Emancipation Nation: Recent Episodes
Celia Williamson, PhD
Emancipation Nation (EN) Podcast is a podcast devoted to providing advocates, and those that want to be advocates, ways to competently fight various forms of human trafficking. EN will bring on guests that have been successful and will provide the audience with valuable, practical, best practice information that can be implemented.
Who decides how we define our identities? How can we respect individual experiences while communicating effectively about grave issues like human trafficking? In our latest episode, we engage in a thought-provoking dialogue about language and identity with our esteemed guests, Mr. Jared Davis and Dr. Glenn Miles. We navigate the intricate web of language used in human trafficking research, stressing the importance of neutrality and respect. Our discourse covers the experiences of human trafficking victims including boys, young men, and transgender individuals, highlighting the need for their voices and identities to be acknowledged.
We then pivot to dig into the profound influence that societal constructs of gender have on survivor services. We underscore the necessity for inclusive and individually tailored responses, giving survivors a platform to voice their experiences. We further expose the overlooked issue of labor trafficking, arguing that it deserves as much attention as sex trafficking. The power of individual experiences and identities in shaping a survivor's response to exploitation is examined, underscoring our conviction that experiences should take center stage over labels.
Lastly, we transport you to Kenya, spotlighting the innovative, youth-led efforts against child sex trafficking. Discover how music and performing arts have become powerful tools in the hands of teenagers, using them as a language to advocate against exploitation. We wrap up the episode underlining the importance of using art and music as conduits to communicate about these issues effectively. Tune in to this compelling dialogue that goes beyond scholarly discussion, urging you to take the best course of action and join the fight for progress.
Want to know more about one of the most significant events in the fight against human trafficking? Join us on a fascinating journey as we discuss the highlights of the 20th annual Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference with our esteemed guest, Anna Schram. We explore the incredible success of the conference, which welcomed 1,400 attendees from 27 countries and 49 states. Hear about the thought-provoking tribute to Dr. Celia Williamson, and a stirring video featuring survivors' experiences. Learn about the innovative use of gamification and our virtual platform, which created a more interactive and engaging experience for attendees.
We also share insights about the affordability of the conference, the smooth technology experience, and some standout vendors. Discover the story behind the ethically sourced shirts from Worthwhile Ware and the exclusive 20th annual t-shirts. We wrap up with a discussion on the impactful feedback we received, particularly from the session on moral injury, which resonated strongly with survivors. As we look forward to the 2024 conference, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to submit their presentations for consideration. Listen in, as we reveal how to submit your abstract to present at next year's conference!
Ever wonder why some victims of human trafficking struggle to escape their situation, even when help is available? Tune into our Emancipation Nation episode 201 and allow us to shed light on two fundamental barriers that often impede victims from receiving the assistance they desperately need: transportation and housing. In this episode we unravel the significance of these basic needs and how their inadequacy can hinder victims' journey towards healing and freedom.
In this enlightening discussion, we navigate the different types of housing solutions for victims, ranging from temporary shelters to transitional housing, and how each serves a unique purpose in the survivor's journey. Dr. Williamson, drawing from Maslow's hierarchy of needs, underscores the impossibility of focusing on higher-level needs without first catering to the basic physiological ones. Join us as we delve into these pressing issues, and gain invaluable insights into how we, as advocates, can more effectively address these barriers and equip survivors with the resources they need to begin their journey towards healing and independence.
In this episode, we equip you with vital knowledge about what to screen and assess for when assisting victims of human trafficking. Our trusted guide is none other than Dr. Celia Williamson, director of the Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute at the University of Toledo. She shines a light on a recently revised screening tool designed to identify at-risk and currently trafficked youth. This episode will help you recognize the 10 vital areas where trafficking victims may require assistance, such as basic needs, safety, orientation, education, and legal aid.
Ever puzzled over how to shield at-risk girls from the clutches of human trafficking? We will provide a brief explanation of the transformative 'best life' curriculum, a powerful resource to empower girls to spot perilous situations and individuals. It also assists them in finding secure solutions and evaluating their choices wisely. March on with us as we navigate the complex needs of survivors, from legal and mental health needs to basic needs and sometimes substance abuse needs. We emphasize the necessity of connecting survivors with the right services and supports, empowering them to regain their own individual power. As we wrap up, we delve into the importance of healthcare and preventive care for survivors, giving you crucial insights into their specific needs and the importance of a holistic approach. Don't miss out!
If you are interested in receiving the latest, free, valid screening tool to be used with youth ages 12-17, please email me at celia.williamson@utoledo.edu
November is here and the holiday season is upon us. Amidst the hustle, bustle, and extra stress, the Emancipation Nation's gift is to you is to offer strategies to maintain and enhance your mental health during the season. Thus, I've curated a survival kit of powerful, clear, and concise tips to help navigate these additional pressures. Let's dive together into the art of managing emotions.
Keeping your mental health in check isn't all about reactive strategies, it's about fostering a proactive mindset. We'll explore the profound connection between your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and how altering one can impact the others. The essence of these discussions will revolve around the power of positive self-talk and the transformational impact it can have on your daily life. The Emancipation Nation podcast isn't merely about doing something; it's about doing the best thing. We're here to guide you through the festive season and beyond, furthering the fight for freedom. Stay tuned, subscribe and let's continue our journey to emancipation, one episode at a time.
Picture this: a young military police officer, serving in South Korea, witnesses the horrors of human trafficking. Later on in life he meets someone that opens his eyes and heart to help fight this grave injustice. This is the real-life story of our guest, Dr. Christian Nanry, a special agent who spent years with the US Marshals and as a military police officer. His compelling journey, shaped by faith and experience, paints a vivid picture of a global issue that is often hidden in plain sight.
In our conversation, we peel back the layers of legal prostitution in South Korea, an industry shrouded in darkness and marred by exploitation. The shocking truth of young girls being recruited from various parts of Asia and Europe, often trapped in a cycle of debt bondage, is a story that needs to be told. But it doesn't end there - we also discuss the power of education in law enforcement and how skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, humility, and empathy can make a significant difference in this fight against trafficking.
Join us in this conversation. Are you ready to open your eyes, ears, and heart in order to be a part of the change?
What does safety truly mean in the context of human trafficking and how do we ensure it for victims? Does it stop at providing a safe physical space, or does it delve deeper into the realm of emotional and psychological well-being? In this episode we unpack the multi-layered concept of 'safety' and its implications for survivors of human trafficking.
This episode serves as a wake-up call to not just understand, but to deeply appreciate the devastating effects of chronic and complex trauma inflicted by human trafficking. We discuss the essential role of trauma therapy, specifically EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), in addressing the internalized shame and feelings of powerlessness that can inhibit a survivor's path to recovery. We explore the critical importance of specialists who are trained in trauma therapy and how they can help survivors rebuild their inner safety, brick by brick. Prepare for an enlightening journey into the heart of trauma, recovery, and the true essence of safety.
Looking fear straight in the eyes and choosing the path less traveled - that's the theme of this episode of Emancipation Nation. We uncover how fear, an emotion we're all too familiar with, can often serve as the chains that hold us back from reaching our full potential, our real dreams. Through personal anecdotes and stories of how successful individuals faced their fears and emerged victorious, we cast a spotlight on the idea that success isn’t always about wealth, but could be about personal growth, relationships or just reaching a goal.
As a host, I delve into my own journey of overcoming fear, from moving mountains to ensure my daughter gets the Montessori education she deserves, to getting accepted into Case Western for my Masters degree, and eventually pursuing a PhD. The episode also underscores the importance of self-care as a catalyst to not just nourish ourselves, but also to keep our fears at bay and enhance our lives. In essence, this episode is a call to action to embrace the unknown, challenge self-limiting beliefs and march forward towards your dreams. So, let's not just exist, but start living our dreams.
Sharing invaluable insights, Dr. Doug Gilmer, an influential member of the Department of Homeland Security's Center for Countering Human Trafficking and mentor for the Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Institute's Fellows Program, unveils the secrets of running effective and diverse coalitions in the fight against human trafficking. Prepare to be educated as he presents the enlightening findings of his dissertation on the results of multidisciplinary teams tackling this grave issue.
As we dig deeper, we uncover not only the surprising perspectives within these multi-disciplinary teams but also the central role trust and accountability play in their success. Imagine what can happen when victim service providers and law enforcement officers find common ground and shared purpose! Is it easy to stay in one's lane? Can trust be rebuilt once it's broken? Listen in as we explore these compelling questions.
Despite the challenges, Dr. Gilmore highlights the importance of shared goals and understanding each other's motivations. Packed with wisdom and invaluable lessons, this episode enlightens us on the power of collaborative coalitions.
Step into a candid conversation with me and my esteemed guest, Erin Albright, as we pull back the curtain on the pervasive misconceptions surrounding human trafficking. Erin, a seasoned expert with over a decade of experience, helps us break down the sensationalism that often obscures the nuanced reality of this global crisis. Together, we take a critical look at how the drive for attention has often led to inaccuracies in public understanding of this grave matter.
Join us as we traverse the intricate landscapes of history, systemic factors, and the need for change in the anti-trafficking movement. With Erin's deep insights, we shine a light on the often-overlooked history of this movement and the systemic issues that perpetuate the 'perfect victim' narrative. This episode takes you through the complexities of collaboration and emphasizes the need for a well-rounded, informed approach to decision-making and advocacy.
Dive headfirst into our discussion as we stress the essence of learning before doing. We explore the importance of fully comprehending the nuances of human trafficking and the value of being surrounded by knowledgeable people.
What if embracing the fear and excitement of change could be your ladder to success? Join us as we swing on the metaphoric trapeze of life, exploring the thrilling yet terrifying moments of transition. Dr. Celia prompts us to face our fears, take the plunge and appreciate the expansive moments that accompany these changes. She shares some of her journey from poverty to renowned academic as a testament to the power of embracing change and relentlessly chasing your dreams.
Have you ever stopped to consider the psychological impact of constantly dealing with trauma on those who work tirelessly to help others? Melissa Kaiser, an established social worker and North Dakota’s first human trafficking navigator, takes us on a revealing journey into the world of compassion fatigue and secondary trauma, a world she navigates daily in her fight against human trafficking. Melissa unveils how incessantly being exposed to other's trauma can lead to a debilitating erosion of compassion, empathy, and trust, ultimately shifting one's worldview.
As we walk with Melissa through her experiences, she sheds light on her critical role in the Emancipation Nation Network. Her passion for education drives her to create a course aimed at equipping those in the anti-trafficking community with the necessary skills and knowledge to combat trafficking effectively. She emphasizes the importance of fostering open dialogues about compassion fatigue within teams.
Finally, we delve into the importance of also understanding secondary trauma and the need for deep self-care, reflection, and adjustment in such a demanding field. This episode is a heartfelt reminder of the importance of mental wellbeing, humor, and community.
Join us for a powerful discussion that will leave you both moved and inspired. Our guest is Tina Dixon, a thriver, advocate, and entrepreneur who has faced unimaginable hardships and emerged on the other side as a beacon of strength and resilience. Tina bravely shares her harrowing 30-year journey from being enmeshed in human trafficking and domestic violence to embarking on a path of sobriety and liberation. Listen as she takes us through her terrifying encounters with the Dixie Mafia in a remote Louisiana brothel and her triumphant escape.
