Play The Part, Protect Our Youth

Join us for our special community convening in recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month. The event will take place on January 23, 2026, at 11:30 AM at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead. This gathering will showcase our "Play The Part, Protect Our Youth” Project, which encourages all of Atlanta’s youth to have safety plans developed with trusted family and adults should they encounter unsafe adults or situations.
Our collective leadership and commitment to protecting youth will be amplified during this event as we prioritize educating both youth and parents alike. You'll hear special remarks from Executive Deputy General Manager Ms. Jan Lennon with the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and a special panel moderated by Emmy-Award Winning Journalist Rose Scott, featuring:

• Ms. Erika Mitchell, President, Atlanta Public School Board
• Ms. Joy Brown, Human Trafficking Liaison, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
• Special Agent Jonathan Leach, Georgia Bureau of Investigations, Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (HEAT)
• Ms. Earnelle P. Winfrey, Esq., Deputy District Attorney, Special Victims Division | Human Trafficking & Internet Child Exploitation Unit, Office of the Fulton County District Attorney
• Ms. Angela L. Smith, Senior Operations Manager & Human Trafficking Liaison, Mayor's Office of Violence Reduction (MOVR)

Ms. Deborah Richardson, the Founding Executive Director of youthSpark (formerly known as the Juvenile Justice Fund) and a “Founding Mother” of Georgia's human trafficking movement, will deliver a special call-to-action as youthSpark prepares to celebrate 25 years of service.

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