Session Description
Session 1 will identify domestic and teen dating violence, how to recognize verbal and emotional abuse warning signs and red flags, reasons why victims stay in the cycle of abuse, the danger of leaving an abusive relationship, the dynamics of abusive relationships as relayed through a survivor, as well as the intersect of domestic violence and human trafficking.
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Meet the Presenters
[foundry_image_tile image=”3539″]Melissa Dohme Hill
Hands Across The Bay
Director of Family Services & Domestic Violence Prevention Advocate
It’s a true miracle that Melissa Dohme Hill is alive and healthy today. In January of 2012, her high school ex-boyfriend brutally attacked her by stabbing her 32 times in the neck, face, arms, and hands attempting to take her life. The attack caused her entire blood volume to be replaced twice, resulting in her flat-lining four times and suffering a stroke in the emergency room. Following that horrific night and her miraculous recovery, Melissa developed the conviction to become an advocate and speak out against domestic violence. She has shared her story with thousands of people, speaking at various national and international domestic violence events, conferences, high schools, and colleges on behalf of Julie Weintraub’s Hands Across the Bay. Melissa has been featured in national and international publications and television shows, including People Magazine, 48 HOURS “Live to Tell”, 20/20 In An Instant, Inside Edition, BBC News, Nancy Grace on HLN, Investigative Discovery, and many more. In an unexpected twist of fate, Melissa met and fell in love with Cameron Hill, one of the first responders on her call. Their fairytale love and wedding in 2017 has captured the attention of millions across the world. Today, they are raising alpacas together at their backyard farm in Pasco County, The Remedy Farm.
Alan Wilkett
SAFE Alliance of Tampa Bay
Corporal Alan Wilkett recently retired from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office where he served for almost 15 years with a total law enforcement experience of over 27 years. Patrol, court security, investigations, crime prevention, and community relations are among the assignments fulfilled in the years of service. In 2007 he was awarded the Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year. Corporal Wilkett holds a Florida Practitioner Designation in both crime prevention and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design).
Corporal Wilkett has devoted the past several years in the fight against human trafficking. He has trained and instructed law enforcement, federal agencies, state and local agencies, NGO’s, along with multiple groups, churches, and organizations. The Pasco Human Trafficking Task Force, the Human Trafficking Commission, and Light Up The Night are founding initiatives. Corporal Wilkett was awarded the 2017 Florida Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Official of the Year from Attorney General Pam Bondi and recently received the Law Enforcement Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Crime Prevention Association.
Alan has hundreds of hours of advanced law enforcement training in areas such as Human Trafficking investigations and awareness, advanced interview and interrogation, homicide investigations, terrorism, active threat, as well as many others. He holds certificates in Human Trafficking Investigation, Cryptocurrencies, Dark Web Investigations, Social Media Investigations, Basic Cyber Investigations and others.
Alan is engaged as a SME(Subject Matter Expert) in Human Trafficking and has presented at The Florida Senate, numerous conferences, civic organizations, Task Forces, panel discussions and others. He has appeared on multiple television, print, digital, and radio mediums as well as The Weekend Report with Jon Scott on the Fox News Network. Alan was privileged to appear in the recent documentary “Blind Eyes Opened”.