Also in the spotlight is Tina's remarkable transition from being a victim to a victorious advocate, fueled by her past experiences to empower and engage women who've been similarly scarred. As part of her healing journey, Tina shares her experiences with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, a therapeutic technique that uses eye movement and vibration techniques to help survivors reprocess traumatic events and cope with triggers. We dive deeper into the often under-recognized but critical aspect of trauma healing for survivors of sex trafficking.
The story takes a turn from the personal to the communal as Tina talks about her groundbreaking organization, Queens, founded to empower women in digital marketing and entrepreneurship. Hear Tina's invaluable advice for advocates and survivors on leveraging their transferable skills for professional success. This conversation is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of lived experiences. Get ready for this powerful conversation.
Guaranteed to enlighten the novice, this episode is focused on debunking the common myths and. misconceptions that cloud our understanding of this global crime. Prepare to rethink your assumptions to understand a world where manipulation and exploitation of vulnerabilities take center stage. It's not always about commercial sex—labor exploitation is a major player too, and it's happening right under our noses, in industries we interact with daily.
Dare to step into the chilling underworld of organ trafficking with me, Dr. Celia Williamson. This harrowing journey paints a stark picture of how human organs are commercially traded outside of the recognized medical system, a realm where profit trumps ethics. Gain insight into how this horrific form of exploitation occurs. Brace yourself as we lift the veil on the shocking prices attached to human organs and the astronomical value of the organ trafficking industry.
Later in the segment I delve into the grim realities underlying organ trafficking. Witness the stark contrast between the scarcity of organs and the skyrocketing demand for them. Confront uncomfortable questions around why organ trafficking occurs and who is involved. Join me as we expose the often desperate buyers in this illicit trade, and grapple with the dire choices made by those living in poverty. This episode promises to expand your understanding of human trafficking beyond its conventional definitions of forced labor and sexual exploitation, casting a harsh light on this lesser-known yet equally tragic facet of human exploitation.
Remember the impactful moments that change your life course? For our guest, Kyle Baker, his was a case involving two young girls, one lost in the world of drugs and commercial sex work while the other girl's life abruptly upended. This grim encounter lit a flame within Kyle, igniting a life-long journey battling human trafficking. Join us as he shares the invaluable lessons he's gained throughout his career, revealing how advocates and law enforcement can collaborate more effectively.
In our riveting conversation, we navigate the intricacies of working with survivors and law enforcement. Kyle emphasizes the urgent need to grasp the understanding of victimhood, trauma, and trauma bonds. He explores why the approach to combating human trafficking requires a different lens than traditional law enforcement investigations. Kyle expresses the necessity for quality training delivered by experienced professionals and survivors. Join us and equip yourself with the knowledge to make a real difference in the fight against human trafficking.
Get ready to embark on a journey with the extraordinary conference planner, Anna Schramm. We delve deep into the intricacies of the upcoming Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference, a historic event that is marking its 20th year. Anna gives us the scoop on the registration rates and deadlines, and emphasizes that affordability doesn't compromise quality. A special mention to all college students and survivors of human trafficking - there are discounts and free access for you. But hurry, prices are set to increase in a week. If you haven't registered yet, circle August 29th on your calendar to save money on this enlightening opportunity.
Let’s raise a toast to the 20th anniversary of this impactful conference. To commemorate it, we're releasing exclusive 20th Annual Conference t-shirts from Worthwhile, a Fair Trade company. Not just a keepsake, the proceeds from these t-shirts go directly towards supporting programs for survivors. Save the date for the kickoff event on Tuesday, September 19th, from 6-7 pm Eastern time, to be followed by the three day Program with 110 various presenters. Did we mention the conference also offers a variety of continuing education credits for professionals in fields such as social work, counseling, and the legal field? Tune in as we uncover the potential of this conference and how your participation can make a real difference.
Ever grappled with simplifying complex research to engage a non-expert audience? Witness how, Nancy Hardcastle, a remarkable expert in crafting compelling presentations, lends her unique strategies to social impact leaders. Our conversation explores the hurdles faced by researchers in creating accessible presentations and how Nancy's expertise helps distil these complexities. Drawing from her experiences at human trafficking conferences, she underlines the significance of clarity and comprehension in captivating diverse audiences.
On a journey to create powerful stories? Nancy's two-hour workshop provides a blueprint. Whether you're an advocate or a researcher, her meticulously designed packages can transform the way you communicate your work. She breaks down her offerings, and transparently discusses pricing, which opens a world of transformation for those striving to influence change. If you're in the field of human trafficking or any area that requires translating intricate information for varied audiences, this episode is an essential listen. Nancy's insights could revolutionize your presentations, making them unforgettable.
The recently released movie that's taken the world by storm, the "Sound of Freedom" raked in an astounding $50 million to date. But what if I told you this film, with its American hero rescuing innocent children from far off lands, isn't painting the full picture of human trafficking? Join me as I navigate the complex narrative of this controversial movie, challenging the distorted image it portrays of human trafficking.
While the film is certainly compelling, there are serious misrepresentations to dissect. Not all customers who buy victims are dirty and sweaty or wealthy beyond measure, some hide in plain sight, in legitimate jobs and occupy everyday positions of trust. And while the protagonist's heroics are commendable, the reality of human trafficking is unfortunately more complex and requires more complex solutions.
What if one of the most dangerous places for a child was their own home? Tune in as we walk with Jennifer Bryant, a courageous survivor of familial trafficking, down a dark path that begins with a seemingly regular childhood and descends into a chilling world of manipulation, abuse, and exploitation by her own father.
Jennifer's story is a harrowing exploration of the often-overlooked reality of familial trafficking. From her father's disturbing manipulation tactics, to her being sold to a gynecologist and simultaneously trafficked from her father's bar, Jennifer's narrative unveils the horrifying reality that victims of familial trafficking endure. Our discussion doesn't just stop at her past; we delve into Jennifer's experiences in a neglectful psych ward, the mind-boggling indifference of her mother, and the repeated exploitation she faced. This conversation is a clear reminder of the importance of understanding the signs of familial trafficking and the urgent need for resources and support for survivors.
Yet, Jennifer's story isn't just about survival, it's about resilience, advocacy, and empowerment. Jennifer uses her horrific experiences as a tool to illuminate the concealed atrocities of familial trafficking and to fill the glaring gap in the anti-trafficking field. This episode is a testament to the resilience of survivors and a call to arms in the fight against human trafficking. Join us as we uncover the heartbreaking truth and the inspiring strength of Jennifer Bryant.
Welcome to an episode that pierces through the hidden underbelly of society, shining a light on a gut-wrenching tale of survival. We welcome Jennifer, a beacon of resilience, whose personal story serves as a stark reminder of the often overlooked issue of familial trafficking. Raised in an environment laced with manipulation, grooming, and familial trafficking, Jennifer bravely recounts her experiences, from her childhood summers spent in the claws of her father to the stark existence at her mother's house. Her childhood was a meticulously planned grooming process, marked by exposure to a world of sex trafficking.
The heart-wrenching journey into Jennifer's past doesn’t stop there, as she unveils her horrifying teenage years being traded for drugs, alcohol, and favors from affluent men by her own father. Her trauma, however, didn't break her. Instead, it forged her into a survivor leader and an advocate for victims like herself. This is an episode that confronts the ugly truths of familial trafficking and celebrates the power of resilience – you won’t want to miss it This is Part I of a two part story.
How can you be a part of the solution in the fight against human trafficking and the promotion of social justice globally? Join me, Dr. Celia Williamson with conference co-host Anna Schramm, to explore the exciting line-up of our 20th annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference. Mark your calendars for September 20th to 22nd, and join us in making a difference!
Ever wondered about the intricate workings of Homeland Security Investigations? Get ready to be enlightened by our insightful conversation with Kelly Baird, a Supervisory Special Agent at HSI since 2006. Kelly walks us through the significant role HSI plays within the Department of Homeland Security and their dedicated commitment to victim-focused approaches in trafficking investigations. From the tip line to partnerships with law enforcement and nonprofits, discover the multifaceted methods HSI employs to pursue leads on trafficking cases. Kelly also unravels the collaborative investigative process, an integral combination of an investigator and a victim assistance specialist.
The conversation deepens as we address the challenges faced during sex trafficking investigations. Kelly bravely shares her experiences and draws attention to the prevalent issues of sex trafficking and labor trafficking. The struggles in identifying these appalling crimes are real, and Kelly discloses the tactical strategies used to generate leads. Learn about the critical part the Victim Assistance Specialist (VAS) plays in the wake of these heinous crimes and the long-term relationships HSI nurtures with survivors. Get a rare perspective on how HSI differentiates itself from the FBI, the Border Patrol, and other DHS components. Prepare to be moved by the stark realities, challenges, and rewards of working in this pivotal field.
Discover how Innovation Africa is transforming lives by providing electricity and clean water to rural African communities in our conversation with Michal Smith, Director of Communications for the organization. Learn about their incredible impact on over 4 million people across 10 African countries since 2008, and how their dedicated team members, Israeli technology, and local contractors are key to their success and sustainability.
In the second part of our episode, Celia reveals ways to get involved with Innovation Africa through fundraising and travel opportunities - even small contributions can go a long way! We also discuss the importance of freedom and our role in helping others achieve it, both locally and globally. Listen in for our words of wisdom for those looking to make a difference in non-profit work, and how you can contribute to anti-trafficking efforts and support rural African communities in their journey towards a better, safer future.
Do you celebrate Juneteenth? Is slavery indeed over? Should you use the term "modern day slavery" to describe human trafficking? Why or why not? Let's get into the conversation.
Sexually abused by his parents, Bill went on to be abused by both extended family and church members. Instead of keeping and continuing the secret, Bill is courageously exposing the people and churches that abuse others, while teaching and mentoring positive love and caring to those who love God.
Keyana Marshall tells her story of first being socialized by family, groomed by others and misunderstood, arrested, and victimized by the criminal justice system in Anchorage Alaska. She wrote a book about her experience called "Being Keyana Marshall". By the way, Alaska scored an F in the 2022 Share Hope International Report Cards for the way they handle human trafficking cases.
Dr. Dennis McCarty makes the important point that if women such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Elizabeth Heyrick, all with limited education and who were unable to vote, could serve in prominent roles in the name of freedom and justice, so could you. You just need to know how. In this episode Dr. McCarty discusses his book "The Quest to End Human Trafficking: An Educational and Practical Guide for Everyone Who Wants to Help Break the Bonds and Assist Survivors." And the book is FREE to download!
What did you do during the height of the pandemic? Well one very outgoing sister convinced the other sister to go into business making a line of jewelry that neither knew how to make and run a business without business knowledge or experience- some of the proceeds of which would go to support survivors of sex trafficking. The business took off! "Ring True" now hires survivors in the U.S. and abroad to make rings for consumers around the world. They still give a portion of the proceeds to programs that support survivors.
