This committee is charged with reviewing strategies to collect statewide data to enable policymakers and law enforcement to assess progress in their efforts to tackle this growing problem.
This committee is charged with identifying and applying for potential grants and other forms of funding.
This committee is charged with reviewing Michigan’s human trafficking laws and policies to determine whether new legislation or policy changes are required.
This committee is charged with developing strategies to raise public awareness of human trafficking.
This committee is charged with reviewing existing training efforts for professionals and determining how those efforts can be enhanced and expanded. These professionals include various groups who may encounter human trafficking such as: law enforcement, health care providers, social-service providers, hospitality providers, and those in code enforcement and regulatory agencies.
This committee is charged with reviewing the needs of human trafficking survivors to determine how those needs can be met at the local and state levels.
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Meeting of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission
May 19th, 2025
Williams Building, Lansing, MI
Called to Order:
Chairwoman, Melissa Palepu, called meeting to order at 12:00PM.
Agenda Items:
Call to order and Welcome. Chairwoman Melissa Palepu welcomed Commission members and the public.
Roll Call. Chairwoman Melissa Palepu took roll call of the Commission Members.
Members Present:
Agenda Item:
Action Item: Approval of the Minutes from Monday, March 10, 2025: The minutes for the March 10, 2025, meeting was approved.
Agenda Item:
Report of the Commission Chair: Chairwoman Melissa Palepu reported on some potential new human trafficking bills that would increase penalties for traffickers and provide more protections for victims/survivors.
Chairwoman Palepu also asked the members and volunteers to play around with the website and see what they liked or didn’t like so we can finalize changes.
Additionally, Palepu summarized her to-do items for the remainder of the year which included updating a list of events for the website, start thinking about new goals and finalize a list of agencies for the website.
Old Business: No old business.
New Business: An update was provided for the upcoming Mixer that was scheduled for 9/10/2025 at 5:30PM on the lawn of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.
The Board provided Committee Reports.
Chairwoman Palepu reported on the Training and Education Committee. It was proposed that Alice Johnson (Board Member), Angela Dudley, Ashleigh Pelto, Jon Walden (Board Member), Katie Papke (Vice Chair), Robin Bolz, Melissa Palepu (Chair), and Stephanie Graef be listed on the Commission website as potential trainers. This action item was moved to the next meeting to allow for all Board members to review qualifications.
Vice Chairwoman Papke reminded everyone to share and fill out the link to the service provider survey created by the Victim Services Committee.
The floor was then opened for recognition of any achievements or awards by attendees. Stephanie Graef recognized Undersheriff Ryan Herring for his recognition at the Sacred Beginning Gala.
Public Comment: Melissa Palepu opened the floor for public comment. Heather McGannon with Michigan Abolitionist Project announced they had changed their name to the Michigan Anti-Trafficking Project.
Announcement of next meeting: The next meeting will be July 14, 2025, both in person at the Williams Building in Lansing and via Teams.
Adjournment: Melissa Palepu adjourned the meeting.