Overview
(August 9, 2023) – Marriott International and the University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment Center for Human Trafficking Survivors (the SAFE Center) announced the nationwide expansion of Future in Training (FiT) Curriculum that seeks to equip survivors of human trafficking interested in embarking on careers in hospitality with necessary information and resources. The national rollout will span 11 metropolitan areas throughout the continental US and is expected to train up to 150 survivors by July 2024.
The University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors is a comprehensive services, advocacy and research center for human trafficking survivors. The center provides legal, crisis intervention, behavioral health, and economic empowerment services to sex and labor trafficking survivors of all ages and nationalities. Founded in 2016 by Steptoe international partner and former Deputy US Trade Representative Susan Esserman, the SAFE Center grew out of her pro bono work representing human trafficking survivors at Steptoe. She continues to provide pro bono legal representation to sex and labor trafficking survivors at Steptoe and leads Steptoe's pro bono work in this area.
Anthony Capuano, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International said: "We are proud to expand our commitment to survivors of human trafficking and deepen our anti-trafficking efforts. This curriculum helps fill a market-based need for trained talent and offers survivors access to skills-based training and meaningful careers in the hospitality industry. We look forward to expanding our support to the SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors as it scales the FiT Curriculum nationwide."
The initiative builds on Marriott and GFEMS' successful pilot of the FiT Curriculum implemented by the SAFE Center for Human Trafficking and three other service providers in Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas, Texas; and New York, New York in 2022. Building on the pilot's success, the SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors was awarded an inaugural grant from the American Hotel and Lodging Association Foundation's No Room for Trafficking (NRFT) Survivor Fund to grow the FiT Curriculum across the country.
"We have seen the profound effect hospitality training can have on survivors' wellbeing and autonomy," said Susan Esserman, SAFE Center Founder and Director. "The American Hotel and Lodging Association award provides an opportunity to scale the impact of the hospitality training program to human trafficking survivors across the country. We are immensely grateful to Marriott International for their innovative leadership in developing hospitality training for survivors and their commitment to empower survivors by offering vital employment opportunities that advance economic empowerment and financial stability for survivors and their families."
Read more about the nationwide training program in Marriott's press release.
About Steptoe
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
The diversity of the firm is a critical factor in its success. The firm’s Chair is a woman; the majority of the firm's elected executive committee is female; the majority of Steptoe's nine offices are managed by women; and the majority of Steptoe’s practice groups have women as leaders. The firm's six-person professional business services leadership is equally diverse, with two women of color, and other leaders who openly identify as LGBTQ+.