Truth is difficult to hear, but survivors tell us that so far we have failed. Survey results from the first national survivor study reveals that "systems" have largely failed survivors, including those that were involved prior to their trafficking experience, while involved, and after their trafficking experience.
How many people are working hard to live the American dream of success, which is often translated to mean obtaining more and impressive material possessions. Instead of investing in things, Dan Emr left his lucrative career to invest in people. Learn about their "Worthwhile Wear" program, their "Worth It" Program, and "The Well", a comprehensive array of programs to move victims, to survivors, and on to thrivers.
At what ages are you the most and least happy in life? As we approach the new year, we bring Season 2 of the podcast to a close by discussing the seasons of your life.
Have you ever thought of what a concerned parent of a trafficked child must go through? Have you ever put your feet in the shoes of a mom struggling with a child with mental illness? Well you are about to go inside and learn the emotional struggle and fight that takes place in trying to work with systems designed to respond and support. Do these systems partner with parents? This is a difficult to listen to, step-by-step, account of the struggle to regain and keep safe a bright, talented, and loving daughter.
Bill Cosby victimized vulnerable women. Listen to one woman's powerful story. Formally known as Jane Doe #6, today Patte O'Connor is sharing her story as a in hopes of helping other victimized and vulnerable women reclaim their power and voice. Check out her website: https://patteoconnorassultsurvivorspeaker.com and read her powerful book: Chasing Bill Cosby: The Downfall of America's Dad.
Our conference planner Anna Schramm recaps our 19th annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference! Find out who was there, what happened, and other juicy details.
At the end of 7th grade Tamara MC was forced to marry a much older man in secret. Beginning at the age of 12, she spent her school years in classes and her summers as a married child forced to perform all of the duties of a traditional wife. Listen as Tamara explains her experience from child bride and domestic servant to finally breaking free and finding her voice.
It is a hidden secret that everyone knows, but few will talk about. Systems can cause trauma. There is a reason that today we are having a global conversation about "trauma-informed care". It's because some of our systems have exploited, abused, and victimized vulnerable individuals without holding ourselves accountable. This story is one example of how powerful systems unleashed their power on one innocent young boy.
What? Trauma-informed care doesn't heal trauma? This episode focuses on how to help survivors heal from trauma.
Sara Tasneem was a victim of a forced child marriage that took place in the U.S. and that continues to take place across the U.S. and around the world. She tells the story of her experience and her continued advocacy to pass laws across each state that prevent forced child marriages and how you can access more information to get involved in the fight.
In this episode we expose a little known disease affecting some human trafficking and domestic violence survivors.
Because of the prevalence of physical violence among survivors of human trafficking, the potential to have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is high. A TBI can affect a survivors ability to recover. Learn more about TBI and how to screen for it.
Most of us know about domestic violence and the physical and sexual abuse involved. However, we may know less about "coercive control" used by both abusive intimate partners and some sex traffickers. Learn more about the most common form of victimization in this episode.
If you haven't registered for the annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference, register now! If you have already registered, listen to what will take place at the conference. This episode is devoted to providing you with an overview of what is to come on September 21, 22, and 23rd, 2022!
Some of us remain stuck because we don't understand the 2/3rd's life theory. In anti-trafficking work or indeed in life in general, we can adopt two of three routes to achievement. We can accomplish in a way that is cheap, fast, or good. We can't have all three. Make the best decision for you.
A religious cult disguised as a new wave church indoctrinated Frankie and her family when she was very young. Her trafficking related to the church began at age 12 as sexual touching, videos, and inappropriate sexual discussions all leading to the eventual and continued trafficking and rape by the cult leadership. Her advice for those wishing to help survivors? Please be curious and courageous enough to ask questions and offer help. #occupycults
Lora's early life was one of extreme victimization by family, strangers, and systems. She was first trafficked at the age of nine, while her mother watched on. As a young woman she was institutionalized in a mental hospital without just cause. Her saving grace was the formal and informal messengers and advocates that appeared throughout her life to offer hope and love. Her message for us is to understand that when we reach out to help someone, we may be the one person that offers them the love and hope they need at the very moment they need it. Finally, many survivors can and do heal from trauma to lead a life of joy and purpose.
The Impact Dialogue Foundation focuses their work on both prevention and intervention in India. Learn how they address the root causes of poverty and lack of opportunity by training and supporting survivors to become economically empowered. Also, learn about sex trafficking, child marriage, and organ trafficking in India.
Each year we host a national annual human trafficking virtual event geared toward high school aged youth. Event speakers provide relevant, youth-centered, great educational information. The day also includes a youth poetry slam and art competition! Registration is free! Once registered, teachers can use a zoom link to bring the event into their classrooms! Have youth in group homes or after school programs that can't watch it live during school hours? No problem, with the link you have access to the event anytime you want.
The best way is to target your awareness campaign is to focus on each target population with messages that are culturally appropriate and positive. Hmmm...but how do we protect youth against human trafficking with messages that are positive? Listen and learn how.
Learn about what to expect at this year's annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference! We have 115 different sessions to choose from. Get the details on the cost, continuing education units we will be providing, and information for vendors. We will also reveal four amazing well-known people that are coming!
Looking for a trauma treatment therapist? Know why it's important to find a knowledgeable and trained trauma treatment therapist with lived experience? Listen to Katie discuss the first survivor led organization addressing comprehensive services for human trafficking survivors in Michigan including trauma treatment therapy.
Listen to what Youth Underground does as they work with youth to prevent human trafficking. They put into practice the nine most effective elements of evidence-based prevention practice. I go over the nine elements that you can use to develop your best practice prevention program.
How do you become an FBI agent? What do FBI agents do? What does a Victim-Witness Specialist do? What types of law enforcement approaches work and don't work? Learn this and more from a veteran agent that worked on human trafficking cases. Also, become a consultant for his new book!
Connection to culture, understanding historical trauma, and removing shame associated with victimization are some of the key elements that should be considered and included when we work with indigenous populations. Learn more about indigenous populations in the U.S. and the trauma they have experienced.
How much do our unconscious biases unintentionally hurt the people and the movement we claim to want to help? We all have a level of unconscious bias. Let's take the shame out of it, acknowledge it, own it, and work on a daily basis to change it.
In this episode we dive deeper into learning more about male victims of sex trafficking with trauma informed researcher Ena Lucia Mariaca Pacheco, who interviewed 40 male survivors of child sexual abuse, including 12 trafficking survivors, 10 of which were trafficked by family members.
Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this episode are those of the researcher. They do not reflect the opinions or views of INTERPOL or its members.
Alternative therapies such as mind-body work has been viewed by some as critical to survivor healing. Learn more about Trauma-Informed Yoga including what it is, how it works, and why it is helpful.
When people treat you as if you don't matter and you believe you don't matter, you lose a sense of self preservation and personal safety. Are you able to build back from that? How do you build back from that? Listen to the amazing Dr. Beth tell her story, her journey back to the life she wanted, and how she works to improve the lives of others today.
Dr. Heather Evans wrote two books on trauma and human trafficking survivors. Too often advocates understand the word "trauma" but don't know how to help survivors heal. We say we are "walking along side" survivors, but do not know where we're going in our healing journey. Learn the importance of being trauma-informed and know the difference between trauma-informed work and trauma treatment.
A multi-pronged approach to serving victims of human trafficking without a parallel multi-strategic response to traffickers makes little sense. We can't solve the problem by largely attending to only one side of the equation. Our current strategy of "putting the bad guys in jail" is a limited strategy. But what do we know about traffickers? What can we do that involves more than "putting the bad guys in jail?"
What happens behind closed doors? Who is involved? Why are they allowed to operate? Learn about illicit massage parlors as a front for sex trafficking and the structural, political, and cultural contexts behind their operation and how to disrupt it.
Educating teachers, other school personnel, and students about human trafficking is only the beginning. Using a variety of teaching methods including peer-to-peer education also gets kids involved in the fight. However, increasing awareness alone is not enough. Building a comprehensive continuum of care that addresses the risk factors and supports youth that are at risk or trafficked is the goal of an effective school-based intervention.
Walter Lovett describes his life transformation from the depths and despair of a porn addiction to becoming a successful, creative, and talented comic book writer that works to educate and increase human trafficking awareness among those early teens and late twenties comic book fans and aficionados.
A retired Sergeant with decades of experience talks about human trafficking from her years of experience in LAPD Vice. Dr. Powell focuses on the delicate dance between being a woman engaging victimized women and being an officer of color that is confronted with the issue of systemic racism and police-community relations.
Our laws are black and white, but the issue is complicated. It involves trafficking victims, victim turned perpetrator, and sex workers. Learn more about the nuances of the sex trade so you can become a part of the solution. Start by participating in an important study. Here is the link: tinyurl.com/ComplexRightsAndWrongs
Dr. Rosario Sanchez discusses her research with survivors of human trafficking, including their needs and the individual and interpersonal barriers they face leaving their trafficking situation and how professionals can play an important role.
Listen to this episode about carrying your message forward by sharing your life testimony with others who need to hear it. When you are genuine and authentic you give other people permission to also be genuine and authentic.
Why keep all of that wonderful knowledge you have to yourself? Share it with the world. If you haven't presented much in the past, listen and learn the tips and secrets to submitting a good abstract and consider submitting an abstract to present at our 19th annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference. Not interested? Listen anyway and pick of tips for submitting a well written abstract to present at any conference.
The 11th Journey to trauma-focused healing helps survivors to unburden themselves of the energy of hatred that leads to poor emotional and and physical health.
Thomas Estler developed the comic book series "Abolitionista!" to help kids understand the issue of human trafficking in a age appropriate way. You can get access to the comic book series for free!
Self-forgiveness is one of the most important journeys for survivors to process through. Learn more about the practice of self forgiveness along this trauma-focused survivors journey to healing and recovery.
AEquitas provides technical assistance to prosecutors. They educate, sensitize, and equip prosecutors to effectively prosecute cases, including cases of human trafficking. They will provide this assistance across any state and most countries. If you know of a case being prosecuted in your community, let the prosecutor know that they can reach out and get the support and technical assistance they need.
There are spoken and unspoken beliefs, obligations, and loyalties you honor that keep you from living your full flavored life and achieving both joy and your higher purpose. In the 9th Journey we reveal some of these beliefs, obligations, and loyalties and ask if you will continue to choose to honor them or if you will adopt ones that most benefit you.
In this solo episode we return to discuss the Survivors Journey. This week we provide an overview of the 8th Journey, which is all about establishing and maintaining healthy relationships. Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It's self-care.
What? There is a national collaboration of those offering housing to trafficking survivors? And there are essential standards of care that we should all be providing? Learn about this amazing collaborative service, how to get involved, how to refer a client, and the continued gaps in services that need to be filled.
Ever heard the saying "You are who you hang around?" Toxic people drain your physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual energy. Meaningful self-care in 2022 means learning how to reveal the toxic and nurturing people in your life. Want to increase your happiness and productivity? Go into the new year identifying, exposing, and distancing yourself from toxic others and strategically bring nurturing people closer to you.
