Lynn Barletta, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate, Receives Award From Ashley Moody & Statewide Council on Human Trafficking
Florida Human Trafficking Summit honors Mrs. Barletta’s advocacy work. FFA is raising funds to implement program for SDIRC.
Last month, at the Florida Human Trafficking Summit sponsored by Florida’s Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, Lynn Barletta was recognized with the Community Advocate of the Year award. Mrs. Barletta is the founding President of The Florida Faith Alliance. She has been involved in the fight to end human trafficking for 10 years with unique campaigns at schools and through the use of fine arts to raise awareness. The award was presented by Attorney General Ashley Moody.
Mrs. Barletta was extremely grateful. She said, “I am deeply honored to receive the Florida Advocate of the Year from our Attorney General, Ashley Moody at the 2024 Human Trafficking Summit. There are so many volunteers, law enforcement, leaders and churches who have stepped up to help in a grass roots movement that we are seeing across our state to unite and fight child trafficking!”
In her presentation, the Attorney General acknowledged the unique work that Mrs. Barletta and her teams at the Florida Faith Alliance & Visionary Arts School do in raising awareness and counseling trafficked children. She said, “This award is given to an individual who has made significant strides to raise community awareness about human trafficking … Lynn founded several anti-human trafficking organizations and she has given over 100 presentations on the subject. She spreads the word on human trafficking and the signs to look out for. Her work as an artist makes her a unique advocate. She often uses art for awareness and a tool for survivor’s healing during the process.”
As the pastoral leader of Visionary Church founded in 2001, Mrs. Barletta has been coming alongside people to give healing and mentorship for nearly 25 years. Mrs. Barletta is a renowned Fine Arts instructor and her paintings have been presented all over the world. In working with school-aged children, she has been teaching after school art programs most of her adult life. In 2010 as CEO, Mrs. Barletta launched, Visionary Centers International and Visionary School of Arts focusing on after school students. Her students have won over 600 local, national and international awards for youth leadership and fine arts.
In 2015, 80 students participated in creating a giant 250 feet long by 25 feet high mural that was painted on the AT&T building in downtown Stuart. The children raised $12,000 to paint the mural of a river with all of its fish.
In that same year with the funds raised, Mrs. Barletta set out with eight certified counseling therapists in Martin County to work with children at the juvenile justice facility, Martin Girls Academy. Incorporating the Arts, Mrs. Barletta developed with her team a curriculum, Power of Art Curriculum for Abused and Trafficked Survivors. In acknowledging the unique significance of this program, Attorney General Moody shared, “The Power of Art was designed to help ease trauma and to help child survivors to feel a sense of restoration.”
When the program launched in 2015, there were 30 girls who suffered PTSD and severe disorders from being trafficked at the Martin Girls Academy. All 30 showed marked improvement and continued their mentoring. Today, 435 students go through the program each year. Attorney General Moody added, “Lynn is a passionate, powerful voice in the fight against trafficking. Congratulations Lynn on being this year’s Community Advocate of the Year.”
SDIRC - “Not on our watch”
Back on June 10th, Mrs. Barletta’s organization received unanimous approval from the School Board of Indian River County to begin with anti-human trafficking awareness in the school system. The curriculum fits with requirements from the state to raise awareness of sextortion and human trafficking. It was in August that former Indian River County Deputy, Kai Cromer was arrested for child pornography.
It was his first day on the job as deputy walking the halls of Vero Beach HS. Female students recognized him because he had solicited photos from them over SnapChat. Cromer was reported to the Sheriff and they seized his phone which had child pornography on it.
At the workshop, Dr. Moore informed the board that he would keep them up to date on implementation of the programming. On January 7, 2025, Mrs. Barletta scheduled awareness training for instructional staff, principals, nurses, counselors and social workers. Another part of the training is the video, “Don’t Take the Bait.” The presentation is a peer to peer production, kids talking to kids to raise awareness. Mrs. Barletta’s organization produces curriculum that is age appropriate at all grade levels. In 2024, Florida Faith Alliance has partnered with Martin County School District to raise awareness. The costs for programming in Indian River County amount to around $30,000 for full implementation. Florida Faith Alliance is busily raising the funds.
In January, the Indian River County commission unanimously passed a proclamation written by Florida Faith Alliance to stop human trafficking. Commissioners declared, “Not on our watch.”
The cities of Sebastian, Vero Beach, Indian River Shores and Fellsmere also passed the proclamation. At the end of the end of her presentation, the school board agreed, “Not on our watch.”