The Intersection of Forced Migration and Human Trafficking
September 19, 2019  |  9am – 3pm

Stephanie Bratnick is a trauma specialist with ten years of experience in crisis and conflict intervention. She has developed conflict mediation courses for communities in Mexico; she designed education tools for cultural competency and assertive behavior in China; and she was most recently stationed in Israel as the Sexual Gender-Based Violence Senior Protection Assistant with UNHCR. Her work for the UNHCR focused on designing trauma-informed, durable solutions for asylum-seekers suffering from human rights violations. She also developed a culturally specific domestic violence prevention and response toolkit for asylum-seekers and community advocates. Stephanie recently returned to the United States as the Director of Preble Street’s Anti-Trafficking Services. She holds an MA in Crisis and Trauma from The School of Social Work at Tel Aviv University, a post-graduate certificate in Public Policy from The University of York, and is certified in clinical trauma intervention and field response for humanitarian crisis and natural disasters.

Melissa Brennan is a Staff Attorney with the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project where she represents clients on a range of immigration legal matters. Melissa is an expert on immigration options for foreign-born victims of human trafficking and domestic violence and has lectured extensively on the topics. Before moving to Maine, Melissa worked as a nonprofit immigration attorney in New York City for more than 8 years. Melissa also previously worked as legal fellow for the United Nations conducting field research to investigate human trafficking and labor exploitation among migrant workers in Southeast Asia.

Susan Schnitzer-Johnson is Director of Programs and Compliance at Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI). Ms. Schnitzer-Johnson joined CIRI in November 2016 with over twenty-five years of diverse professional experience, with the last 14 years implementing trauma informed services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking. Over the course of her career she has honed her skills in budget development, project management, fiscal management, grant administration, grant proposal development, program development, legislative advocacy and engaging diverse stakeholders in achieving common goals.

She is thrilled to work with the outstanding team at CIRI as they continue to deliver high quality and comprehensive services to individuals and families new to the United States. The significance of CIRI’s mission and work will be more pronounced as considerable changes are anticipated regarding the federal government’s policies impacting individuals and families seeking safety and opportunity in the United States.

Ms. Schnitzer-Johnson finds the development, management and sustainability of non-profit programs to be highly challenging and immensely rewarding, both professionally and personally. The passion and diversity of the individuals involved in the work and the tremendous need of those benefitting from the programs inspires her to push herself and her colleagues to ensure that
individuals are able to exercise their human rights.

Ms. Schnitzer-Johnson holds a BS in Economics and Public Policy, with a concentration in International Political Economy from Syracuse University and continues with professional development at every opportunity.

Hannah DeAngelis is the Director of Refugee and Immigration Services for Catholic Charities Maine. She’s a board member of the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition and the Mitchell Institute Alumni. Her background is in non-profit management, conflict resolution, anti-racism organizing and classroom teaching. She is originally from Readfield, Maine and a graduate of Colby College.

Caroline Sennet is the Managing Attorney for the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants as well as the Hartford Staff Attorney. Caroline represents both children and adults in immigration cases including family-based cases and applications for relief for victims of crime and trafficking. Prior to joining CIRI in 2013, Caroline worked in private practice. She is a graduate of Tulane University and Tulane Law School.