In Part II we learn that even though Umaru is physically held as a trafficking victim and later threatened with prison, his spirit will not allow him to submit. He fights back through hunger strikes, protests, and is even willing to lay down his life to save another. Throughout it all, he couldn't understand how in the name of religion his child enslavement began. During his lifetime Umaru witnessed the trafficking of hundreds of minors. He learns that he is the chosen one. He lives to tell the story, forgive his captors, and to help others as a civil rights investigator.
At the age of 7 Umaru was selected by his family to be the Chosen One. That meant that Umaru would have to go with a religious leader to receive the teachings. But instead young Umaru would become a child slave. After his escape he fell into the hands of human traffickers. Umaru's search for freedom took him across four countries. He faced death and often didn't know how he would make it. Each time he was able to get away from his captors and accept the help and kindness of others. Listen to Part I of his story. It reminds us of why we do this work.
Where were you? The name of the book and words spoken by an 11 year old abused and traumatized trafficking victim. Unlike Anne Frank who understood that people's hearts were still good, this victim that suffered horrific abuse is not questioning the actions of bad people. She understood that bad people did bad things. She asks the good people of the world a very poignant question: Where were you? Matt Friedman of The Mekong Club has been there to answer for 30 years.
Relearning trust is the hallmark of recovery. While guerrilla pimps use violence right from the start, finesse pimps and many labor traffickers are con men. They use manipulation to become the person you want to see. Once they gain your trust, they exploit it and use it to their own advantage. Many survivors never want to trust again. But trust is the what makes life beautiful and relationships meaningful. Relearning to trust means relearning to trust in yourself and in trustworthy others.
Join us for the 6th Journey that focuses on assessing your past through an in-depth and honest self-examination. Knowing your past provides you understanding. Through understanding there can be healing. However the past doesn't dictate your future. We have the power to choose our future. We help survivors look across generations in their family to identify repeat patterns of dysfunction. Once identified we help them break patterns and change course.
The 5th Journey is all about minimizing external threats and increasing external safety by learning and increasing healthy boundaries and regulating our own emotions.
Learn more about The Survivors Journey including the Survivor's Prayer and the 12 TNT promises made to those who participate in the TNT Survivors Journey Groups to learn their "Truths" and experience their "Transformations."
"If there is no enemy within, the enemy without can do no harm." The 4th Journey is all about minimizing negative self-talk, address self-sabotaging core beliefs, and changing internal schemas to experience internal freedom.
Chris Stark's new book "Carnival Lights" centers on the story of two native Ojibwe girls. Chris brilliantly weaves in the history of generational trauma still being suffered by the Ojibwe people and other native tribes. This history of abuse and broken treaties created vulnerabilities that left women and youth exposed to and at risk of being victims of sex trafficking. Listen and learn how U.S. institutions continue to play a part in treating Native Americans as commodities. See a review of the book here https://www.raintaxi.com/carnival-lights
In this episode I discuss the 3rd Survivors Journey, which focuses on individual trauma and triggers. We take the ACE Test together. I provide information on the famous ACE Study, how it came about, and what your ACE Score may mean for your health.
This week we get back to our discussion on the TNT Survivor's Journey Groups. We provide an overview of the 2nd Journey in the 12 journey's toward recovery.
This week I discuss R. Kelly who was recently convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Anna, Ashley, and I discuss our annual international Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference. With over 2,000 people in attendance from 44 states, 26 countries ,and 186 presenters, we set the stage for our global tribe to connect, become educated, and inspired. Listen as we process what went well, what didn’t go so well, and our favorite moments. Did you miss the conference? Don’t worry we’ll catch you up. If you attended, listen to our best and worst moments.
This episode discusses the first journey of the TNT 12 Journeys Program for Survivors of Commercial Sexual Violence. Learn more about this trauma focused recovery program. Become a trained facilitator.
Healing from trauma requires internal work. TNT 12-Step groups help members who have experienced commercial sexual violence recover. We focus on healing trust, boundaries, relationships, shame, trauma, and triggers to regain voice, choice, and power. Learn more about TNT in this episode.
Societal trauma is imposed by us when we only support victims of commercial sexual violence that fit neatly into an accepted narrative. Trauma happens by society when we get the "what" human trafficking is wrong, "who" the victims often are wrong, and "how" to best address the issue wrong. To support survivors of commercial sexual violence as well as the issue itself, we need to dismantle systems of oppression that work to see some victims as worthy and other victims as unworthy.
In a recent conversation with a survivor, she said that she had repeatedly gotten involved in unhealthy relationships. This was not only her experience but the experience of some other survivors as well. She jokingly asked if she had a mark on her forehead that attracted abusers and victimizers. In reality, trauma increases vulnerability. Vulnerability attracts predators. I explain.
In this episode we focus on various trauma treatments for survivors including the TRI-Phasic Model, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT, Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), and Stress Inoculation Therapy (SIT).
Practicing trauma-informed care promotes a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing. into this episode and learn about the 3 E's of trauma, the 4 R's of a trauma-Informed care response, and the 5 key principles as described by SAMHSA.
Tune into this episode and learn about trauma including all of the physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to trauma.
When Dr. Vanessa Bouche’ heard those words, she asked survivors about what they needed. She then built a business that employs and empowers survivors. Learn more about what she has provided the world, including a national database of human trafficking cases in the U.S. Find it at humantraffickingdata.org
This week we welcome a driving force in anti-trafficking work involving rural and familial trafficking, Dr. Christi Bartman. She is the founder of the "Eyes Up Appalachia" Initiative, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and creating community initiatives and partnerships to combat human trafficking in Southeastern Ohio. Learn about one of her collaborative research projects called “Vulnerability Mapping” where she worked with university students to identify areas of high vulnerability for human trafficking.
You want to get involved, but you are shy? You don’t feel like it’s your place? You’d rather wait until you finish school, quit your job, retire, move, your children get old enough, or you get old enough? Well…hold on to your hat because we have high school student Lela Tolajian that planned and implemented an International Week of Action Against Modern Slavery that was a 6-day event involving 20 countries.
Diane Mull from End Child Labor is back to discuss the methodology she created called Pathways Advancing Viable Education/Employment (PAVE). PAVE is a thoughtful child centered approach that ensures that children receive services that are tailored to their needs while recognizing the situation in their family and the circumstances of their community. PAVE has been applied across several countries enabling them to more effectively respond to human trafficking.
What happens when families that work in agriculture are exploited or trafficked? Join us and Diane Mull from End Child Labor to learn about unscrupulous farm labor contractors, paying taxes with few benefits, and how children have to manage going to school and also working the fields
Cynthia Luvlee-Austin is non-profit start up specialist and founder of “Shyne San Diego” who uses her Survivor Economic Equity Program to teach survivors the skills to run their own businesses by giving them the tools to understand how to be valued and not exploited. She mentors these budding entrepreneurs from idea conception to finished product and even connects survivor-led business owners to investors. She began this meaningful work by asking a simple question, “How will survivors make money?”
Listen to this short episode of what happened when four systems that interacted with a 14-year-old trafficked girl missed all of the signs and failed to respond to the risk factors.
After interviewing many guests from across the U.S. and around the world, Dr. Williamson answers questions about her work, why she started the podcast, her self-care routine and many more. Tune in! No question was off limits in this episode.
Anti-trafficking coalitions are often the critical core of local anti-trafficking work in a community. Dr. Celia McIntosh discusses the Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking in New York and their work to address human trafficking in their community. Because of her expertise in health care, she has also established a healthcare protocol and informs the policies and practices in her community to identify and respond to victims of human trafficking.
It starts with the sale of a simple cup of coffee and moves to providing funding for research projects focused on understanding the role played by perpetrators, which includes human traffickers and others who benefit from slavery. Matthew Clarke and wife Bella Rossini are the driving forces behind Teardrops to Joy, a sustainable commercial enterprise that uses profits from the sale of coffee to fund Freedom Keys Research which investigates and documents approaches to effective antislavery intervention founded on an understanding of restorative justice.
B.A. Crisp survived her experience to offer a successful series of books on human trafficking loosely based on real events. She also promotes awareness in strip clubs across the U.S. and abroad. Does B.A. stand for Bad Ass? Listen and draw your own conclusions.
Dr. Marlene Carson, a thriver entrepreneur, discusses her pursuit to transform survivors and others who are afraid to pursue their own dreams to become thrivers in business. She uses her “Peer-preneur Network” to assist anyone interested in transformation. This episode is packed with resources, information on housing for survivors, interesting books written by survivors, including the “12 Steps to Transform the Exploited Soul” and a new book coming out called, “Lotion Your Ass”.
It starts with a simple cupcake and conversation and moves to providing nonjudgmental support to meet the needs of dancers, trafficked individuals, and those in the adult entertainment industry. In 2020. without government grants or nonprofit contracts, the Cupcake Girls have met the needs of clients across 26 states with the support of 14 staff, 15 interns, 185 volunteers, and 400 community partners providing approximately 1.1 million dollars in services.
Whether you call it case management, direct service work, care coordination, or whole-person advocacy, the life changing work you do with survivors should be as effective as possible. Not because you “think” it is, but because you use best practices. Listen to this episode to better understand the three fears direct service workers have in working with survivors of human trafficking. Also listen to learn how effective case managers assess those ten critical areas that are common issues and needs of human trafficking survivors.
Sexual assault nurse Mary Suchetka advocated to be called whenever police do a sting involving prostitution. She meets clients right at the scene to provide whatever they might need emotionally, physically, and mentally including a compassionate conversation, an emergency room visit, or a referral into substance abuse treatment and more. Mary sees the humanity in vulnerable others and provides respectful and nonjudgmental support to those that want it.
The focus for this final episode of the the three-part series on the federal Family First law focuses on how the law will directly affect those providing or who want to provide short term to longer term housing for trafficking youth and those at risk. Some tips, resources, and training opportunities are provided along with suggestions on the best elements to consider when providing programming to these youth.
Individual states have until October 1st of this year to outline how they will interpret and implement the Family First federal law in their state. The intent of this law is to work to prevent out-of-home placements when possible and improve upon out-of-home care for trafficked youth and youth at risk who need a home and quality services. Three experts explain the law and how states may choose to interpret it and how it might affect those involved.
In this three-part series we focus on child welfare’s response to youth victims of human trafficking who are in out-of-home placements. Experts explain federal laws related to human trafficking (in this first episode), it's translation by the states (second episode), and implementation by those providing services to trafficked youth (third episode).
The New Abolitionist documentary follows abolitionists throughout Southeast Asia dedicating their lives to rescuing and providing support to those involved as victims of sex trafficking. Filmmaker Christina Zorich spent her own time and money to make this film and details her journey through Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam to uncover work being done to fight human trafficking and help others heal. The documentary has been shown at over 40 film festivals and has already won 20 awards. A must see film.
This short episode provides the listener with definitions of victims, survivors, and thrivers. Learn the difference and incorporate these definitions into your programming.
