Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Engage Together Project (ETP) has selected two students from Faulkner University, Amy “Grace” Faulk and Don Heald, as Research Fellows, joining ten other students from across the state in a multi-year initiative to combat human trafficking in Alabama. The ETP, a project spearheaded by Attorney General Steve Marshall, aims to identify community strengths and weaknesses in addressing human trafficking, foster collaboration among various sectors, and equip local leaders with effective strategies for prevention and survivor support.
The Research Fellows will contribute to the ETP’s mission through research, analysis, and community engagement focused on human trafficking and related exploitation. Faulk and Heald were selected from a competitive pool of applicants from six universities across Alabama, highlighting their dedication to addressing this critical issue. The ETP is a two-phase, three-year transformational community assessment initiative.
Attorney General Steve Marshall emphasized the importance of the Fellows’ role in the project, stating that their contributions will be vital in building the necessary knowledge and partnerships to protect vulnerable individuals, hold traffickers accountable, and strengthen communities throughout Alabama. He described human trafficking as a pressing public safety and human rights concern requiring both compassion and resolve.
Katie Beth McCarthy, Coordinator for the Alabama Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative and lauded the selected students as representing some of the most promising individuals in the state. She believes the Engage Together Project will have a lasting impact on Alabama’s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and protect its citizens. Further information about the Engage Together Project and its partners can be found at https://engagetogether.com/project/alabama/.
