Vanguard University Brings Together Top Leaders Combating Human Trafficking

March 13, 2012 - PRLog -- Costa Mesa, CA (March 1, 2012) – The beautiful Santa Ana Country Club combined with the mellow sounds of the Vanguard Jazz Ensemble was a perfect setting for the Inaugural Global Center for Women and Justice (GCWJ) gala. As opening night of the annual two-day conference, “Ensure Justice 2012: Standing Together to End the Exploitation of Girls,”  the event attracted leaders from the frontline in communities across our country to learn from the experience and expertise of judges, law enforcement, doctors, nurses, social workers, educators, and community faith leaders.

Organizer Sandra Morgan, GCWJ Director and former Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force Administrator, served as mistress of ceremonies to more than 150 guests who left the awareness-raising event having a profound understanding of the human trafficking travesty. Morgan stirred hearts with reports on her recent trip to Iraq on behalf of women and her commitment to educating our communities to prevent sexual exploitation in our own backyard and globally.

“Justice for Children” was the theme of Keynote Speaker Rhonda Sciortino, radio show host of CRACK THE CODE on KTIE 590 and author of Succeed Because of What You’ve Been Through.  She asked attendees to support the important mission of research and education in addressing injustice for children.  Also making a serious impact on the attendees, Carissa Phelps told of her young life engulfed with homelessness, sexual exploitation and captivity. She recently authored a tell-all book, Runaway Girl.  

VU President Carol Taylor spokes praises of Sandie Morgan’s work and passion to address injustice for children stating, “As Director of the Global Center for Women and Justice at Vanguard University, Sandie Morgan is uniquely qualified to lead our efforts to educate and equip our students and larger community to understand and respond to difficult issues such as human trafficking, abuse, and exploitation of women and children.  Her background as a missionary working with abused and trafficked women internationally and her work here at local, state, and federal levels provides a distinctive platform for collaboration with public and faith-based organizations.”

With human trafficking awareness on the rise, Sandie Morgan responded to President Obama’s recent announcement that January was officially National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, she stated, “This is a step forward in the effort to combat human trafficking that requires much more than awareness.”  In her commitment to combat human trafficking through local community efforts, she just concluded several local and national appearances over the course of January where she spoke and shared her experience in abolishing this heinous crime.

The evening concluded with Morgan’s emotional appeal to attend the next day conferences to support its strategic plan to proclaim dignity, train advocates, and educate communities to respond to commercial sexual exploitation of girls and young women.  She emphasized, “Be a voice and make a difference!”

Distinguished guests also included Lt. Derek Marsh, Chair of Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force; Jeremy Kohomban, PhD, New York’s Children’s Village; Retired Judge Sam Smith, Chair of the Saddleback Justice Task Force;  Darrellyn Melilli, Symphony 100 President; Johanna Townsend, VU Trustee ; Gwyn Hoyt, GCWJ Board Member; Kelly Kannwischer, Vice President for Advancement, VU; and Newport Beach residents Bobbi and Jerry Dauderman among others.

ABOUT VANGUARD UNIVIERSITY’S GLOBAL CENTER FOR WOMEN AND JUSTICE
The Global Center for Women & Justice (GCWJ) at Vanguard University is a faith-based organization that exists to advance the global status of women through research, education, advocacy, and collaboration. Its mission to promote dignity, advocacy and responsibility is global, including partnerships in Cambodia, Honduras, India and Iraq. Morgan recently returned from 2 weeks in Iraq working to build capacity for women with higher education partners at the University of Duhok. For more information about GCWJ visit gcwj.vanguard.edu or contact Sandra Morgan at (714) 966-6360 or sandra.morgan@vanguard.edu. For more information about Vanguard University visit www.vanguard.edu.

PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS (L-R):
Rhonda Sciortino, Keynote/Author, Succeed Because Of What You’ve Been Through
Sandra Morgan, RN, MA, Director, Global Center for Women and Justice, VU
Dr. Carol Taylor, President, VU

INQURIES:
Sandra Morgan    (714) 966-6360    sandra.morgan@vanguard.edu
Kelly Kannwischer   (714) 966-5451    kelly.kannwischer@vanguard.edu