Human Trafficking Leadership Team

Our Human Trafficking Leadership Team

Patrick Atkinson

Founder and Executive Director

Institute for Trafficking, Exploited & Missing Persons (ITEMP.org)

Bismarck, North Dakota-native Patrick Atkinson attended Minnesota State University – Moorhead where he earned a BA in Criminal Justice (pre-law) and a BSW in Social Work (chemical dependency counseling). From 1981 through 1983, Mr. Atkinson worked with runaways, prostitutes, and gang members in New York City then-notorious Hell’s Kitchen.

In 1983, Mr. Atkinson moved to Central America where, through 1989, he worked in war-zone relief and reconciliation in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Columbia. Those years were the beginning of a life-long international vocation and career in war-zone reconciliation and post-war reconstruction, which has extended into Southeast Asia, India, Africa, and across Central and South America.

He has a Masters of Nonprofit Management from Regis University with post-graduate studies at Harvard University and the University of Oxford.

Mr. Atkinson is a popular community and university guest lecturer on human trafficking, international nonprofit management, street gang issues, online safety, and safe dating. He was knighted by the Royal Order of St. James, is the recipient of numerous regional and international human rights awards (including the Guatemalan Congressional Medal for Mayan Indian lives saved during the civil conflict of the 1980’s), and is the subject of author Monica Hannan’s biography, The Dream Maker.

Mr. Atkinson is the author of several award-winning internationally-selling books, including Message for My Child and The Powerful You. He is the founder and executive director of The GOD’S CHILD Project, the Institute for Trafficked, Exploited & Missing Persons, The Atkinson Center, and several Central American charities.

When not being shot at, knifed, caught in car bombings, or traveling worldwide advocating on behalf of abused, abandoned, or human-trafficking victims, Patrick resides with his family in Central America, in Bismarck, ND, and at Hippo Wallow Pond, his family home outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Contact Patrick:
Info@GodsChild.org
612-351-8020

Amy Brueckner

Human Trafficking Resource and Crisis Navigator

Institute for Trafficking, Exploited & Missing Persons (ITEMP.org)

Amy Brueckner first began with The GOD’S CHILD Project in early 2022 as the Project’s Sponsorship and ServiceTeam Coordinator before soon transitioning into specializing on GCP’s regional and international anti-human trafficking and victim recovery services.

She joined ITEMP founder Patrick Atkinson in presenting on Clinical Human Trafficking Victim Identification at the Medical School of Tulane University in New Orleans, LA in mid-2022.

Amy is GCP and ITEMP’s prime resource for all calls that come into The GOD’S CHILD Project’s national 888-Be-A-Hero crisis line for victims of human trafficking.

For the past five years, she has worked directly with adults and children in various stages of escaping from the bondage of commercial sex trafficking and exploitation. She also presently works for the City of Minneapolis as a Mental Health Crisis Responder, where she responds to emergency 911 calls.

Amy has a BS in Psychology and Law Enforcement, and near completion of her master’s degree in forensic psychology.

In addition to her school and very fulfilling work, Amy is a wife and mother to three sensational children. She is an avid outdoors and adventure enthusiast and enjoys rock climbing, hiking, mountain climbing, backpacking, ice-climbing, sky diving and international travel.

Contact Amy:
Info@GodsChild.org
612-351-8020

Miguel Angel Alvarez Paz

Central America Human Trafficking Resource and Crisis Navigator

Institute for Trafficking, Exploited & Missing Persons (ITEMP.org)

Miguel Angel Alvarez Paz joined the Asociación Nuestros Ahijados de Guatemala when he was 9 years old as a beneficiary of the Project’s school scholarships program. He graduated as an accountant with a specialization in computer science and has held several professional positions within the Project since then.

He is a graduate of University Mariano Galvez of Guatemala with a degree in Legal and Social Sciences, and has developed, led, and participated in several regional and international activities related to the protection of children and victims of violence. He has worked with ITEMP’s international human trafficking prevention, detection, interdiction, and rescue efforts in Central America, North America, and Africa since 2001, and particularly in Guatemala.

Miguel Angel has just finished writing his first book, an autobiography about growing up in the streets of Guatemala and looks forward to seeing it internationally published in 2024. He enjoys playing soccer and traveling nationally and internationally.

He considers the protection of human rights for vulnerable and excluded populations to be his lifelong vocation.

Contact Miguel Angel:
Admin@ANAGuatemala.org
Info@GodsChild.org
612-351-8020

Human Trafficking Leadership Team

Our Human Trafficking Leadership Team

Patrick Atkinson

Amy Brueckner

Miguel Angel Alvarez Paz

Breaking the Bitter Chains of Poverty Through Education, Housing, Healthcare, and Sustainable Development.