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Deerfield Beach recognizes state anti‑human‑trafficking coordinator and seeks partnership
Summary
The commission honored Jamara Portier, anti‑human‑trafficking coordinator with the 17th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, and commissioners expressed interest in partnering with her coalition to address trafficking in Broward County.
The Deerfield Beach City Commission recognized Jamara Portier on Feb. 18 for her work on human trafficking and discussed partnering with her office and local coalitions to address the issue in Broward County.
Mayor Gans introduced Portier as director of community outreach and the anti‑human‑trafficking coordinator for the Office of the State Attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit. The mayor noted Portier’s roles as president of the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition and her previous advisory work with Nova Southeastern University’s Coalition for Research and Education Against Trafficking and Exploitation.
Portier told the commission she was born and raised in Deerfield Beach and said Florida is a ‘‘hub for human trafficking,’’ with Broward County seeing significant cases involving young people. "This work is very important for me because Florida is a hub for human trafficking, and we have a serious problem in Broward County, especially with our young people," Portier said. She thanked the commission for the recognition and urged partnership: "I hope that the city and the commission will partner with me in fighting. We've been in this fight a long time, and we're gonna continue this fight until we don't need to fight it anymore." (Transcript excerpt.)
Vice Mayor Drosky, who sponsored the recognition, told the commission the item was ‘‘long overdue’’ and praised Portier’s recent Deerfield Beach symposium, which he described as well attended. Several commissioners and residents expressed appreciation for Portier’s work and said they looked forward to future collaboration.
Ending: The recognition establishes an on‑record acknowledgment of Portier’s role in the county and the commission’s interest in future partnerships; no formal funding or new program commitments were made during the meeting.
