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Melissa Jeanne Eick
Biographical Info
Melissa Eick, left, 2019 awardee. Presented by Alejandra Muller, president of the UN Association of OKC.
Award ceremony introduction as made by Bill Bryant of United Nations Association of OKC:
“No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.”
–That’s from Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
We like to think that slavery is a problem of another century, a bygone era. Sadly, though, we know that servitude and modern slavery persists in hidden corners of the world – including right here in Oklahoma, where human trafficking is a continuing problem.
Our next award winner is Melissa Eick. She is the founder of The Dragonfly Home, which operates Oklahoma’s first ever state certified crisis center for victims of human trafficking.
Melissa was born and raised in Iowa. She moved to Tulsa in 2008 to attend the University of Tulsa College of Law.
Upon hearing about the human trafficking, Melissa stepped away from a successful career as an attorney to contribute to the fight against the crime. She has selflessly dedicated the last few years of her life, advocating for individuals who have been sold for sex or labor, and educating the community on what human trafficking looks like.
Melissa participates actively on the Oklahoma Human Trafficking Task Force and also serves as an advisor to the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women.
Because of Melissa Eick, many human trafficking victims hear about The Dragonfly Home and get the life-saving, life-changing services they may need.
Please help me welcome, Melissa Eick!
Nomination entry:
Melissa was born and raised in Iowa. She graduated Ankeny High School in 1999 and went on to attend the University of Northern Iowa where she earned her B.A. (2003) and M.A. (2005) in French. Melissa worked in Poitiers, France teaching English for one year, then taught French at Des Moines Area Community College for two years.
Melissa moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2008 to attend the University of Tulsa College of Law. During her tenure at TU, Melissa served on the Student Bar Association, Christian Legal Society, and as the French-speaking Student Assistant for the study abroad program in Geneva, Switzerland. She graduated with honors in 2011 and went on to become a member of the Virginia, Iowa, and Oklahoma state bars. Melissa holds a JD from the University of Tulsa and is a licensed attorney in Oklahoma, Iowa, and Virginia.
From 2011-2013, Melissa worked for Birmingham, Morley, Weatherford, and Priore in Tulsa, as well as practiced on her own working with small businesses and non-profits.
In 2016, Melissa co-founded The Dragonfly Home (Dragonfly), which operates Oklahoma’s first ever state certified crisis center for victims of human trafficking. At Dragonfly, as Director of Communications and Development, Melissa works tirelessly to educate the public on the complexities of human trafficking and the needs of human trafficking survivors through writing, speaking, and diverse avenues of digital and social media. She is passionate about equipping and empowering the community to make an effective impact on the fight to end human trafficking. Melissa participates actively on the Oklahoma Human Trafficking Task Force, serving as Co-chair of the Training and Awareness Committee and also serves on the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women Advisory Council. Additionally, she is a writer and most recently stepped into the world of podcasting with her podcast- ‘Making Your Impact’, a podcast to inspire and equip others to pursue their calling and make their positive impact on the world.
Her impact on human trafficking:
Melissa, upon hearing about the human trafficking- an egregious violation of human rights- stepped away from a successful career as an attorney to contribute to the fight against the crime. She has selflessly dedicated the last few years of her life advocating for individuals who have been sold for sex or labor and educating the community on what human trafficking looks like. The abuses of human trafficking strip away from victims their right to life and liberty, their freedom from slavery and torture, their freedom of opinion and expression, their right to work and education, and so much more. Because of Melissa, many human trafficking victims hear about The Dragonfly Home and get the life-saving, life-changing services they may need. Melissa has already made an incredible impact on the crime of human trafficking in Oklahoma and remains committed to the cause.