Derek Ellerman

Derek Ellerman
Derek Ellerman testifying before Congress
Education	Brown University, Sc.B. in Cognitive Neuroscience
Occupation	social entrepreneur, activist
Known for	Co-Founder, Polaris Project, anti-slavery activism
Title	Chairman of the Board, Co-Founder
Awards	Ashoka Fellow, Brown University's John Hope Award for Community Service
Website
www.polarisproject.org

Derek Ellerman (born June 27, 1978) is the Co-Founder, former Co-Executive Director, and current Board Chair of Polaris Project, a Washington DC-based organization that combats human trafficking and modern-day slavery. In 2004 he was selected as a Fellow by Ashoka: Innovators for the Public.^[1]

Education

While an undergraduate student at Brown University, Ellerman founded and served as the Executive Director of the Center for Police and Community (CPAC), an organization that addressed issues of police misconduct in Providence, Rhode Island. At CPAC, Ellerman assisted individual victims of police abuse and helped successfully push for the creation of the first civilian review board for law enforcement in Rhode Island.^[1][2]

Ellerman graduated from Brown University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Neuroscience.^[2] He is the son of David Ellerman, an author and economist specializing in workplace democracy.

About Polaris Project

In 2002 Ellerman co-founded Polaris Project with classmate Katherine Chon. Polaris Project is a leading organization in the United States and Japan combating all forms of human trafficking. Polaris Project uses a holistic strategy, using experience gained through working with survivors to guide the creation of long-term solutions. Polaris Project strives for systemic change by supporting stronger laws and operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline [phone]), and providing services to help their clients and all victims of human trafficking.

External links

• Derek Ellerman’s Ashoka Fellow Profile
• Derek Ellerman’s personal website
• Polaris Project website
• Congressional Testimony, 2004
• Article in Brown Alumni Magazine
• Article in the Washingtonian Magazine
• Interview on Exceptional Lives

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ashoka: Innovators for the Public website, [1], Accessed July 2007
2. ^ ^{a b} Bunch, Will and Charlotte Bruce Harvey: "Against Their Will", Cover Story, Brown Alumni Magazine, Feb 2005

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Name	Ellerman, Derek
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Date of birth	June 27, 1978
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