HTTF-SC Advocacy Day Info

HTTF-SC Human Trafficking Awareness Advocacy Day

-ONE VOICE for ONE CAUSE to end modern slavery in Colorado-

At the Colorado State Capitol, February 21, 2013

AGENDA

Host:                         Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado, Betty Edwards, Chair, ht-colorado.org

Legislative Host Committee:

                         Sen. John Kefalas (D), Sen. Steve King (R), 

                         Rep. Beth McCann (D), Rep. Amy Stephens (R)

7:30am to 8:30am 

Legislative Breakfast (breakfast provided for legislators only), Old Supreme Court Chambers (citizens may fill in empty seats), Human Trafficking in Colorado with A.J. Alejano-Steele, Ph.D., Chair, Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT)

8:30am to 9:00am

Citizens make appointments or stop by to visit with Legislators in their offices.  For a list of Legislator’s contact info and office suite numbers go to http://www.leg.state.co.us.

9:00am to 10:30am

Human Trafficking Resolution presented in the House and Senate by the Advocacy Day Legislative Host Committee members: Sen. John Kefalas and Sen. Steve King, Rep. Beth McCann and Rep. Amy Stephens, followed by comments from fellow House and Senate members.  Citizens are welcome in the galley above the House and Senate Chambers.

10:30am to 11:30am

House and Senate are in Committee

11:45am to 12:30pm

Legislative Lunch (lunch provided for legislators only), Old Supreme Court Chambers (citizens may fill in empty seats) The Road to the End: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Participation Panel of experts, moderated by Raj Chohan, of Baker and Hostetler and former Denver CBS affiliate reporter.

12:30pm to 1:15pm

West Steps Rally (press invited)

Brief music selection from Marta Burton's production "Unbounded: Breaking the Chains of Modern Slavery" followed by brief comments from a variety anti-trafficking experts, including Attorney General John Suthers and Denver Chief of Police Robert White, James Yacone, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Denver Division, Beth Klein of Klein and Frank, Brad Riley of iEmphathize, and Aubrey Terry, Clinical Director of Sarah's House, along with survivor testimony. Awaiting confirmation of additional speakers

1:30pm

Official event program ends. iEmpathize display in Capitol, north of Rotunda, will continue to be available for viewing until Capitol doors close to citizens at 3:00pm.

Ongoing throughout the Day: iEmpathize Display portraying human trafficking in Colorado.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN

HTTF-SC HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS ADVOCACY DAY!

February 21, 2013 at the Colorado State Capitol

On Advocacy Day

Where do I park, what door do I go in, and how will I know where to go when I enter the building?

Please find a Capitol map attached indicating best places to park, directions to the Capitol from various points and which entrance to use as you arrive at the Capitol.  Our hospitality team will greet you after you come through security and provide you with all the information you need to make your way around the Capitol and to enjoy the scheduled events.  You will also receive a packet to give your legislators.

What should I do on Advocacy Day while I am at the Capitol?

You may participate in as many activities as your schedule allows.  Review the Agenda to see what is planned.  Please try and accomplish the following while you are at the Capitol on Advocacy Day:

1.     Visit with your legislators for five minutes. (See below for more information.)
2.     Attend the West Steps Rally on the west steps of the Capitol.  (See agenda for details.)
3.     See the iEmpathize display portraying human trafficking in Colorado just north of the Rotunda.

How long should I plan to stay for Advocacy Day?

You can stay for as little time or as much time as you are able!  If you can be there for the whole day, you may arrive as early as 7:30am or 8:00am and stay until at least 1:30pm.   

What if I only have two hours to participate in the Day?

If you have two hours, plan to arrive at 11:30am and stay until 1:30pm:

1.     At 11:30, go see the iEmpathize display portraying Human Trafficking in Colorado, located just north of the Capitol Rotunda. 
2.     Then, around 12:00 Noon pop into the Legislative Luncheon Program in the Old Supreme Court Chambers and hear a panel of experts share “The Road to the End: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Participation" with a panel of experts. (Citizens are welcome to fill in empty seats). 
3.     Finally, at 12:30, head over to the big event of the day: the West Steps Rally, where there will be music and brief speeches from key public officials and agencies as well as non-profit leaders, all passionate to end trafficking.

What if I just have one hour to participate in the Day?

If you have one hour, be at the West Steps by 12:30pm for the powerful Human Trafficking Awareness Rally and media event.  And make sure you get a chance to go inside and see the iEmpathize display at the north end of the building before you leave.

What’s involved in meeting with my legislators?

First, it is important to know that legislators are VERY interested in what concerns their constituents.  This gives you an advantage as you approach them to share your passion to see the end of modern slavery in Colorado.  Here is what you do:

1.     Make an appointment with your legislators before Advocacy Day. For your legislator’s contact information and office suite number go to http://www.leg.state.co.us .
2.     If you are unable to secure an appointment, know where their office is and try to catch them either in their office (see agenda for possible time frames), or in the hall as they go from the House or Senate Chambers to committee, etc.
3.     Plan to meet with your legislator for five minutes, respectfully share your passion to see modern slavery end in Colorado, and ask them to support improved legislation to fight this heinous crime.
4.     Give them the Human Trafficking Awareness Advocacy information packet that you received from our Hospitality Team.

Are food and beverages available in or around the Capitol?

Yes, there is a cafeteria open to the public on the bottom level of the Capitol.  There is also a Panera Grant Street, just a block south of the Capitol and 14th Street.

Before Advocacy Day

Schedule a time to meet with your legislators!

You can look up their contact information and office location within the Capitol online at http://www.leg.state.co.us and click on contact information at the left.  Call their office or send an email and attempt to secure an appointment, or to find out their open office hours for February 21.  However, don’t be daunted if you are unable to secure an appointment!  See the agenda for suggested ways and times to catch up with your legislators on the Day, or just stop by their office.  Your voice counts!

Promote and Invite!

Request an electronic jpeg version of the Advocacy Day Flyer from tamrafarah@gmail.com so that you can:

1.     Post it to your facebook page and invite your friends
2.     Email it to your contacts.
3.     Print it out (you can copy it in black and white if you prefer) and circulate to as many people as possible: at your work, your school, your place of business, your church or house of worship, clubs and organizations in which you take part, etc.

Visit the Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado facebook page - like the page and click on upcoming events.  Find the Advocacy Day event.  In the upper right hand corner you have an option to invite your facebook friends to join the event, too.