Truckers Against Trafficking executive director and co-founder Kendis Paris was recognized for her efforts to combat human trafficking recently with a presidential award.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo presented Paris with the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons on Oct. 29 during a meeting of the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.
“As executive director and co-founder of Truckers Against Trafficking, Ms. Paris works to educate, equip, and empower and mobilize the trucking industry to recognize and combat human trafficking,” Sec. Pompeo said. “Her dedication has contributed to innovative partnerships with industry, state agencies, and law enforcement, leading to increased arrests and prosecutions of traffickers – outstanding work. Ms. Paris, congratulations.”
Paris recognized the role truckers have played in Truckers Against Trafficking’s success.
“On behalf of all professional drivers, truck stop and bus terminal employees, I gratefully accept this award,” Paris said. “It is their daily efforts to recognize and report potential trafficking cases that are making a difference in the lives of victims across our nation. I’d also like to thank the diligent and passionate members of the TAT team for their tireless work in moving our mission forward, as well as the USDOT for the nomination and their efforts around the advisory council this year, whose report recommendations we hope become widely implemented.”