This episode focuses on trauma, particularly the relationship between trauma and substance use disorder and how enhancing safety through the use of safe coping skills has been proven to be highly effective for those who have experienced trauma. Dr. Najavits discusses her years of research translated into very practical books practitioners can use with survivors. 'Seeking Safety" and "Finding your Best Self" are just two for survivors of trauma and strives to remind us that client’s safety is a right, not a privilege.
When exploitation ends social integration begins. Legal services for survivors extend beyond the human trafficking case itself. It also means obtaining legal services to address additional crimes committed against the victim or crimes the victim was forced to commit while under the control of a trafficker. Without due attention, these experiences can keep victims from being able to legally access safe and affordable housing and/or obtain a livable wage job. Receiving good legal services is a crucial component to full reintegration back into society. Attorney Nate Knapper discusses the Joseph Project, a firm focused on providing legal services to survivors of human trafficking. Learn how to access The Joseph Project’s qualified and experienced team of attorneys.
First- A Spike in Human Trafficking During the Pandemic. Second- Communities with Higher Rates of Slavery in the 1800s are the Same Communities with Higher Reports of Human Trafficking today.
Mathematician and Researcher David Corliss provides his latest research findings. He reports on how the pandemic has affected human trafficking, domestic violence, poverty, and other factors. For instance, one of his findings show a recent spike in rural trafficking. Another finding suggests that those areas that had a larger percentage of legal slavery in the 1800’s are communities during the pandemic today that also show a larger percentage of reported human trafficking.
Traditionally called Multiple Personality Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is the mind’s way of protecting some against excessive or extreme trauma and is essential for survival in some cases. Each individual identity that is formed has a purpose and a place. Although about 3.5% of the population has DID, stigma and misinformation remain high. For instance, is the treatment goal to integrate the personalities? You will be surprised to learn that it is not. If you’re working with survivors of trauma, you need to know about DID. Learn from a human trafficking survivor and scholar in this area of work.
Human trafficking Educators working with Men and boys to stand Against the Demand (HEMAD) has over 40,000 men committed to ending human trafficking. If the business is based on supply and demand, HEMAD is part of ending demand. As a part of the HEMAD campaign men are shown a video about human trafficking and are challenged to take a pledge against human trafficking. Once men understand and take ownership, they will commit and will teach other men.
The need to move from a competitive mindset to a collaborative mindset is essential to the success of many anti human trafficking programs. In order for ourselves and our organizations to thrive we must be empowered to collaborate and create synergy. David Traugott, and his company Redwood United, teaches the 7 necessary roots for individuals and the 7 critical circles for anti-trafficking organizations to engage in to be successful and thrive. David Traugott and Redwood United helps individuals and organizations adopt goals and a vision that sets the movement on a course to end modern day slavery.
Dr. Justine Pierre takes us inside the world of trafficking in the Caribbean and into the minds of human traffickers. As the lead investigator for one of the largest Human Trafficking studies to ever be conducted in the Caribbean region he surveyed over 600 individuals involved in human trafficking including survivors, current human trafficking victims, customers (or “johns”), and 342 human traffickers. Dr. Pierre shares his research, methodology, and findings granting us a rare glimpse into the mindset of human traffickers.
This week we continue exploring the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. In Part III of this series, we discuss the slow process of changing an entrenched system as well as individuals’ perceptions. In this final episode solutions to addressing the issue of MMIW are offered and resources are provided for those who wish to learn more.
This week we dive back into the conversation surrounding the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. In part 2 of this series, we focus on the exploitation and oppression present in the systems that commonly serve indigenous women and families. The systems explored in this episode include the child welfare, educational, health care and criminal justice systems exposing system-wide abuses and the need for transparency, accountability, and cultural responsiveness.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: System Abuse
This week we dive back into the conversation surrounding the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. In part 2 of this series, we focus on the exploitation and oppression present in the systems that commonly serve indigenous women and families. The systems explored in this episode include the child welfare, educational, health care and criminal justice systems exposing system-wide abuses and the need for transparency, accountability, and cultural responsiveness.
This is a three-part series on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada and the U.S. Tune in to learn about this little known yet flourishing epidemic. Indigenous women experience higher murder rates and violence than any other group in the U.S. In fact, it’s the third leading cause of death for native women in the U.S. In Canada, indigenous women make up 4% of the population but account for 55% of the victims of human trafficking.
Teaching kids ages 7 to 11 how to watch out for cars as they cross the street is our responsibility. Also teaching them how to watch out for those who would exploit them is also our responsibility. Gayle Bunting’s organization “Invisible Traffick” does it through age-appropriate education in schools and stories that parents read to their children. These stories and conversations with youth opens up dialogue, provides language, and increases the communication necessary to keep kids safe.
As 2020 comes to an end, the wish for the new year is that we move ourselves and nations closer to ending human trafficking. Listen to the six critical ways we can all work toward eliminating human trafficking and promoting freedom for others in our own community and around the world.
Survivors have had difficult and traumatic experiences. Practitioners can experience vicarious trauma from spending extended time supporting a client’s recovery. However, learning to laugh keeps us from succumbing to the tragedies we see each day. Alexandra Stevenson discusses the critical need for laughter and the power in finding moments of joy, happiness, and even recognizing the irony and dark humor in certain situations. Recovery brings lots of dark days. Without joy, darkness will consume us. One of the necessary ingredients to maintain good health is to continue to reintroduce happiness through laughter. It’s the medicine that both survivors and practitioners need to keep them healthy and involved in the fight.
The Pottershands Foundation opened a home for women survivors in 2018 and they currently have openings for survivors who need a great home and quality programming to help heal. The programming is amazing and the home is lovely. Learn how Deb Kuehner took her vision from concept to actually having a 9,000 square foot home on 5 acres of land. Use her process and wise tips to open your own home. Also learn how a group of very spiritual people walk with very practical feet.
If 99% of youth who run away from home return home any way, why is it a big deal? How many youth run away from home each year? At what age are youth most likely to run away? Why are foster youth most at risk of being successfully recruited when they run? These questions and many more answered along with ideas to addressing runaways in your community.
This week we reveal the components and secret sauce involved in hosting our annual high school human trafficking and human-rights day full of workshops and engaging interactions for teens to best understand human trafficking, human rights, rape myths, toxic masculinity and more. We interview one of our teen poets highlighted at the conference who has found her voice in this movement. We invite you to take the components we share and create a human-rights day of your own in your community.
Armand King, former pimp, provides us with an individual and sociological perspective of limited experiences and blocked opportunities leading to pimping, gang membership, and drug sales for some young men in low-income, high crime communities. Together with his survivor sisters in San Diego, he works to educate anti-trafficking advocates and increase opportunities for young black and brown men. Listen, learn, and get your education and insiders view on pimping.
In this solo episode we will learn about “The Game” including the levels of pimping, some rules of the game and will get to know those outside of the game such as Renegades and Outlaws. Strap yourself in to learn the tools, the terms, and pimp philosophy.
Rita survived repeated and horrific abuse at the hands of her father and a group of men her community believed upheld the very virtues of trust, safety, and honor. This personal betrayal robbed Rita of her innocence and her faith in her fellow man. The abuse went unknown and unchecked in her community. Rita now puts her faith in God and uses her skills as a master level clinical social worker to help others heal and work through the secrets of their past.
Two teen poets present their poems and talk about how they see the world, us, and the issue of human trafficking. Nothing water downed, no chaser. They ask us why we prioritize capital over human beings. Why our hands are full, but our hearts are empty, and why we continue to ignore girls that are vulnerable and remain largely silent about them “dating” older men. They are tired of trying to protect themselves and for being blamed and victimized just for being themselves. Can you handle the truth?
The fact is it's difficult to traffic educated and empowered youth. Because human trafficking thrives on vulnerable youth and conditions of inequity, Aura Freedom in Toronto Canada made the decision to take a deep and focused dive by training a select number of youth on human trafficking related anti-oppressive topics and then employed them to go into schools, group homes, migrant-focused organizations and more to educate and empower vulnerable youth. After 40 presentations over the course of a year, the "Peer Prevention Project" educated over 2000 participants and identified and referred 24 youth survivors to services. Founder of the Peer Prevention Project, Marissa Kokkoros, talks about the power of the project, how it started, the training, and how you can be trained to bring this program to your community.
High School teacher Kim Hogan made a dramatic change in her life by moving across the country, becoming a doctor student, and embedding herself and new career deeply in research, advocacy, and clinical anti-trafficking work with survivors. As a result she schools us on ways to effectively produce change. Are you familiar with the term “hit-a-lick"? Do you know what a "trick-roll" is? How about the need to make your “quota"? Do you know how to bring funding to your community to obtain housing for survivors? How about mindfulness groups not only for survivors, but for the children of survivors? This and much more very targeted, unique, and effective responses to sex trafficking that you could try. Vocabulary lesson included.
In Part II, we talk very honestly and openly about how we put the conference on each year, the presentations we each really loved, some of our mishaps and mistakes, and the lessons we learned. We finish the podcast by talking about next year’s conference including what we look for in a good abstract and when we will be accepting abstracts for next year's presenters. I provide some tips on what it takes to move a big dream into a successful reality.
Our 17th annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference this year was a huge success with over 99 presenters and 2,300 in attendance from a total of 43 U.S. states and 19 countries. Listen to how the conference got started, the structure, how we plan it, and highlights from this massive three-day event, all virtual this year.
This is a short 8-minute episode devoted to you! Come on! You’ve worked hard. Open your heart and allow someone to genuinely and sincerely say thank you to you. Also, please feel free to share this with others in the fight and let them know you appreciate them and what they do to help others.
Rhonelle Bruder is an award-winning international speaker, advocate, writer, and founder of the RISE Program in Canada. RISE is a grassroots initiative that empowers vulnerable youth. Rhonelle discusses her life as a survivor and the RISE program, which is a survivor-led project that is trauma-informed and culturally responsive. They work to be inclusive and to empower survivors to thrive.
The week we present the second half of our interview with Breyonna Jones, a victim of sex trafficking who was raped, beaten, and traumatized by family, friends, and traffickers, only to later be convicted for a trafficking-related offense. Get an inside view of what happens to a trafficker’s life and what we produce when we rush to pass trafficking laws that inadvertently incarcerate the victimized, mentally ill, and abused populations without deep consideration for the collateral damage we may cause.
Imagine a little girl with hopes and dreams of living a safe, healthy and productive life of healing animals as a veterinarian. Then imagine being molested and silenced by your family, raped as an adolescent, blamed for your rape, rejected and abandoned by your family as a result, trafficked, physically brutalized, and made you give all of your money and time to your trafficker. The only system that enters your life labels you a trafficker and repeats what is familiar by degrading, shaming, and taking your freedom. In the anti-trafficking movement we would call the conviction of a trafficker a success, no? But traffickers are the ones who abuse, shame, and take a victim’s freedom, not the anti-trafficking movement right? If you are confused over the good guys and bad guys, listen to this episode to learn more about how a rush to judgement in passing harsh and stiff anti trafficking laws can cause irreputable collateral damage to some victims.
