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Savannah proclaims January 2025 Human Trafficking Awareness Month; SIDC plans 10th 'Traffic Jam' conference
Summary
The Savannah City Council issued a proclamation recognizing January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and heard from the Savannah Interagency Diversity Council (SIDC), which said the group will hold its 10th Traffic Jam conference at Savannah State University with law-enforcement training and public sessions next week.
Mayor Van Johnson read a city proclamation on Jan. 9 declaring January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Savannah and publicly acknowledged the Savannah Interagency Diversity Council’s (SIDC) 10th annual Traffic Jam initiative, a multi-day awareness and training effort.
The proclamation cites Traffic Jam’s role in educating the public, strengthening partnerships, and providing resources and training for survivor support. SIDC leaders told council the local initiative—started in January 2016—has grown to include law-enforcement training, a job fair and a general-public conference, and that last year’s partnership with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation yielded arrests and reinforced the need for ongoing awareness and training.
SIDC representatives said the 2025 calendar includes a law-enforcement training session on Jan. 24 at Savannah State University’s Student Union along with a job fair immediately afterward, and a general public conference on Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Savannah State University. The group asked for continued city support and participation from local agencies and civic groups; Delta Sigma Theta was announced as a major sponsor for the event.
Speakers included SIDC members Adrienne MacLeod, Tina Browning (SIDC treasurer), Lacresha Cole (board member, Bigsboro Bank), Julie Wade (executive director, Ferris Place, a residential facility for survivors) and others. Julie Wade noted Ferris Place would provide informational materials about survivor services at the council meeting.
Council members emphasized the importance of training for law enforcement and of community partnerships; staff confirmed law-enforcement training at the conference would offer continuing education hours to local officers. The mayor pledged the city’s continued support and affixed the city seal to the proclamation.
No formal votes were required for the proclamation, which the mayor issued at the meeting and entered into the council record.
