Summer 2018

Dear Friend,

How is recent federal policy affecting human trafficking survivors?

In light of recent restrictions on federal funding made by the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), survivors’ access to certain legal services are imperiled. Announced this summer, the OVC will no longer fund legal services for expunging and vacating criminal convictions a survivor acquired as a result of being trafficked.

Without the help of a lawyer to clear a survivor’s conviction records for crimes related to their trafficking, the ability of survivors to find jobs, rent apartments, gain admission to educational institutions, obtain financial aid and secure necessary licenses incident to employment will be severely impaired.

We stand with our partners advocating to change this misguided restriction. In addition, ALIGHT’s flexible model allows us to help fill this gap and focus our efforts on recruiting and harnessing more criminal defense attorneys from the private sector to step in, while other agencies that depend on federal funding can no longer help.

For criminal defense attorneys interested to assist at this time by joining our mobilized legal network, contact us here.

Help us step in to fill the gap in legal services for human trafficking survivors. Please consider donating to support the ALIGHT Team at the Justice Run today.

In Full Light,
The ALIGHT Team

ALIGHT exists to unlock a fresh start for survivors. We ENVISION a world where every human trafficking survivor connects to a mobilized legal network to rebuild and thrive.

UPCOMING 2018 ALIGHT EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 ALIGHT’S DENVER STARTUP WEEK HEADLINE EVENT “TECH FOR GOOD,” DENVER, CO: Join us for “Tech for Good: Lessons of a Startup Nonprofit” on Thursday, September 27th at 4:30pm at The Kirk of Highland at 3011 Vallejo St, Denver. Speakers include:
Marianna Kosharovsky – Founder and Executive Director of ALIGHT
Lucy Stribley – ALIGHT Board Member and Senior VP of Flyreel
Robert Lantz – Attorney in ALIGHT mobilized legal network and Partner at Coan, Payton & Payne, LLC
Register for Denver Startup Week here.

OCTOBER 7, 2018 THE JUSTICE RUN, LITTLETON, CO: Stretch those hamstrings and sign up to Run for Justice with ALIGHT. This is a family-friendly anti-trafficking event held at the beautiful Hudson Gardens. There are 3 ways to support us:

Register yourself to run a 10K, 5K or 1K (remember to enter “ALIGHT” when you register to ensure 100% of your registration fee goes towards our mission).
Register and start a team with a purpose (after registering, set up your team fundraiser at “Become a Fundraiser”).
Can’t join but wish you could? Donate to support the ALIGHT Team here!

IN THE NEWS

The Denver Bar Association’s The Docket recently published an article featuring ALIGHT. Given the lasting impacts of human trafficking on the survivors, a way to address the legal abuses is needed. According to Executive Director Marianna Kosharovsky:

“[T]he legal community has a vital role to play with supporting trafficking survivors and that is why we are building an army of pro bono lawyers.”

Read “ALIGHT Expands Tech Program to Mobilize Colorado Lawyers to Fight for the Rights of Survivors of Human Trafficking” here.

ALIGHT INTRODUCES NEW BOARD OF DIRECTOR

ALIGHT is pleased to welcome new Board Chair Bob Connelly.

Bob Connelly (JD, Columbia Law School) brings over 30 years of experience in corporate executive and legal practice positions in the US and abroad, including as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at US WEST and Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Qwest Communications. Mr. Connelly has also served on the Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado (ACLU-CO), where he was the recipient of the 2014 Radetsky Award.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Executive Director Marianna Kosharovsky presenting at the 2018 Colorado Advocacy in Action Conference

APRIL 5, 2018 COLORADO ADVOCACY IN ACTION CONFERENCE, VAIL, CO: At the Colorado Advocacy in Action Conference, ALIGHT delivered a workshop to approximately 60 participants, including victim advocates, prevention educators, outreach staff, mental health professionals, campus professionals, medical providers, law enforcement, prosecutors, military command and advocacy, offender treatment professionals, school counselors and others. We are grateful for the exchange on the different forms that human trafficking takes in the various communities, and to connect to domestic violence agencies throughout the state who need support.