#Iamreal - A Personal Story of Triumph
Vanessa Jass came from very humble beginnings and with a physically abusive childhood, and at 17 years old she was thrown out of her parents' home and ended up in a horrific situation as a victim of domestic human trafficking. At 18 years old, her roommate, and friend Kelly was murdered and she, being the last to see Kelly alive was forced to identify the body. After several attempts of escape, Vanessa made it out of the lifestyle; cheating death on at least 3 different occasions. After escaping she was able to carve out a life for herself and her new baby boy. With the assistance of government funding, scholarships, and many resources, she attended university for 8 years and succeeded at becoming a lawyer. She opened and ran her own firm for over 15 years until the Complex PTSD took over her thoughts. She had this secret within her for so many years, and the traumatic thoughts and thoughts of her former friend never left her mind. 27 years had gone by since the murder and she always believed that she survived all of the traumas suffered for a particular reason but she did not know why. She soon discovered that the reason and that it was time to tell her story. It was time to use her experience to show the world that Human trafficking is not only a news headline that is used from time to time. The victims are real girls, real sisters, real daughters, real mothers, real brothers, real sons.
It is time to show the world who we are, that we are real, that I am real, and my story is real.
Outline/Structure of the Keynote
Introduction of Speaker and personal story
Sample from Book "I Am Real: A personal Story of Triumph" by Vanessa Jass
Introduction of Charity: Kir Foundation: Kelly is Real, purpose, mandate
Question and Answer
Closing remarks
Learning Outcome
Attendees will know how to reach charity, and have the information to use at their own organizations to help victims and survivors of human trafficking. Awareness of human trafficking victims/survivors.
Target Audience
CEOs and Executive Directors of NGO's, Government officials, individuals, victims, survivors of domestic trafficking.
Prerequisites for Attendees
Keynote, or Workshop for awareness for domestic human trafficking.
Could also participate in Survivor Panel
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