In 2010, Tom Perez began his anti-trafficking fight and noticed that while men are the primary drivers behind the demand for sexual exploitation, very few were involved in combating it. The EPIK Project brings men into the fight in effective and sustainable ways. In collaboration with the Portland Police Bureau, Tom took the hard road to build and lead an all-volunteer effort that’s grown into a national movement. As such, the Epik Project has successfully intercepted more than 170,000 attempts to purchase sex by over 85,000 buyers over the last 6 years. Training men how to engage local sex buyers at the point of sale works to disrupt the online market for illegal sex. This model has been replicated in 14 cities across the country with another 14 cities in the pipeline to involvement. September 1st, Tom leads an Epik 1,000 mile bike ride called "The Hard Road" across rough terrain to support women survivors and murdered and missing indigenous women.
Getting your message across is just as important as the message itself. Learning to be a great public speaker is a skill. We all have blind spots and could become better presenters. Perhaps you have a great message, are passionate about the work, and are making a difference, but your presentation skills could be improved. A poor presentation baffles your audience, diminishes your efforts, and hurts the movement. How you package and deliver your message is as critical as the message itself and people need to receive both you and your message with open arms. Your presentation could be the spark that lights the fire under your audience members. Make it rain with a passionate and clear message delivered by an authentic and confident presenter, or make it trickle leaving the message and your work lost in translation. Listen to Coach Nancy, who provides realistic and achievable ways to become a great public speaker.
The need to move from a rescue and restore paradigm to a human rights paradigm is ever present. Early on in the U.S. the human trafficking movement began as a white movement made up of second wave feminists and evangelicals who saw criminal justice as allies in an attempt to solve the problem of slavery. This led to a doubling down of white privilege, enforcement, and patrol of people of color. To end human trafficking, we need to address root causes and create sustainable emancipation. In asking the question “What are we not looking at?” and “Who are we arresting?”, Dr. Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick enables us to focus on structural barriers related to the movement and asks us to look at the larger issues associated with modern slavery and forced labor. As a scholar focused on social movements, Dr. Choi-Fitzpatrick discusses his book “What Do Traffickers Think”, and in doing so, provides us with a deeper understanding of labor traffickers and the realities of blocked opportunities and unrealized equality. Most importantly he focuses us on the need to adopt goals and a vision that sets the movement on a course to end modern day slavery.
Within his series of books, “The Good Drone”, “What Slaveholders Think”, and “From Human Trafficking to Human Rights”, scholar Dr. Choi-Fitzpatrick challenges us to think about slavery and forced labor in a deeper and more complex way. From using Drones to count brick kilns In India as a way of developing prevalence to shifting our perspective from “rescue and restore” to “human rights”, Dr. Choi-Fitzpatrick leads us on an enlightening and powerful journey to the center of our purpose. An empowering and thought provoking episode that may change your perspective on slavery and open you up to a new way of engaging in advocacy.
Sex trafficking involves wealthy girls who leave the country only to be trafficked by foreigners with no one else to save them except Liam Neeson because they have been "TAKEN" right? Blockbuster hit, reality disaster! "The Turn Out", new film by Director Pearl Gluck, lays out the realities of sex trafficking and how it happens in small town America. After several months working closely with survivors and anti-trafficking advocates, Gluck provides a riveting and disturbing, yet real portrayal of the realities of sex trafficking in the U.S. The Turn Out premieres this week! July 30th through August 16th. A great film for promoting awareness and engaging in in-depth discussions with parents and their teens.
Through focused research, the Human Rights Legal Center found that many times victims, in the U.S., have been forced to testify against their trafficker in order for the state to win the case, regardless of the trauma the victim suffered or their willingness to testify. This “force” is in direct opposition to a victim-centered and trauma informed approach and is seemingly more aligned with the lack of freedom the victim was subjected to under the control of a trafficker. It is suspected that some victims may not be informed of their rights under the ‘Crime Victim’s Rights Act”, a law that is a powerful check against prosecutors who don’t act in the best interest of the victim. The Crime Victim’s Rights Act includes the right to be treated with fairness and the right to dignity and privacy. Prosecutors build their careers on winnable cases. Those that compel victims to testify against their wishes, may be acting in their own self-interest and those of the state. This serves to buy a winnable case, but at a cost paid by unwilling and traumatized victims who are left to deal with the psychological aftermath. In the second half of the interview Attorney Sarah Bessell discusses how for-profit prisons may be more aligned with labor trafficking practices, than punishment or rehabilitation.
When survivors have lawyers, survivors have rights: This is the mission of the Human Trafficking Legal Center located in Washington, DC. The Legal Center has a database of every federal civil and criminal human trafficking case in the U.S. since 2009. They use this information to study trends in human trafficking, identify gaps, and advocate for change. In this episode, Deputy Director Sara Bessell, discusses some of the most critical trends occurring in the U.S. including the targeting by traffickers of those with disabilities, domestic violence and trafficking, and arresting victims in order to compel their testimony. The Legal Center is at your service to share the civil database, to pull criminal cases for you, or to potentially answer the questions you have.
Ashlie Bryant entered the prison system to learn from those who knew the most, the traffickers. She learned what they think, do, and say to manipulate youth. She and her two colleagues developed the 3Strands Global Foundation that focuses on anti-trafficking education, empowerment, and engagement. Using keen strategies and masterful principles, they serve as the force behind many positive interventions occurring across the states of California, Utah, and Texas. The success behind this work is credited to all of the diverse and invested stakeholders coming together to collaborate and do their part to educate students, engage survivors, and provide employment opportunities that help survivors to thrive. Learn how large scale anti-trafficking work is done.
Heidi Wilt, decorator by trade with a heart for those in need, was called to help survivors meet their basic needs and achieve their goals. Only a short time later, Heidi found herself actually running a Drop-In Center called Alabaster Gift, located in a secret location for survivors. Heidi knows that she is there for a season and will soon hand over the reins to someone else. However, the work she has done during her short tenure changed the lives of some survivors. Taking on the challenge to lead, enables both you and others to have a transformational experience.
For the 50th Episode, the Emancipation Nation brings you the anti-trafficking pioneer, Dr. Lois Lee. Dr. Lee began her work fighting youth sex trafficking in the early 70s on the streets of Hollywood and to date, has 41 years of experience. Her pioneering work blazed the trail that other anti-trafficking advocates follow today. From suing the LAPD for not arresting customers to her involvement trying to save women from the Hillside strangler, Dr. Lee is a force for to be reckoned with. It was during this time that she found out that children were involved in prostitution and pornography. She began to give each child she engaged a safe place to live, which turned into helping over 250 children. Word of her work got back to the White House where President Reagan got involved to help. However, bets were taken by some over whether she would be killed by pimps or the crooked police. Hugh Hefner, of Playboy magazine, stepped in to help Lee set up a nonprofit corporation. Instead of being at risk, Lee became the founder of the first, and still thriving, “Children of the Night” program. To date. Children of the Night has helped over 10,000 youth. Lee’s work and life has been featured on 60 minutes, a 1985 CBS Movie of the Week, and a 1989 song by Richard Marx called “Children of the Night”. She won the prestigious Volunteer Action Award presented to her in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan. To date, Lee’s organization has raised over 50 million dollars in private donations. She gives advice to anti-trafficking advocates around the world.
Not being culturally educated and sensitive is like telling your client that their history of oppression, experiences, traditions, and values they hold sacred, aren’t important to you or the helping process. When that happens, one of the two parties are ignorant to the healing power of culture and how to use it as a strength and tool in the helping process. Cultural ignorance is unconsciously destructive and translates into misunderstandings that create barriers to the helping process. This episode is devoted to the opportunity to be effective and stay woke.
Ever thought of publishing an article in a journal, but didn’t know how to go about it? Ever heard of a double-blind review? Want to be an article reviewer for a journal? Meet Editor-in-Chief Dr. Rochelle Dalla, who understands both the difficulty and the richness in studying and working with hard-to-reach populations. She honors that sentiment through her own past research with Native Americans, women in street prostitution, and more recently with sex trafficked women in Mumbai. She also serves as the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the international Journal of Human Trafficking, where key human trafficking research is published. She discusses the Journal of Human Trafficking, how she developed it, and how she and editors work with authors to get their article up to publishable quality. This episode is for anyone who has ever thought of publishing their work and who are brave enough to seize the opportunities in front of them to make great contributions to the field of anti-trafficking work.
This episode focuses on the numerous protests in the U.S. surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement and discusses the importance of protest, and what and why they are happening. In addition, the episode focuses on why anti-trafficking advocates don’t typically use protest as a form of intervention and why it might eventually become inevitable.
There are five common questions and associated fears that anti-trafficking advocates have about the work they do. These fears lead to significant barriers that serve to block our progress and speak to the heart of the problems in the movement. In this episode these fears are exposed, discussed, and potential solutions provided.
This week we are set to reach 10,000 Emancipation Nation Podcast downloads! I celebrate by sharing some little known facts about myself, how the podcast started, and reveal the exciting new and free Emancipation Nation Network, an online network and downloadable app developed just for you to connect with other advocates across the U.S. and around the world. On the Network you'll find human trafficking focused topics, groups, jobs, grants, research, and over 250 anti-trafficking advocates to connect with on various levels. In addition, find online workshops and courses designed to train you on specifically what you want to learn! Our goal is to populate the Network with great advocates and with those who want to be great advocates, so invite people you know that are passionate about the work! https://members.emancipationnationnetwork.com
Patrick Atkison, the founder of Godschild.org, an organization that helps thousands of children in poverty in El Salvador, Gutamala, India, and more. Started by Patrick, who while in college volunteered on a crisis line to meet college girls who also volunteered. There he did find the love of his life, which was the love of helping children. Enjoy the conclusion of Patrick Atkinson's career that spans across continents to help some of the most vulnerable children in the world. Patrick takes on the challenges that are in front of him and becomes bold enough to use his voice, brave enough to listen to his heart, and and strong enough to live his life in the service of others.
While in college, preparing for the world of work, Patrick Atkinson volunteered to answer phones to help people in crisis. Little did he know that answering “the call” would lead him to become the world’s emergency room worker, triaging and healing some of the world’s most vulnerable children. Throughout his career, he has taken great risk to his own personal safety to locate runaways in Times Square when it was crawling with drugs, crime, predators, and vulnerable youth. He worked in war torn Guatemala and El Salvador, entering dangerous territory to rescue children and house them in his orphanage, allowing them to grieve, work through trauma, and experience love and feel safe again. He now works on the issue of trafficking, exploited, and missing persons to help all children understand that love and safety is a right, not a privilege. Patrick is the author of seven books. He discusses his powerful story and development of his two organizations that still work to serve children: GodsChild.org and ITEMP.org He continues to serve as father and positive role model to countless children around the world.
Child marriage is a reality for girls (and boys) around the world. It is defined as formal marriage or informal unions before the age of 18. South Asia is known to have the highest number of child marriages in the world, but it happens all over the world, including the U.S. In fact, only two U.S. states have laws against child marriage. Within the last 20 years, the youngest recorded U.S. marriage was with a 10 year old child. Genevieve Meyer, founder and Director of the Resiliency Foundation, is a survivor of child marriage. She knows that when female children are married off, they are more likely to experience domestic violence, have more children, be less educated, and be trapped in marriages. She fights against child marriage and is one of the advocates that supported the passage of a law against child marriages in the State of Indiana. Genevieve discusses her experience, her work against child marriage, and ways to research what your state allows.
