-person workshop on how sports and mega events intersect with human trafficking.
Hosted the first ever Red Sand Project art installation on a college campus.
Hosted a panel for 450 high school students as part of the I AM SAM movement.
Hosted two more Red Sand Project art installations on the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management campus and UCF's main campus.
Assisted in planning and executing the Polaris Star Awards Ceremony in 2024.
Hosted a wine tasting in collaboration with the Polaris Star Awards.
Attended Joint Task Force Meetings with Dr. Jessica Wickey, Executive Director of the HTMS Center.
We would like to give a special thank you to the University of Central Florida and the Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery for providing us with the resources, mentorship, and platform to bring our vision to life. To our faculty, staff, and partners in the industry, your guidance and collaboration have been instrumental in ensuring that our efforts are grounded in knowledge and empowered by action. And to our advisor, Dr. Jessica Wickey, Executive Director of the HTMS Center, we thank you for your mentorship and dedication to our success.
Human trafficking is a pervasive issue that knows no boundaries, and while thechallenges may seem insurmountable at times, this recognition reminds us that we are not alone in this fight. Together, we have the power to create ripples of change that can transform lives, disrupt systems of exploitation, and build a future rooted in dignity, equity, and freedom.
This nomination is more than an acknowledgment of past efforts; it is a call to action for the future. It is a reminder that every conversation we have, every workshop we host, and every partnership we form brings us closer to a world where human trafficking is a thing of the past.
Thank you for standing with us in this fight. Thank you for believing in the power of collective action. And thank you for reminding us that hope, when coupled with determination, is the most potent force for change.
Let us continue to stand united, to educate, to advocate, and to liberate. Together, we can and will make a difference.
Knights of the RELM
2024 Survivor of the Year
Congratulations to the 2024 Survivor of the Year, Christian Eduardo!
Cristian Eduardo
Cristian Eduardo is a powerful advocate for human rights and social justice. He is a dedicated champion of anti-trafficking initiatives, particularly the Equality Model, which centers the voices of survivors in the fight against human trafficking. This focus on survivor leadership is evident in his role as a Survivor Leader and Steering Committee Member at New Yorkers for the Equality Model. His advocacy extends beyond anti-trafficking. Cristian is a vocal advocate for the rights of immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals, drawing on his own experiences as a queer Mexican immigrant. His lived experiences as a survivor of international and domestic human trafficking, an individual living with HIV, and someone who has faced the challenges of trauma provide invaluable insights into the mental health struggles faced by many survivors.
Cristian Eduardo's impact is far-reaching. He actively participates in various Survivors' Advisory Boards and Councils, including those of the Alliance to End Human Trafficking, Sanctuary for Families, and the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, among others. This involvement allows him to influence policy and practice at a broader level. He plays a key leadership role in anti-trafficking coalitions. As co-chair of the New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition and a board member of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Cristian is at the forefront of efforts to combat human trafficking within these states.
Cristian Eduardo is a community builder. He co-founded United Immigrants of New York and Mujeres en Resistencia, two coalitions that raise awareness about gender-based violence, including femicide, and provide vital resources to Spanish-speaking and Latino-immigrant communities.