POTSDAM — The New York State Safe Harbour Program and the county Department of Social Services will host a series of free presentations highlighting National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is April 23-29. All events will be held on SUNY Potsdam’s campus and are open to the public.

On Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the program will host Dr. David Bugg, Amy Joy, Armand King, Megan LaSala, and Jose Alfaro in room 211 of Stowell Hall on SUNY Potsdam’s campus. Light refreshments will be provided.

Dr. Bugg’s presentation, “What's so Important about a Bag of Rice? How small changes can have a big impact on human trafficking” uses a sociological lens to examine how life in the North Country is connected to the global problem of human trafficking and how even small alterations in our actions can contribute to change.

Amy Joy’s presentation, “Sex Trafficking, Early Childhood Abuse, and the Developing Person: Making Connections” provides data and uses her own experience with abuse, severe dissociation, substance abuse, and cognitive issues to demonstrate how deeper systemic issues often unfold.

Armand King is the co-founder of the non-profit “Paving Great Futures and author of Raised in Pimp City.” King guides others out of the prison pipeline, criminal activity, and domestic human sex trafficking. Armand’s experience includes creating and implementing programs serving former gang members, criminal justice involved individuals, and high-risk youth.

Megan Lasala is a trained forensic interviewer who will speak on utilizing the Zero Abuse Project’s FIRST Response to Child Abuse Investigations. The FIRST response to child maltreatment training teaches participants how to listen to children who have experienced maltreatment and gather the correct information needed in a way that puts the child’s needs FIRST.

Jose Alfaro is a consultant and Lived Experience Expert on domestic child sex trafficking, public speaker, author, advocate and activist. He has worked with several anti-human trafficking organizations around the globe to spread awareness on trafficking, specifically within the LGBTQ+ Community and on males.

The event will conclude with a local screening of Stopping Traffic on Wednesday, April 26 from 5-7 p.m. in room 104 of SUNY Potsdam’s Kellas Hall. The film’s director, Sadhvi Siddhali Shree, will be on hand for a question-and-answer session immediately following the film.

Info: Department of Social Services at 315-379-2228.