On December 31, President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation, naming January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2015. As a survivor leader and advocate, I am both grateful for and proud of the work the United States of America is doing to eradicate human trafficking and to help victims recover from the trauma suffered in captivity and rebuild their lives.

Freedom is precious and worth fighting for. No one has the right to violate another’s basic human rights, but traffickers do that as part of their business plan. Human trafficking takes many forms: children are forced to be soldiers, people are forced to work eighteen to twenty hour shifts in horrific conditions, others are forced into prostitution and porn. The extent of this crime and the suffering it causes seems to be boundless, it is rampant, global in scale, and it is happening locally, in urban centers and suburbs alike, major cities and small towns.

But we’re making progress, and the situation is rapidly changing for the better, thanks to empowered survivors who have stepped up to share their stories and inform citizens and social services providers about how to identify possible victims, and the needs of victims and survivors. Now, thanks to an ever-increasingly trauma-informed law enforcement, healthcare professionals and behavioral health professionals, the tide is turning.

I am grateful to be a part of the anti-trafficking movement. Since 2009, I’ve been involved in raising awareness about human trafficking, by speaking and telling my story to help others. Since 2013, I’ve been a member of the anti-trafficking task force IPATH, Indiana Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans. In April 2014, I participated with California Against Slavery and eight other survivor leaders, speaking to California State Legislators in support of SB-1165, a bill aimed at combatting child sex trafficking through recommended trauma-informed education in California middle schools and high schools. Governor Jerry Brown has signed the bill into law.

I am looking forward to the honor of being guest speaker at the internationally renowned Museum of Tolerance on Sunday, January 25th at noon PST. This is my third time speaking as a survivor at the MOT.

Speaking is one of my areas of expertise, and I know that by connecting with audiences and letting them know that I survived, healed, and triumphed over the trauma, and through that process, discovered the power and light within myself. I am strong, happy, and courageous, not in spite of the things I have overcome, but because of them.

When I was trafficked to Tokyo and held under the control of organized crime figures, I feared for my life every day. I was lucky enough to escape, but the trauma held me in its thrall for many years. In those days, the term “human trafficking was not yet a part of the popular lexicon, and I struggled to comprehend what had happened to me. Shame and fear stalked my consciousness, I suffered from PTSD, and in an attempt to manage the trauma, began using hard drugs on a regular basis, and slipped into addiction and homelessness. I lost more than nine years of my life to the trauma, but eventually turned my life around.

Today I know that shame and fear are the traffickers’ weapons. They are banking on shame and fear to hold victims prisoner, to enforce the stigma, and to silence victims so they will not report the crimes or identify the perpetrators. For years I was silent, but I came to the realization that my voice matters. And your voice matters. I encourage you to join me in celebrating, protecting, and promoting freedom and basic human rights for all people, everywhere.

Marti MacGibbon is a professional speaker and nationally award-winning author.

Pathway residents and director Sandy Jeffers with Founder Marti MacGibbon, Co-founder Chris Fitzhugh, and Executive Producers Jeremy Inlow and Kevin DeTrude

Laff-Aholics 2014 rocked the house! The October 4th show, at the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s Toby Theater, was the 4th annual standup comedy fundraiser, benefiting Pathway to Recovery and celebrating recovery from addiction. Founder and emcee Marti MacGibbon kicked off the show, killing with her own brand of high-energy, no-holds-barred standup comedy. Headliners Ritch Shydner and Rich Aronovitch thrilled the capacity audience, rocking the 540-seat auditorium with laughter. The show initially raised $5500 on Oct. 4th, and raised enough money for Pathway to purchase a 15-passenger van. The van will be used to aid participants in their recovery by providing transportation to vital community resources, job fairs, healthcare appointments, and many other things. In November, a private family foundation matched what the show raised, resulting in a grand total of $11,000 for our beneficiary, Pathway to Recovery.

Marti MacGibbon is a nationally known speaker and an award-winning, internationally known author.

Human trafficking survivor and advocate Marti MacGibbon was guest speaker at the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana on Wednesday, Nov. 20th.  The session was open to the public. Ms. MacGibbon, a member of the anti-trafficking task force IPATH, Indiana Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans, provided a survivor’s perspective and insights into what victims and survivors need in order to recover and rebuild their lives. Marti is both a subject matter expert and an experiential expert on human trafficking, and is an expert on trauma resolution. She is also a nationally recognized humorous inspirational speaker and a nationally award-winning author. Other speakers included Attorney General Greg Zoeller, Abigail Kuzma, Office of the Attorney General, Skyler Whittington, Indiana State Police, Dr. Lisa Elwood, Indiana University, Tracy McDaniel, Julian Center, and Heather Kestian, Department of Child Services.

Marti MacGibbon delivered a high-energy, inspiring and often humorous keynote speech at the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE) Thanks & Giving Luncheon on Nov. 20th in Indianapolis. Marti is an expert on overcoming adversity, humor, trauma resolution and addiction. She is a survivor of human trafficking, PTSD, domestic violence, homelessness, and hard-core drug addiction who turned her life around using simple, effective strategies and a daily program of renewal. Today, Marti is a nationally known speaker, nationally award-winning author, certified mental health professional, and human rights advocate. Learn more about Marti on her website.

Marti has been interviewed in Investors Business Daily and Entrepreneur, on ABC-TV, CBS-TV, FOX-TV, numerous radio stations, and articles she wrote have appeared in over 150 corporate and trade magazines.

The event included a silent auction art show and luncheon buffet. Marti also signed copies of her nationally award-winning memoir, Never Give in to Fear: Laughing All the Way Up from Rock Bottom.

Marti MacGibbon is a humorous inspirational speaker and a nationally award-winning author. Marti on her website.

