Malinda Harrell says that when it comes to the fight against human trafficking in the meeting industry, one of the key first steps is to unlearn what you think you’ve learned.
Over the past few years, MPI’s Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) Committee, chapter leaders and MPI staff have played a role in ensuring MPI was meeting its commitment to The Code—a multi-stakeholder initiative to fight human trafficking (read more about MPI’s efforts). Harrell, CMP, CASE, director of sales for the Greater Raleigh CVB and chair of the AHT Committee, will be leading a presentation to help meeting professionals learn how to take action against human trafficking in their day-to-day lives (professionally and personally) during MPI’s 12-hour Global Meeting Industry Day (GMID) broadcast on March 30. We spoke with her about why she’s passionate about this cause and the committee’s plans for 2023.
If you could tell meeting professionals one thing to make them truly understand why they need to get involved in the fight against human trafficking, what would it be?
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women and children are trafficked worldwide. It can happen anywhere, and victims can be any age, race, gender or nationality. As meeting professionals, we are designers, problem solvers, leaders, advocates and educators—however, the most important skill that we possess is the power of change. It may seem cliché, however, when we meet, we really do change the world! We can be the force to make a difference.
Can you share a story related to the fight against human trafficking that inspired you?
When I joined the MPI Anti-Human Trafficking Committee, I wanted to be a part of a change to make a difference. I thought I had a good understanding of what trafficking was, and like most of us I was relying on what I saw in movies like “Taken”—spoiler alert, that is not the norm. It wasn’t until I became fully Immersed in committee projects and learning opportunities that it clicked. However, there was a specific interaction that inspired me to want to be a part of this team. There was a moment when I realized that I needed to unlearn almost everything I thought I knew.
I experienced a face-to-face interaction with what I suspected was human trafficking situation. However, this didn’t happen after I joined the committee—it happened at least 10 years before. I was in a well-known store on a sunny afternoon in North Carolina, grabbing a few snacks and beverages for my Saturday afternoon. I had planned to drive around with my convertible top down. I remember being happy, lighthearted and enjoying the sunshine—just all-around good energy. Little did I know that was about to change. As I was leaving the store, an elderly woman approached me and asked for a ride home. It startled me at first. She seemed harmless enough, but the interaction felt strange. I wasn’t even sure how she got there. I must admit I didn’t immediately say yes, but after talking with her for a few moments, I agreed to give her a ride. As we rode to her home in a very affluent neighborhood, she shared that she was far from home (Africa, I don’t recall what part of the continent). But I do remember that she shared some unsettling experiences about the lady she worked for. She said I had to pull around back because her missus (how she described her) would be mad if she came through the front door or realized she was gone. She seemed frightened. She wouldn’t even let me help her with her bags. I just had a gut feeling she didn’t have the freedom to move as she pleases even though she didn’t say that. I felt bad for her, but beyond that, trafficking as I know it today did not come to mind. I did nothing.
Fast forward to when I began to serve on the AHT Committee. I learned about trafficking through training courses and other educational opportunities that shed light on what could have been a trafficking in persons situation; our committee learned and unlearned together. If I had been aware enough to observe what I know now, I would have reported it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and IF it was a case maybe they could have intervened. Remembering that single moment defined my path of service on this committee.
GMID 2023. Enjoy a 12-hour broadcast featuring industry leaders sharing insights and experiences on the impact of meetings on the global economy.
Can you tell us a bit about the MPI Anti-Human Trafficking Committee’s plans for 2023?
MPI is a Top Member of The Code, recognized for their outstanding efforts in implementing child protection measures through their operations.
Our team has a robust list of initiatives; we decided together on the path forward for 2023 and beyond. To highlight a few that we believe will make the highest level of impact:
· Chapter empowerment is still our main focus. Our Anti-Human Trafficking ambassadors will continue to connect and provide support to engage chapter leaders to host a meeting or implement AHT initiatives within their own chapters.
· We are actively curating a panel of experts for trafficking in the meeting industry at WEC23, June 13-15 in the Mexican Caribbean.
· Refining the CMM curriculum for the next cohort.
· New Initiatives include creating a on MPI-branded on-demand training eligible for CMP CEU credits.
Why is an event like GMID important for spreading awareness about human trafficking to participants in the meeting and hospitality industries?
Global Meetings Industry Day 2022 broke records with 40 million impressions worldwide and more than 8.5 million users across the globe.
GMID is the world’s stage and the perfect opportunity to engage meeting professionals to join the war on human trafficking.
What do you hope participants will take away from your GMID presentation?
I will share the BAATC 10|10|10 method of advocacy that meeting professionals can implement now in the fight against human trafficking. Participants should leave the presentation INSPIRED to learn more and EMPOWERED to take action in their day-to-day lives professionally and personally.
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