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Monroe County proclaims January Human Trafficking Prevention Month; Safe Monroe to hold Red Sand Project
Summary
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners adopted a proclamation declaring January 2026 Human Trafficking Prevention Month and heard from Safe Monroe about local awareness events, including the Red Sand Project on Jan. 14 at Courthouse Square.
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 7 adopted a proclamation declaring January 2026 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and presented the document to Marissa Buatti of Safe Monroe.
Commissioner Sharon S. Laverdure presented the proclamation, which noted national estimates of trafficking victims and urged heightened local awareness and education. Marissa Buatti, Prevention and Outreach Specialist for Safe Monroe, thanked the community and said awareness is needed to protect people at heightened risk. “Human trafficking is a degrading crime against people of all backgrounds and ethnicities and community awareness is needed,” Buatti said.
Buatti announced the Red Sand Project — an awareness event intended to symbolize people who “fall through the cracks” and who are at increased risk of exploitation — scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Courthouse Square. The proclamation and the event are intended to mobilize local resources, promote training and support victims, the board said.
The commissioners presented certificates of special recognition to retiring tax collectors and closed the presentation portion of the agenda. No formal follow-up actions were recorded beyond the proclamation and event announcement.