Through an unconventional lens, Dev Tandon, founder of the OBO Movement, takes us through his philosophy of business and his progressive concepts for a greater, more equitable future for all. While Dev is not directly involved in anti-trafficking work, he explains how the complete reversal of business-as-usual could impact the future of sex and labor trafficking, as well as provide advocates with an equitable and livable income. This visionary and his OBO Movement says seek to make a difference first, and be paid a great salary to do meaningful work.
It is typical for advocates to get involved in anti-trafficking work on many fronts and Marie DeLeon is no different. Marie is a survivor that is now giving back by helping survivors explore their own healing journey through workshops in New York City. She is also a part of the New Yorkers for the Equality Model, a political group comprised of allies, service providers, and survivor leaders in the New York area who advocate and support the Equality Model of law. She explains the model and presents her reasons why the Equality Model aka Nordic Model is the way to go. Finally, Marie explains an interesting one-stop shop program that she is involved with that provides comprehensive care to survivors.
Stable and safe housing is the foundation upon which all effective anti-trafficking programming and successful recovery is built. Yet housing is the number one barrier to providing effective recovery services to victims. The Samaritan Women's Institute for Shelter Care studies the issue of housing and human trafficking victims. Their findings? There are serious gaps between the number of victims and the available beds for those that need them. The Alliance estimates there are approximately 136 programs and agencies across the U.S. whose sole mission is to provide shelter to victims of trafficking. Thirteen states have no shelter programs at all, and 10 states have an average of one program for the entire state. The Institute for Shelter Care also identifies two main barriers to effective shelter care: (1) staffing problems, and (2) financial issues. The Institute for Shelter Care was developed to remove the barriers and provide intensive and comprehensive training to anyone that is interested in opening a shelter, or who has a shelter and wants to offer stable and effective services to survivors of trafficking. This episode is packed with critical information on housing from the foremost authority on effective housing for victims of trafficking.
Taryn Hughes, founder of Forest, Hughes, and Associates, continues her conversation with us on compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress. She shares with us the step-by-step process of introducing training to an organization and reveals that at some workplaces, secondary traumatic stress is being categorized as an occupational hazard. Taryn shares some suggestions on self-care as well as some upcoming conferences and presentations for listeners to attend.
Taryn Hughes is the founder of Forest, Hughes, and Associates in New York, a company that assesses vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress in the workplace and brings organizations the healing they need. Beginning with a thorough assessment, these trained healers prescribe interventions that focus on traumatized and stressed agencies and compassion fatigued executives and front line workers. While we try and continue to help victims in these precarious times of coronavirus, many of us are no doubt currently experiencing trauma and compassion fatigue ourselves. Taryn speaks about what to look for, the importance of debriefing traumatized professionals, and the critical role leadership and executives play in being healthy and creating a healthy workplace environment.
On today’s episode, we are hosting David Corliss, who holds a Ph.D. in statistical astrophysics and is the founder and director of Peace-Work. Peace-Work, as David will explain, is a volunteer cooperative organization of statisticians across the U.S. These statisticians are full-time professionals in various fields, who volunteer at Peace-Work spending their time partnering with organizations to fight human trafficking as well as other social justice issues. Coming from a long line of advocates and social reformers himself, David walks us through the various ways that his organization helps grass roots and struggling organizations and state and local governments to gather data, conduct evaluations, and complete the research needed to document and validate meaningful and effective work. A partnership with his organization can help attract grant and contract dollars. Using science, his organization can also help provide the guidance or next steps needed for social justice movements to be successful.
Kerry Brodie, founder and executive director of Emma’s Torch, joins us at the mic. Emma’s Torch is a nonprofit restaurant, café, and catering business in Brooklyn, New York that provides culinary training and job placement services to refugees and survivors of human trafficking. Kerry and her restaurant have been featured in world renown media such as the New Yorker, Rachel Ray, the New York Times, and Vogue Magazine, to name a few. Kerry walks us through the process of how students can enter the program, what happens, and where they can go after they graduate the program. Kerry, having had no business background or knowledge, was able to pursue a dream of empowering individuals over the one thing that brings us all together: food. Gordon Ramsey or Kerry Brodie? I vote Kerry!
Dr. Jill McCracken and Alex Andrews are co-founders of Sex Worker Outreach Project Behind Bars (SWOP-Behind Bars). Jill has over 15 years of experience researching the sex trade and Alex has experience being incarcerated for consensual sex work. These two come together to create an informative and, for some, eye-opening conversation about setting aside judgement of those in the sex industry that are there by choice and welcome the opportunity to dialogue. SWOP Behind Bars provides services for those incarcerated as a result of being involved in the commercial sex industry, including a letter writing campaign. Once the person is released, they help them find the resources and services they need to re-integrate back into society. The choice to resume involvement in the sex trade or not, they say, is each person's individual choice. SWOP honors that choice without judgement.
In this week’s episode, we welcome Jonathan Turbin to the mic. Jonathan earned his PhD in cultural anthropology at the University of Oregon. Currently, he is the coordinator of Initiatives Against Modern Day Slavery at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Much of their work is geared toward raising awareness while also being actively involved in educating and inspiring individuals to get involved in the anti-trafficking fight. Jonathan organizes art installations, gallery talks, and "activation station's" to promote awareness of human trafficking. The Freedom Center's latest work? Motel X. Learn about Motel X and be thinking of ways you could be creative in promoting human trafficking awareness.
Today’s episode hosts Christine Stark, whose story began in Part 1. In this episode, Chris talks about how she developed her voice that has helped so many indigenous survivors of trafficking and abuse. She speaks on her own personal account of the trauma she endured, but also on how that propelled her through her life and her work. Chris touches on the traumas indigenous children encountered in boarding school and attempted assimilation, civil litigation for indigenous individuals, and how she continues to keep herself healthy and stable so that she can continue to do the work she does.
Today’s guest on the Emancipation Nation Podcast is Christine Stark. Chris is a proud indigenous woman whose passion and need for exposing the truth has elevated her work as well as earned her a master’s degree in fine arts and in social work. Chris is an author, has conducted research, and demonstrated her creativity through art. In Part 1 of her interview, Chris speaks passionately and with some detail on the importance of anti-trafficking advocates to understand the history of enslavement and dehumanization that has taken place and has really never ended.
In today’s episode, we are hosting Erin McLoughlin. She works in the Detroit area with the Wayne County SAFE program helping victims of sexual assault and sex trafficking. Erin has been involved in advocacy efforts for about 10 years. She discusses the work of a forensic nurse examiner and the benefits it provides for survivors of sexual assault. She then flips-the-script to wear another hat facilitating a class with “johns” or purchasers of sexual services who have been arrested for soliciting and provides an education about how john schools operate and the men involved. Erin is a warrior, attacking both sides of the issue often in the same day.
While sex traffickers more commonly manipulate youth into the commercial sex trade, more and more sensationalized accounts of child abduction into the sex trade have cropped up on Facebook and in news reports. How do we educate parents so that they are aware of all of the ways sex trafficking occurs, particularly those most common ways. And how do we help parents resolve the ever present conflict between being your child's "friend" vs being your child's "parent"? Youth tell trusted others about what is truly happening in their lives. How does a parent become one of those trusted others?
In this episode of the Emancipation Nation, Sarah Symons, a self-educated, non-profit developer shares her anti-trafficking journey. Sarah shares her insights on what it has been like going from a songwriter for soap operas to owning and operating a non-profit organization that serves 750 girls a year. She was inspired in 2003 by a documentary, The Day My God Died, she watched by chance. Since then, she developed her own non-profit organization based in Nepal and India—Her Future Coalition—that has been built for women in trafficking situations to become empowered, free, and strong. Also, information on an exciting new Emancipation Nation Network coming soon to provide you with ways to connect daily and weekly with anti-trafficking advocates across the U.S. and around the world, along with the ability to take a variety of anti-trafficking focused courses and workshops!
With previous law enforcement experience, an undergraduate degree in philosophy, and an MBA, Chris Lim is putting forth his education and experience to focus on macro level anti-trafficking work. In his current endeavor, he has been tasked with creating a statewide human-trafficking protocol for the state of Alabama, and he knows that collaboration between different disciplines is essential to the mission of saving lives. Chris explains to us that acknowledging and understanding the responsibilities and priorities of varying disciplines for the work they do is fundamental to get the job done, so it is of utmost importance to check your ego at the door and to continue to put energy into the why.
Dr. Kirby Reutter is a clinical psychologist who works closely with Mexican immigrants at the U.S boarder seeking political asylum who have been exposed to extreme and complex trauma, which often includes human trafficking. Dr. Reutter shares the tragic realties of his clients, and the experiences that spurred these individuals and families to seek asylum in the U.S., and his work with them. The journey to the border itself has been horrifyingly for many, as Dr. Reutter explains through his encounters with his clients. This is a must listen to episode for anyone wanting to better understand why someone would risk their life to seek out a new life in the U.S.
In 2020, let's use our voice and our choice to make a difference. Let's recognize those that have helped us along the way and circle back to those that needed us. In 2020, let's commit to be in full flavor and end the new lash of the whip in all of its many forms.
In this episode three gifts are offered in preparation for 2020: (1) to speak up in places where others have the power, and to listen more in places where you have the power (2) share the gift of truth with all you know and stop the continued and destructive myths about human trafficking and (3) pick up your FREE youth-focused human trafficking risk tool. This tool will help you assess which youth are most at risk for being trafficked. It is most appropriate for youth ages 12-17 and may be used in schools, juvenile courts, child welfare organizations,weekly youth groups, after school programs and more! Also, feel free to share it!
Do the laws we pass against prostitution really help vulnerable populations engaged in sex work? Our guest says these laws do not, and they particularly don’t protect the most vulnerable in society.
The narrative we have all been taught to believe is that prostitution is wrong and people shouldn’t willingly engage in it. But this moral stance isn’t based in the reality of our times. Today, women (and men) sell sex because they are trafficked, or because they need to survive, or because they consent to be sex workers. We would agree that at least two of the three reasons someone is involved in prostitution makes them vulnerable. Put yourself in their shoes. If the last 25 encounters you had with police resulted in your arrest, at the 26th encounter, how wiling are you to share that you had been raped, robbed, or trafficked by someone? Would you still believe police are there to protect you? What happens when you experience a violent crime, but fear the police? What are the psychological effects and the real life consequences? What happens when the rapists, felony abusers, and traffickers aren't taken off the streets because victims are too afraid to make a report? Expert Kristen Diangelo provides listeners with the eye-opening realties of sex workers and the law that will take effect in California ito protect them in January 2020.
Freedom is the most fundamental right that many take for granted. Shari Ho will never take her freedom for granted. She was an innocent child trafficked to the U.S. at only seven years old from her village in the mountains in Taiwan. Enslaved in California for approximately 20 years, Shari recounts her story and her escape in a book titled, “My Name is Also Freedom” written by Melodie Fox. Listen to this powerful episode about labor trafficking in the U.S as recounted by the author. Being afraid, but courageous, Shari was able to escape. Now in her 40s, Shari owns a childcare business, goes to counseling, and takes English courses. She makes freedom and recovery a daily practice. She is a survivor-thriver in every sense of the word.
