Dear Friend,
What is the difference between Wage Theft and Human Trafficking?
At the core, these crimes are both a result of an imbalance of power. Wage theft occurs when employers deny workers their earned wages and benefits to which they are entitled by federal and state labor laws. Underpayment, unpaid overtime work, and outright withholding of wages are examples of wage theft. Human trafficking occurs when a person is forced, defrauded, or coerced into performing work (sex or labor) for another’s profit.
Day laborers waiting for work at 19th and Federal, Denver from Wage Theft and Its Victims in Colorado. Read the report here.
Wage theft can rise to the level of labor trafficking where it is coupled with physical and psychological force. For example, where the employer threatens the safety of the worker or worker’s family, or uses false recruitment practices.
Employers have been found to engage in labor trafficking across different industries, from construction to restaurants and massage parlors. Recent research from the University of Denver from 2015-2017 on 411 day laborers in Colorado reveals the prevalence of wage theft in Colorado.
ALIGHT works on all forms of human trafficking, serving clients who have experienced sex trafficking, labor trafficking, or both. Join us at the ALIGHT Community Happy Hour on Monday, August 19th 5-7 pm at Baere Brewing on 320 Broadway Unit E, Denver to meet our incredible community partners and pro bono attorneys doing this work on the ground.
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 EVENTS
AUGUST 15-17, 2019 FAMILY LAW INSTITUTE SYMPOSIUM, VAIL, CO
Family law is a high-needs area in human trafficking. One survivor may need to divorce her husband, who is also her trafficker. Another survivor may need to speak with someone about the process for obtaining a civil order of protection against his or her trafficker. ALIGHT is pleased to participate in this symposium and connect to family law practitioners interested to use their skills and expertise in this critical area of law to make a difference in the lives of trafficking survivors. Stop by our table to learn more or get in touch!
AUGUST 19, 2019 ALIGHT COMMUNITY HAPPY HOUR, BAERE BREWING, DENVER, CO
Connect with the people fighting for the rights of trafficking survivors in our community! Join us as ALIGHT returns to mingle and catch up at Baere. A portion of sales benefits ALIGHT.
WHEN: Monday, August 19th 5-7 PM
WHERE: Baere Brewing, 320 Broadway, Unit E
Invite your friends and share on Facebook!
SEPTEMBER 29, 2019 THE JUSTICE RUN, HUDSON GARDENS, LITTLETON, CO
Run for Justice with ALIGHT at this fun community event!
- Register yourself to run a 10K or 5K (remember to enter “ALIGHT” when you register to ensure 100% of your registration fee supports 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 to support the ALIGHT Team? Donate here!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
In June, ALIGHT was honored to welcome the 8 activists recognized by the U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Office who stopped in Denver on their 3-city tour. These “TIP Heroes” tirelessly work around the world to end human trafficking. For example, Agnes De Coll (pictured second from right) runs crisis shelters and transition programs in Hungary. Learn about their impactful work here.
ALIGHT WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
ALIGHT is pleased to welcome the following new Board Members.
Peggy Fraser (BS, The University of New Hampshire) brings more than 25 years of experience in client engagement and business development having led sales efforts and strategic partner management in both the private and public sectors. She is the SVP of Sales and Marketing at Soleo.
Tonia Bleecher (MA, The University of Maryland College Park) contributes her 20 years of progressive leadership experience within multi-disciplined teams utilizing expertise in strategy, business development, client relations, quality delivery, and account management across geographically dispersed teams. She is the Chief Growth Officer at Vantech Solutions.
Will Healy (BA, The Webb Institute of Naval Architecture) has experience that includes work in a variety of disciplines including IT systems development, emergency preparedness, transportation security, and environmental policy for clients around the world. He is a Vice President with the global consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.
Stephanie Marsden Bidstrup (MBA, Duke University Fuqua School of Business) has more than 18 years of experience in delivering strategy, program management, process re-engineering, and technology solutions to public sector clients. She is a Vice President with the global consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.
Laurie Kuhn (BA, The University of Michigan) brings over 20 years of experience in digital innovation, having built her career on identifying disruptive opportunities to address unmet market needs and making transformation happen. She is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Flyreel, which delivers AI solutions for property insurance.
IN THE NEWS
Read “Using Power for Good” in The Colorado Lawyer here.
A recent article in The Colorado Bar Association’s The Colorado Lawyer profiles the work of anti-trafficking attorney and activist Beth Klein of Klein Frank PC, who has worked with ALIGHT to assist human trafficking survivors. Ms. Klein shares the need to get attorneys involved in the fight and and the importance of ALIGHT’s work:
“One of Beth’s partners in the fight is a nonprofit called “ALIGHT,” or the Alliance to Lead Impact in Global Human Trafficking…ALIGHT uses an app designed to match pro bono attorneys nationally with victims of trafficking who are trying to reclaim their lives. Attorneys are matched instantly to assist victims in domestic or juvenile proceedings…to assist with employment; or [to] even su[e] their traffickers to recover damages that can then be used to gain independence.”
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT ALIGHT!
Click on AmazonSmile and sign up ALIGHT as your charity of choice, and Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the price of your eligible purchases.
