The Los Angeles Unified School Board unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday recognizing January as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill authored the resolution, which was co-sponsored by Board President Scott Schmerleson, Board Vice President Rocio Rivas, Board Members Nick Melvoin and Tanya Ortiz Franklin, and Student Board Member Jerry Yang.
Board Member Newbill said, “Our schools are often the safest place in a young person’s life, and that means we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to act. This resolution recognizes that human trafficking is not an abstract issue — it can and does affect our middle and high school students. By equipping educators with the tools to recognize warning signs, strengthening partnerships with families and community organizations, and providing age-appropriate, trauma-informed education, we are taking concrete steps to protect students, promote their well-being, and ensure every campus is a place where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to seek help.”
“Schools must be places of safety, trust and protection for every student,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “By recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Los Angeles Unified reinforces the critical role education plays in preventing it by empowering students with knowledge, equipping staff to respond and connecting families to support.”
“Los Angeles Unified will continue to be a safe space for all students and we will be continuously training our staff to help when our students require it,” said LAUSD Board President Scott M. Schmerelson. “As we recognize January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, we want to make clear that we will go far to protect our students - or any person - from this crime. If you or someone you know is currently facing a challenge, even if you are not sure, please reach out to your local LAUSD school. You are not alone.”
“Human trafficking is a real and present danger for young people, including students in our schools,” said Board Vice President Dr. Rocío Rivas. “This resolution affirms our responsibility to prioritize prevention, training, and trauma-informed responses, and to ensure every campus is equipped to protect students, support survivors, and respond with care and accountability.”
“I’m proud to cosponsor this important commitment to combat human trafficking—an issue that all too often goes under the radar, said Board Member Nick Melvoin. Human trafficking can happen anywhere, to anyone, and it is our responsibility to make sure that our school communities have the resources to understand warning signs and protect students from potentially harmful situations.”
“Recognizing January as Human Trafficking Month not only builds critical awareness across our schools but also reinforces our responsibility as employees of this school district, said Board Member Karla Griego. Student safety is non-negotiable. We must ensure that educators and classified employees, as mandated reporters, are fully trained to recognize the signs of human trafficking and domestic violence so we can act quickly and protect our students when needed.”
“Any federal action that undermines the operations of the U.S. Department of Education, from the dismissal of staff that oversee special education to the erosion of civil rights enforcement, ultimately harms the most vulnerable student populations we serve," said Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin. We remain unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding student rights and urge Congress to act swiftly to protect the integrity of the Department of Education and to uphold the rule of law.”
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