50th Anniversary Event

In 2019, we celebrated 50 years of INSPIRING ACTION in Portsmouth, OH with "An Evening of Inspiration," an anniversary dinner celebrating our history of inspiring actions and focusing on human trafficking in our local community and related issues. 

Keynote Speaker: April Thacker 
Case manager, Freedom a la Cart

April Thacker is a survivor of human trafficking and has been an employee of Freedom a la Cart for nearly 6 years. April is currently the case manager of FALC and helps empower other survivors of human trafficking to build a new life of freedom and self-sufficiency.

April started working at Freedom a la Cart learning basic kitchen and job skills. She advanced to lead kitchen supervisor while simultaneously working her way through school as a full-time student at Columbus State Community College.

April graduated from CSCC in May 2019 and is a Social Work Assistant and member of Freedom’s management team serving as their case manager. She continues to further her education in social work at Capital University and recently purchased her first home.

“Through the role as a case manager, I’m now able to help our ladies make their employment and educational goals a reality as well. This work gives my life purpose and enables me to give survivors what Freedom gave to me: support, hope, confidence, and success.”

April routine goes above and beyond traditional job duties to make sure survivors at Freedom a la Cart and the Butterfly group have the resources they need for success. Through establishing a professional relationship with a local landlord, April has been instrumental in securing permanent housing for FALC survivors.

April is more than a case manager; she is a beloved role model for all survivors.

Freedom a la Cart is a non-profit organization that empowers adult survivors of human trafficking to build a new life of freedom and self-sufficiency. Freedom operates a full catering business offering workforce development and employment opportunities to job-ready participants. 

Details:
Thurs, September 19, 2019
6:30 p.m.
The Welcome Center (342 Second St)
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Dinner prepared by Chef Will Robinson
Dessert buffet by SCM church bakers
Video by Terry Horner
Music by Elizabeth Scott
Keynote Speaker April Thacker, case manager for "Freedom a la Cart," a Columbus-based organization empowering survivors of human trafficking through wraparound services and workforce training through their catering business.

Ms. Thacker is a survivor of drug addiction and human trafficking and now dedicates her life to empowering other survivors. Hers is a story you will not want to miss.
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We were sad to hear of April's passing in May 2020. Her death is a great loss to the anti-human trafficking community in Ohio. She encouraged and influenced countless survivors and volunteers as she inspired everyone she met. Her vibrant personality, tenacious spirit, and overall resilience have left an impact that reaches far outside of our local community.

If you would like to know more about her story, listen to this podcast HERE with "People Helping People."