Local principals and nonprofits urge public to join Nov. 1 Walk for Freedom to combat human trafficking
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Summary
Sanjay Brown, representing Ocassa (Orange County Association of School Administrators), asked board members and the public to support a Nov. 1 Walk for Freedom at Edgewater High to raise awareness, distribute prevention resources and raise $50,000 for local recovery partners.
Sanjay Brown, representing the Orange County Association of School Administrators (Ocassa), urged the Orange County School Board on Oct. 14 to take part in Walk for Freedom Central Florida, a public awareness and fundraising event the group will hold Nov. 1 at Edgewater High School.
Brown said human trafficking is a "multi billion dollar criminal industry" and described recent hotline counts in Florida: "In 2023, the National Human Trafficking Hotline recorded 1,875 signals and 676 identified cases in Florida." He called Central Florida "high risk" and urged the board to move beyond awareness to give families practical prevention tools.
Brown outlined the Nov. 1 schedule: resource fairs at 3 p.m., an afternoon program at 4 p.m., and a silent walk at 5 p.m. He asked attendees to wear solid black, bring students and community groups, and consider donations; organizers aim to raise $50,000 to support A21 and three local partners — Flight Center, 1 More Child and Paving the Way Foundation — and to provide prevention and recovery services.
Brown noted partnership with the district’s Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Advisory Committee and listed resources on the event website, including parent guides, warning‑sign checklists, online‑safety materials and classroom mini lessons. He asked the board to share the resource link widely and said organizers want the district to use the materials in staff professional development and family events.
Board members voiced support. Member Gallo said she expected the Human Trafficking Task Force to participate and stressed education: "The only way they know they see something is to be educated on what to look for." Member Ferrant, who has worked on related mission efforts abroad, told Brown that trafficking occurs locally and online and praised the event for raising awareness and offering concrete tools.
Brown concluded by asking for community presence on Nov. 1 to show students that safety is a top priority and to move from awareness to prevention and recovery.
