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Homewood proclaims January 2025 Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month
Summary
Mayor Alex Wyatt read a proclamation declaring January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month; survivors and local advocates urged training, collaboration and services during public comment.
Mayor Alex Wyatt read a city proclamation at the Homewood City Council meeting on Jan. 13 declaring January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month and reaffirming the city’s commitment to awareness, trauma-informed services and cross-sector collaboration.
The proclamation, read into the record at the start of the meeting, cited the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and national estimates of trafficking victims and called for partnerships and survivor-informed responses. Wyatt said the statement was posted on the city website and that the city had begun strengthening accounting and administrative policies following separate financial reviews (see separate article).
During the public comment period following the proclamation, Jasmine Deloach described her daughter’s experience as a trafficking victim and urged the council and community to learn the signs and work collaboratively to prevent trafficking and support survivors. Deloach said her daughter had been moved across state lines and was now held on capital murder charges in Lee County; she asked for help and advocacy ahead of the daughter’s release. The city made no formal action on the proclamation beyond reading and entering it into the meeting record.
Mary Beth Thomas, executive director of Prescott House Child Advocacy Center, urged residents and officials to pursue training and to use local resources and interagency coordination, citing Family Court and victim advocate groups. She encouraged the council and the public to contact local agencies for available trainings and victim services.
The proclamation and speakers emphasized prevention, survivor-centered services and multi-agency coordination rather than any immediate change in city policy or funding. No council vote was required to proclaim the observance; the proclamation was entered into the record and copies were distributed.
The city’s proclamation text and related resources were posted on the city website, and speakers referenced local training partners and family-court advocacy channels for follow-up.
