Preventing Human Trafficking and Career Prepping for the Developmentally Disabled

April 14, 2024 ~ The city of Detroit is deep in preparations for the NFL Draft coming later this month. More than 400,000 visitors are expected to descend on the city and nearby suburbs. According to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, human trafficking, in which men, women, and children are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude, and other labor for little or no pay, is a large and growing criminal industry worldwide, including in Michigan. Anytime there are large events, the problem of human trafficking can accelerate. Dr Jamie Hope, Medical Director Corewell Health Livonia is a nationally recognized expert on the topic, and she joins Michigan Voices to outline the issue and what can be done about it.

The Rising Star Academy in Center Line has a unique mission, provide a place for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults to belong, and develop the necessary skills to participate at their full potential within the community. Mark Prentiss, a professionally trained chef, and his wife Debra, founded the post-secondary charter school in Center Line which provides a hands-on career prep for students between the ages of 18-26. The school now includes a bakery and coffee shop and has plans for expansion to a golf course.