Soroptimist International clubs of Kenton/Hardin County and Hancock County Area's annual banquet will be in McIntosh Center on Thursday, March 21.

The Rev. Dr. Marian Hatcher of the Cook County, Illinois, sheriff’s office, is the featured speaker. The dinner is in recognition of Celebration of Women in honor of Women's History Month.

The event spotlights the mission of Soroptimist to improve the lives of women and girls by recognizing winners of various educational and community awards.  

Marian Hatcher
Rev. Dr. Hatcher is a pioneer in the fight against the demand driving sexual exploitation. 

As a mother of five and an accounting supervisor at a dialysis company, Marian Hatcher’s descent into prostitution was unintended. Domestic violence and depression led her to crack cocaine use, disappearing into the streets of Chicago. 

A drug habit supported through prostitution spiraled into trafficking, kidnapping, rape, and violent beatings. 

Dr. Hatcher's turned her life around after incarceration. She is now Senior Project Manager/Human Trafficking Coordinator for the Cook County Illinois, Sheriff’s Office of Public Policy. 

She develops strategies to assist women exiting “the Life” and spearheads several anti-trafficking efforts, including the “National Johns Suppression Initiative,” a nationwide effort with more than 80 participating law enforcement agencies targeting sex buyers –the driving force of sex trafficking and prostitution. 

In January, 2017 Hatcher received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Obama.

An expert on sex trafficking, she speaks on sex trafficking and prostitution for various law enforcement groups including the F.B.I. and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The 6 p.m. event is open to the public and includes dinner with musical entertainment by the Sweet Notes and door prizes. Cost is $20 per person. Tickets available until Friday March 15. To request tickets RSVP to [email protected] or [email protected]