Atlanta Joins Forces with BEST

​​The Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force and BEST broke new ground in October by gathering business leaders from across metro Atlanta to discuss how businesses can prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of Georgia’s children and women. “Georgia businesses are already providing financial support and volunteers but when employers learn about this issue, they want to do more,” said BEST Director, Mar Brettmann. “The BEST Employers Alliance was founded by employers to provide resources for employers to be more actively involved in prevention efforts by also creating jobs for survivors and by establishing policies and training to uphold the rights of the sexually exploited.”
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The BEST Employers Alliance is a partnership of public and private employers who are working to prevent sex trafficking by implementing best practices: (a) donating time and services, (b) providing employment, and (c)]aligning internal practices.

Phyllis Finley, Executive Vice President at Randstad, the world’s 2nd largest HR service provider, explained that Randstad strategically partners with organizations that complement the company's efforts to shape the world of work and benefit the communities in which Randstad operates.

​Randstad participates in the Hire Hope program, executed in partnership with the Empowered Living Academy (ELA), that helps survivors of human trafficking or those at-risk flourish, by utilizing the knowledge and professional experience gained during a career-readiness curriculum to reintegrate into the economy in a positive way.  30-40 participants are placed in paid apprenticeships each year.