Marti MacGibbon is a humorous inspirational speaker, nationally award-winning author, and an expert on trauma resolution and addiction. She is a survivor of human trafficking, domestic violence, PTSD, homelessness and hard-core drug addiction who turned her life around using simple, effective strategies that anyone can employ to create positive changes in their own lives. As a nationally recognized speaker and internationally known author, she is passionate about human rights issues and improving the status of women.

Marti spoke to Women and Gender Studies scholars and faculty as part of their feminist lecture series. She is an advocate for victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual abuse and assault.

Ms. MacGibbon speaks on overcoming adversity, inspiration, addiction recovery and health and wellness.  And she’s funny. After pulling herself up out of poverty, addiction and trauma, she began working as a comedian. Marti has traveled the U.S. as a professional standup comic, and has performed at the world-famous Comedy Store and the Improv in Hollywood.

Marti MacGibbon is a resilience expert and overcoming adversity speaker.

Humorous inspirational speaker and nationally award-winning author Marti MacGibbon delivered the keynote speech at the New York State Occupational Therapists Association (NYSOTA) Annual Conference in Albany, NY. These outstanding health professionals help people to adapt, bounce back, and discover new strengths within themselves. Ms. MacGibbon is a survivor of human trafficking, PTSD, and homelessness who is a certified mental health professional and an expert on trauma resolution and addiction. She spoke on the topics of resilience and connectedness. The capacity audience honored Marti with a standing ovation.

Marti also signed copies of her riveting memoir, Never Give in to Fear: Laughing All the Way Up from Rock Bottom. Albany, capital city of the Empire State, is the second oldest city in the U.S., and has a rich tradition of history, art, culture, and justice.

Humorous inspirational speaker Marti MacGibbon at NYSOTA Annual Conference

Fort Wayne Homepage
By Rohma Siddiqui

October is National Mental Illness Awareness Month and the Fort Wayne VA Hospital hosted an event to provide resources and education on mental illness and addiction.

WFFT’s Rohma Siddiqui spoke with healthcare officials and the keynote speaker at the event. She has more on what the VA is doing to raise awareness about mental health and recovery.

“I’m a survivor of early adolescent trauma, and then also of adult trauma, human trafficking, domestic violence. I had PTSD and I was homeless and I was a hardcore drug addict for 9 years.”

Marti MacGibbon, a former meth addict is now a motivational speaker, author, and standup comic. She travels around the country raising awareness for mental illnesses and recovery. She spoke at the VA Hospital of Northern Indiana in Fort Wayne.

“My mission in life is to break away the stigma surrounding all these things that I’ve overcome.”

Macgibbon says recovery is a possibility for anyone suffering from addiction.

“You have to be connected to a positive support network and that means getting rid of the negatives in your life, people that are dragging you down and that is hard to do if you’re caught up in a cycle of addiction and shame.”

“We have such a wide array of program and we’re so proud of what we offer. We offer evidence based therapies, we offer a recovery orient based programs that are outpatient. We offer programs for women, newly returned veterans a lot of different groups. We provide an array of services depending on what the veteran needs.”

Helen Rhodes is the Chief of Mental Health Services at the VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System.

“Raising the awareness is one of the biggest tools we have to reduce stigma, to get people to understand and get away from a blaming and stigmatizing culture to say we are here to provide help and for the invisible wounds. Mental health is a part of medical care.”

Dr. Robin Palsrok is a local recovery coordinator. Palsrok says using the message of someone’s personal experience can be a very useful resource for raising awareness on mental illnesses.

“Whether it’s PTSD or a substance abuse or schizophrenia, there are studies out there that show recovery is possible from mental illness.”

Healthcare officials say it takes a lot of courage to ask for help. If you are a veteran in need of help, you are encouraged to contact the VA.

Marti MacGibbon with event planner Jill Fuqua of FSSA Division of Mental Health and Addiction at INARMS Conference

Marti MacGibbon is a humorous inspirational speaker and  nationally award-winning author who holds five professional certifications in addiction treatment. The title of her plenary presentation was, “Recovery, Resilience, and the Power of Gratitude.” The capacity audience of addiction treatment professionals and service provides gave her a standing ovation. The statewide annual conference in Indiana was facilitated by FSSA Division of Mental Health and Addiction, State of Indiana.

Marti MacGibbon is a humorous inspirational speaker, nationally award-winning author, certified mental health professional, and survivor of human trafficking, PTSD, domestic violence, addiction and homelessness. Marti delivered the keynote speech at the inaugural Junior League Sustainers forum on October 6th in Cincinnati. The topic was human trafficking and what concerned citizens can do to combat this terrible crime and create positive change in their communities. The sold-out audience gave her a standing ovation.

Marti MacGibbon delivered the keynote speech at the Junior League Sustainer Forum in Cincinnati.

Marti MacGibbon, humorous inspirational speaker, nationally award-winning author, and addiction specialist, delivered the keynote speech at Community Health Center’s 40th Anniversary of their Break the Cycle Celebration. The event, held at Quaker Station in downtown Akron, attracted a full capacity audience, and inspired all attendees to celebrate recovery and break away the stigma surrounding addiction and co-occurring issues. CHC, an outstanding addiction treatment facility that is JCAHO accredited, employs best practices, trauma informed treatment, and continuum of care to individuals who suffer from the disease of chemical dependency. Ms. MacGibbon uses her powerful personal story to inspire others, and shares insights into simple, effective strategies that anyone can use to turn their life around, face adversity and challenges, and realize their personal power. Her talk focused on recovery, hope and the power of gratitude. Audience members, including people in recovery, alumni of CHC’s program, law enforcement, judges, mental health professionals, M.D.s and other health professionals, gave Marti a standing ovation.

Gratitude to Community Health Center and the City of Akron, for celebrating recovery, healing, and real second chances.