Community
Freedom
Summit
In partnership with
Free & Open to the Public
Eastern Time
Walsh University
Cecchini Center Arena
Community Freedom Summit
A Human Trafficking Awareness Event and One-Mile Freedom Walk
Join us for a morning of community education, awareness, and action. Hear from our keynote speaker, explore the Community Partner Marketplace, and connect with local organizations working to make a difference. Guests will also have access to free educational resources, giveaways, light refreshments, and new Not For Sale merchandise.
The event will conclude with a one-mile Freedom Walk in silence to honor victims and survivors of human trafficking and visibly demonstrate our community’s commitment to ending exploitation—one step at a time.
2026 Topic
Think Globally, Act Locally in the Fight Against Human Trafficking
Walsh University Alumna Amy Alexy’99
2026 Keynote Speaker
Amy Alexy
Chief People Officer at Signature Aviation
Board Member at Covenant House International
Amy Alexy is Chief People Officer at Signature Aviation, the world’s largest private aviation terminal company. She leads the company’s people strategy, supporting growth, strengthening organizational culture, and enhancing the team member experience in alignment with Signature’s hospitality-focused service standards.
Previously, Alexy served as Chief Human Resources Officer at Royal Caribbean Group, where she helped guide the company through the pandemic and led its people strategy during the return to service. She also led global talent initiatives at Novartis and served as Vice President of Global Talent at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
A certified executive coach, Alexy has leadership experience across manufacturing, financial services, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, aviation, and hospitality. She also serves on the board of Covenant House International.
She holds an MBA from Kent State University and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Walsh University.
Senior Vice President of Key Partnerships at Covenant House International
2026 Keynote Speaker
Ashley Crawford
Senior Vice President of Key Partnerships at Covenant House International
Ashley Crawford leads the organization’s strategic partnerships with companies and private foundations to advance its mission to help young people overcome homelessness. Ashley joined Covenant House in 2009 in direct marketing. Inspired by the organization’s culture, she went on to play a critical role in launching Covenant House’s peer-to-peer fundraising movement, Sleep Out. In 2015, Ashley led the development of the organization’s first corporate partnerships department, resulting in $50M+ in new revenue over 10 years and new opportunities for young people.
Recognizing the strong correlation between youth homelessness and human trafficking, Ashley’s team launched Covenant House’s Anti-Human Trafficking Council, bringing together corporate leaders – including Signature Aviation, Marriott International, and Hard Rock International – from industries where trafficking risk is high. Together, these partners share knowledge and strengthen anti-trafficking practices across their sectors.
Prior to Covenant House, Ashley served two years with City Year New York, where she helped develop and implement a service-learning and leadership program for middle school students in Long Island City. Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Michigan State University and an MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy from New York University.
When she’s not at Covenant House, you can find Ashley with her husband and two daughters (likely on the lake in summer or the slopes in winter) in Michigan, where they reside.
“We’re delighted to have Amy, a Walsh University alumna who truly exemplifies servant leadership, as our speaker this year. Her work in human trafficking advocacy and action continues to create meaningful change within her industry, and we are grateful for her partnership in this effort.”
Kathie Gray, President and Co-Founder of Not For Sale: One Step at a Time
School Spirit Battle
Calling All Local Schools!
Join us Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Community Freedom Summit for the ultimate School Spirit Battle! The school that shows up with the most spirit will receive the Freedom Advocate Award.
- Wear your school colors
- Create anti-human trafficking awareness signs
- Show your school spirit
- Stand up for freedom
Event Schedule
Community Partner Marketplace
Location: Cecchini Center
Red Sand Project
Location: Walsh University campus
Freedom Advocates
Location: Walsh University campus
Keynote Presentation
Location: Cecchini Center Arena
One-Mile Freedom Walk
Location: Walsh University campus
Schedule details and activity locations are subject to change.
Community Partner Marketplace
Begin the event with community, connection, and purpose.
From 9 AM to 10 AM, guests are invited to explore the Community Partner Marketplace. Enjoy light refreshments while connecting with local organizations, receiving free educational resources and giveaways, and browsing new Not For Sale: One Step at a Time merchandise.
Make a Lasting Impact.
Support the Summit.
Your sponsorship helps raise awareness of human trafficking, expand the event’s reach, provide educational resources, and engage hundreds of attendees, including students and student-athletes from across our community.
Corporate and individual sponsors are invited to partner with us for the annual Community Freedom Summit and One-Mile Freedom Walk, an impactful event of education, advocacy, and action.
2025 Community Freedom Summit Recap
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Community Freedom Summit and One-Mile Freedom Walk.
Community members, students, advocates, and partner organizations gathered to learn, connect, carry awareness signs, and walk in silence in honor of victims and survivors of human trafficking.
Thank you for rising up, uniting with us, and showing up for freedom and justice in our community. Together, we can help build a future free from human trafficking.
Scenes from the 2025 Summit
Featured Experiences
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Red Sand Project
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Music by DJ Nikolina from Q92
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One-Mile Freedom Walk
Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors
We are grateful to the corporate sponsors, community partners, and individual donors who supported the 2025 Community Freedom Summit. Their generosity helped advance human trafficking education, awareness, and advocacy throughout our community.
Corporate Sponsors and Community Partners
Individual Sponsors
Tom and Annette Bader, Hannah McKinnon, Kristin Worley, Gary Nied, Brian Friend, Steve Miller, Cynthia Webster, Jay Miller, Jennifer Brown, Catherine Mannos, Amy Scheetz, Jeri Knight, Randy Lipscomb Jr.