Moderated by Darren Cunningham, Channel 7 WXYZ Reporter, hear from the experts about sexual violence and how to keep your loved ones safe. We will be discussing what sexual violence is and stereotypes of sex trafficking; what is being seen in Michigan; and what are some of the coordinated efforts to combat it by law enforcement. We will also provide resources to help.
Registration is required to ensure we do not exceed room capacity.
Attendance is free with a suggested donation of $25 to support the mission of Sparrow Freedom Project, a survivor-led and ally supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
MEET OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL
Darren Cunningham
Reporter, Channel 7 WXYZ
Moderator
Darren Cunningham joined 7 Actions News in April 2020. He says he’s glad to be reporting the news in his hometown and connecting with people. Cunningham is a native Detroiter, born and raised on the city’s east side.
Prior to joining WXYZ, he worked in Grand Rapids at FOX 17 as a reporter for nearly 9 years. There, he was known as the FOX 17 Problem Solver and helped people who felt they had nowhere else to turn. Cunningham's work has led to a change in state law and the recovery of hundreds of thousands of dollars for everyday people. His work has also been nominated for two Emmys. He also worked at a news station in Lansing, with experience on both sides of the camera.
While Cunningham remains impartial in his reporting, he makes sure to root for the Michigan Wolverines when they’re competing. After all, he is an alum of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Before that, he graduated from Detroit Renaissance High School.
Sheriff Christopher Swanson
Genesee County
Panelist
Sheriff Swanson is a career police officer with experiences spanning more than two decades. He has served in a variety of positions, including corrections, patrol, narcotics, criminal investigation, death investigation, and command operations. Some of his most notable assignments have been part of the executive protection for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and Vice Presidents Gore, Chaney and Biden.
Christopher commands the police honor guard, which has performed over 100 ceremonies across the state. He augments his police experience as a licensed paramedic and certified Medical Examiner Investigator. This training has led him to witness to some of the most heinous crimes and acts of violence one can imagine, including homicides, suicides, felonies, fatalities and drug overdoses. He shares these experiences to audiences across the country to make a positive impact their lives using lessons from the living and the dead.
Christopher Swanson holds both a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan, along with numerous national and state certifications.
Undersheriff Mike Jaafar
Wayne County
Panelist
Coming soon.
Lieutenant Wendy K. Reyes
Oakland County
Panelist
Wendy Reyes is a lieutenant with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. She has been in the law enforcement field for over 32 years.
As a law enforcement officer she worked the road patrol for 7 years and worked in an undercover capacity in Vice/Narcotic Unit. She then was promoted through the ranks to Captain. During her 8 years as Captain she was in charge of the investigation unit overseeing all investigations including; homicides, rapes, robberies, child crimes and special investigations. Just prior to the transition to Oakland County Sheriff’s Office she held her final position in Pontiac Police Department, as Chief of Police.
As a Lieutenant with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office she worked in an investigative capacity and special projects. She supervises the Auto Theft Unit, Friend of the Court Unit and Fire Investigation Unit. She worked on the Jurisdictions of Excellence Team in Lansing, creating training modules for law enforcement on “Trauma Informed Response to Sexual Assault” and is on a statewide policy making group for responding to sexual assault.
She most recently was chosen to be the Substation Commander for the Commerce Township jurisdiction. She is training and speaking in Michigan and Oakland County on Human Trafficking. Lt. Reyes has been a member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force for 13 years. She works with groups to combat Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking. And has had the honor to know and work with individuals who have been victimized by traffickers.
Lieutenant Reyes has a Bachelor’s degree in business leadership, and in 2014 she graduated from FBI National Academy. In 2016 she went to Nepal, trained law enforcement, prosecutors and NGO’s on understanding trauma and victim centered investigations.
Detective Thomas Carl Boivin
Washtenaw County
Panelist
Coming soon.
Chrissy Hemphill
Chairperson, Sparrow Freedom Project
Panelist
After overcoming her own trauma, Chrissy has spent nearly a decade, in her relentless pursuit to eradicate human trafficking. Prior to this, she spent more than four years serving children of all ages in some of the most violent areas of Detroit. Chrissy has worked alongside countless non-profits and law enforcement agencies including the Detroit Police Department, Michigan State Police, and the FBI.
Through her strategic leadership skills, she has implemented international outreach and victim protection/extraction in five different states. Chrissy’s voice has been heard around the country, as she has strived to educate communities and share her strength with others.
She has been published in the Detroit News and interviewed by multiple television and radio stations, as a subject matter expert.
Professor David Manville
BSW, MSW, LMSW, ACSW
Lecturer, Eastern Michigan University School of Social Work
CEU Training Coordinator, Sparrow Freedom Project
Panelist
In 2011, David developed and has continued teaching the first human trafficking class at a four-year university in Michigan. He has mentored students in their research and presentations at the undergraduate symposium on human trafficking issues since 2014.
He and former students established a human trafficking student organization: ‘Unmasked,’ for which he is the faculty advisor. He has assisted the state of Michigan on re-writing protocols for foster care youth and human trafficking. Dave also developed and executed ‘Train the Trainer’s’ on human trafficking in Jamaica, while on an alternative spring break international service-learning trip. He has currently provided training over 70 times on human trafficking issues.
David has also presented at over 100 conferences/trainings on issues from fatherhood matters, children’s rights in divorce situations, never-married parents’ issues, child custody and human trafficking.
He was the co-founder of the first Fatherhood Collaboration in the state of Michigan and he has served as a board member or on advisory committees for numerous organizations such as Head Start, Children’s Right Council, Men’s Health Network, Healthy Marriage/Healthy Relationships, Intentional Living Collective and Sparrow Freedom Project.