Honorary Board |
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Mayor Richard M. Daley |
 Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has earned a national reputation for his innovative, community-based programs to address education, public safety, neighborhood development and other challenges facing American cities. Time magazine, in its April 25, 2005 issue, said Daley "is widely viewed as the nation's top urban executive."
Frustrated with the performance of Chicago's schools, Daley assumed responsibility for the Chicago Public Schools in 1995. His new management team closed a $1.8 billion deficit; made homework mandatory; ended social promotion of underperforming students; improved school safety; greatly expanded summer school, after-school and early childhood education programs; and invested more then $4 billion in capital improvements. |
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Mayor Shirley Franklin |
 In 2001 the people of Atlanta elected Shirley Franklin, a first time candidate for public office, to serve as the 58th Mayor of the City of Atlanta. She became the first female mayor of Atlanta and the first African American woman to serve as mayor of a major southern city. Since her inauguration in 2002, Mayor Franklin has worked to build a “Best in Class” managed city by strengthening existing frameworks, implementing progressive changes and making the tough decisions necessary to improve Atlanta. She has returned accountability to city government and improved the quality of life for all Atlantans. Among her many accomplishments over the past 7 years, Mayor Franklin established the “Dear John” public education program to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Atlanta. |
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Amparo Grisales |
 Amparo is one of Colombia’s national treasures having been in the public eye for many years as a renowned actress and model. Best known for her roles in film and on television, she is also an ardent human rights advocate with a special interest in finding ways to end the trafficking of Colombian girls and women for use in the commercial sex industry all over the world.
“Governments in all of Latin America must make the protection of its citizens a priority – rich or poor, brown or white. Our children are not a commodity to be sold for sex.”
Amparo Grisales
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Christine MacMillan |
 The present role of Commissioner M. Christine MacMillan is directing the newly formed International Social Justice Foundation of The Salvation Army. The mandate of the Commission is to serve The Salvation Army as ‘the principle international advocate and advisor’ on social, economic and political issues and events giving rise to the perpetuation of social injustice in the world. See ISJC Website at The issue of human trafficking finds Christine serving as the spokesperson and chair of the anti-human trafficking taskforce with the World Evangelical Alliance. The life of Christine MacMillan knows the imprint of residing in 5 countries picking up on culture, values, faith and approaches to living out her mission as a Salvation Army officer.
"The plight of modern day slavery is unacceptable. Known as human trafficking, victims are silent voices in the hidden darkness of forced indignities. Trafficking is an injustice to God's desire to live in relationships of mutual respect. Together on Abolition Day we beat the drum louder and longer and sound the cry of freedom with informed conviction and creative compassion."
Commissioner M. Christine MacMillan
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Peggy M. Montes |
 Bronzeville Children's Museum founder Peggy Montes started her career as a teacher in the Illinois public school system. In 1978, Montes began devoting her energy to philanthropic and volunteer work, becoming particularly involved with the DuSable Museum of African American History. She served as chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the Museum from 1989 to 1993, heading the construction of the museum's Harold Washington wing. This role gave her the distinction of being the first woman to chair both the museum's governing body and its Building Committee. She also was appointed by the late Harold Washington as executive director of the Chicago Commission on Women.
On August 20, 1993, Montes and a group of dedicated business, civic, cultural and educational leaders founded the Bronzeville Children's Museum in Evergreen Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The first and only African American children's museum in the country, the Bronzeville Children's Museum's mission is to educate and expose children to the rich contributions, culture and heritage of African Americans and peoples of Africa and its diaspora through activities, interactive exhibits and games. |
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Benjamin Perrin |
 Benjamin Perrin is Assistant Professor at the UBC Faculty of Law and a Faculty Fellow at the Liu Institute for Global Issues. His teaching and research interests include domestic and international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and human trafficking.
Professor Perrin serves on the UBC Senate, and is the Justice, Policing and Security domain leader with Metropolis B.C., supported by the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Professor Perrin is the founder of The Future Group, and he served as Executive Director of this non-governmental organization that combats human trafficking from 2000-2006, including leading its inaugural project in Cambodia. The organization works with victims overseas, assists with the extraterritorial prosecution of offenders, and conducts public policy research on the issue. Professor Perrin was named as a "Hero in the Fight Against Modern-Day Slavery" by the U.S. Department of State. |
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Ben Skinner |
 E. Benjamin Skinner is a fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy of Harvard Kennedy School, and a Senior Fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University. He has reported on diverse topics from five continents for Newsweek International, Travel & Leisure, and others. The Overseas Press Club awarded his first book, A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery, a citation in its book category for 2008, and he was named one of the Adventurers of the Year 2008 by National Geographic Adventure.
"Those of us who have seen slavery up close, who have spoken with slaves, survivors and traffickers, know the monstrous nature of this crime. But we also know that, with concerted effort, it can be eradicated and slaves can make themselves agents of their own freedom. 225 years ago, the first abolitionist movement began with a school project, namely a Latin essay competition won by Thomas Clarkson. Today, students again are called by the Abolition Day Project to finish Clarkson's work, and fulfill the dream of slaves and abolitionists since him."
E. Benjamin Skinner |
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