In part two of the podcast featuring Sarah Ladd, she discusses her work focused on trauma-informed practice as well as labor trafficking policies. She reveals the reality of work-life balance and discusses the importance of using your own life as an inspiration and motivation for “being persistent” and furthering your advocacy efforts. Be sure to check out part one of the series. You don’t want to miss it!
There is a story about a baby floating down a river. The compassionate helper frantically grabbed the baby, warmed it, clothed it, fed it, and found it a home. But soon there was another baby and another. Others joined in to help. Finally, another compassionate helper said, "I'm going up stream to find out who is throwing the babies in the water, and stop it." When Sarah found herself overwhelmed with the need she saw in the children she worked with in other countries and the weak laws and policies in place, she decided to focus on breaking through the wall to create better responses. She went upstream. Persistence, courage, confidence, compassion, and a laser focused strategy is what catapulted Sarah Ladd to engage in critically impactful human trafficking work in the U.S. and around the world. Listen to Sarah Ladd’s journey from taking a study abroad course and international jobs to graduating law school and working in the anti-trafficking field. And look out for more of Sarah’s story in Part II next week!
Dr. Stacey Litam, though she may be a tiny woman, is a powerhouse of skill and compassion. She is a licensed professional clinic counselor (LPCC) in Ohio, nationally certified counselor, as well as an assistant professor at Cleveland State University in the counseling education program. She’s also a part-time instructor at Northeast Ohio Medical University where she teaches the foundations of clinical medicine courses. Currently, Dr. Litam also works at a Northeast Ohio agency serving survivors of trafficking, along with subance-use-disorders and LGBTQ+ clients.
This episode focuses on all things trauma—discussing the difference between trauma-informed care and trauma-informed therapy; how the experience of trauma is subjective and the impact is in the eye of the beholder; why environments should be as trauma-informed as possible; trauma-informed therapies; and the pieces of advice Dr. Litam needs other helping professionals to hear in order to take care of themselves.
Public relations and communications trained Cat Jacoby of Fierce Freedom uses her background in public relations and communication to join the fight and educate others about the very real issues of human trafficking. She works for founder Jenny Almquist, originally an interior designer turned freedom fighter. Fierce Freedom is unique in that they focus their efforts on educating those rural areas and small towns across the U.S. that many programs miss to provide them with general human trafficking content, but particularly, information that is helpful to smaller, rural communities.
This is the second half of an interview with Christy Croft, Program Manager for the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault. In this episode Christy discusses the difficulty some advocates have in trying to understand someone else's trauma, particularly if they have not had trauma themselves. She discusses the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study and assessment tool and mentions her approach using the Empowerment Model.
This is part one of a two part interview with Christy Croft who currently serves as Prevention Education Program Manager for the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Christy does not forget her trauma as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, interpersonal violence, and lived experience in the sex trade as she works to serve others in similar and vulnerable positions. Being a survivor, she reminds us not to “construct” someone’s experience, but to listen to survivors. She also points out that while the goal is to reduce risk and increase protection in serving victims of human trafficking, we should know the research. Many times one type of intervention also addresses other social problems. She provides a critical resource (Connecting the Dots) to understand how our work may be helping to reduce shared risk and protective factors. In this episode, we talk about the importance of using evidence-based practice and touch on the importance of the well-known Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study to identify levels of trauma. Christy also asks us to be trained and listen to LGBTQ+ youth experiences and how their experiences relate to trafficking and trauma. Lots of good resources in this episode including: "Teach to Reach", "Point Source Youth", and "FORGE"
Drug addiction and human trafficking, particularly sex trafficking, have been intricately linked. Whether a trafficker uses drugs to control victims or victims use drugs to cope with trauma, drugs play an important role in enslaving vulnerable individuals. Having a strong working knowledge of drugs, from the realities of those that use them, is an invaluable resource. This episode covers approximately 14 of the most popular drugs used in the U.S. today, their street names, prices, how people use them, the drugs they use in combination, and common adulterations (cuts) included in drugs. Today we take it to the streets.
Dr. Karen Countryman-Roswurm is a survivor of the streets, has a doctorate, and serves as Director of the Center for Combatting Human Trafficking at Wichita State University. She makes the point that being labeled a victim or survivor of trafficking may imply that the trafficking experience is all that defines a person and denies the lifelong lived experiences of each person. Honoring those experiences that contribute to a person's whole life opens the door to serving them effectively. Trafficking is often the result of vulnerability brought about by earlier experiences and the inability of overwhelmed and traumatized systems to appropriately and adequately respond. These are deeper, longer, and systemic issues that won’ be solved through awareness alone, which is why Dr. Karen Countyman-Roswurm developed interventions and responses that are focused, research based, and are working. The Center’s prevention and interventions efforts cut across populations to address at risk elementary school youth to trafficking survivors as well as changing policy and legislation. Learn more about her insights and tremendous work in Kansas.
Harold D'Souza, a highly educated man, came to the U.S. in search of a better life only to find he and his family trapped in a labor trafficking nightmare. He was worked 16 hour days, 7 days per week to the point of physical and psychological exhaustion. Their traffickers demeaned Harold and his family and made him feel like a failed parent, failed protector, failed provider, and failed person. But he knew deep down inside that he was a good and strong person and that suicide or silence was no longer an option for him. In extreme daily fear, Harold called on God and recounted that he had to remember that he should not tell God how big the storm is in his life, but should tell the storm how big God is in his life. Harold found the courage to get himself and his family away from their traffickers only to find out that the systems designed to help vulnerable people were unkind and unsympathetic to what he and his family had suffered. Today Harold and his family are doing well. Harold has devoted his life to helping other victims. He also does presentations and works both locally and internationally helping professionals understand that labor trafficking is a critical issue in the U.S. and around the world. Harold is a brilliant, compassionate, and devoted advocate focused on bringing both awareness and effective solutions to those modern-day labor trafficking slaves in the U.S. and abroad.
This week learn how I, and a few trusting souls, started the Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference with little more than our dreams. This week we highlight the 16th annual Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference that was held September 19 and 20, 2019. It now serves as the largest academic international conference in the nation serving over 1,500 attendees coming from 42 states and 30 countries. Attendees had the opportunity to choose from 70 sessions over a two day period. And just so you are aware, the conference is not a political one where everyone agrees. Social justice is vast and so perspectives are vast. There is diversity of thought at the conference from those that approach this social justice focused work from a programming perspective, research, activisim, policy work and more. Presenters range from researchers to grass roots outreachers. There are several presentations from survivors. Even though all involved fight human trafficking, there are a range of perspectives about adults involved in the commercial sex trade, including those that are abolitionists and those that support sex worker rights. The time at the conference is both educational and inspiring because experts provide attendees with the information and tools to return to their communities and take action. Check out the conference schedule at traffickingconference.com Go to "attend" and click on "schedule" to see all of the powerful presenters and presentations from this year. We hope you will join us next year so that you can meet others from the nation and find your tribe!
Theresa Flores founded the Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution (SOAP) campaign that has reached over a million in hotels/motels across the U.S. Learn about SOAP and how to get involved and/or start a chapter in your community. SOAP also hosts survivor retreats that bring survivors together from across the U.S. to learn, grow, and heal from places of brokeness. The listener is also challenged to address their own brokeness in order to fully serve others.
Collaboration is one of the key tools advocates use to effectively address human trafficking. In fact, you cannot be a successful anti-trafficking advocate without knowing how to effectively collaborate- yet collaboration is the very thing that no one is really taught how to do. In this episode I'll review seven agreements that you need to make with yourself. Once you do these, you'll master the art of collaboration.
Nurses work in health care facilities don't they? Not always, some nurses become fearless advocates against human trafficking and go to the streets, of Philadelphia in jails, and they develop programs and safe houses for victims to recover. Some nurses not only help to heal the body, but they work to heal the heart and mind and put their energies into healing the soul of a nation that ignored vulnerable victims. Not all nurses take blood pressure, some take on issues. Meet renaissance woman Dr. Donna Sabella who tells about how she used her knowledge and skills in nursing to fight trafficking both directly in working with victims and as a researcher.
What does a direct practice advocate do when they work with victims and survivors on a daily basis? Nora Riggs, a master level social worker explains her daily work in helping clients one-on-one including how she helps clients identify their goals based on their needs and the very real risk that she, like others, will suffer vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. Nora discussess how she recognizes when client trauma is affecting her life. She talks about how both hard work and "hope" for client recovery is most important and the advice she would give to others that do this work or want to do this work.
This episode is devoted to those who are passionate about anti-trafficking work, but who haven't gotten started in the field yet. You can stop waiting and start making a difference. It's not that hard. I'll show you how to get started and ways you can consider bringing your talents (superpowers) to the table to make a difference.
Jeffrey Epstein was accused of the sex trafficking of minors. He killed himself while in prison awaiting trial. The business of sex trafficking involves supply "victims" and "demand" customers. Let's shine the spotlight on Epstein and discuss the "demand" side of the issue in this short episode spotlighting Jeffrey Epstein.
Caroline Palmer is an attorney in charge of making sure the Safe Harbor Law, the state law that mandates we see child trafficking victims as victims of abuse instead of delinquents, is implemented across the state of Minnesota. She ensures that 40 anti-trafficking projects are funded across the state and across 9 of the 11 tribal nations in Minnesota. How does one even do that? Very carefully.
Dr. Dominique Roe-Sepowitiz, Director of the Office of Sex Trafficking at Arizona State University, discusses the ways she is and has been involved in anti-trafficking work with victims and prostituted women in jails, in groups, in a drop-in center, and in the community. One of her current projects is working with many others to bring "pop up" services to prostituted and trafficked women in Phoenix. Every six months collaborators, made up of various social service agency representatives along with university students and survivors volunteer to set up in an area in the community to offer housing services, substance abuse services, counseling, basic needs and other services and supports to vulnerable others. They don't wait for someone to find them. They bring the application process and help to the people that need it most. The projects is now occuring in a few other cities across the U.S. and has been very successful. Dr. Roe-Sepowitz welcomes anti-trafficking advocates from other communities to learn how to implement the project in their cities.
This episode is devoted to those that need to understand the basics of human trafficking. Join me to learn what human trafficking is, how it happens, who is involved and more.
Dr. Lauren Martin discusses the Safe Harbor Act in Minnesota to protect victims of trafficking. This is a law that is present in several states across the U.S. Lauren discusses the law and the possible expansion of that law to include decriminalizing the sellers of transactional sex. This law has been referred to as the Nordic Model. Minnesota refers to it as "Partial Decriminalization". Advocates there do not want to take the chance arresting and re-traumatizing a victim who needs services instead of conviction. To engage in discussions, organizers held several meetings with a variety of groups, with some of the most important voices being those of survivors. In Minnesota's view, survivors were included as critical members of the collaboration with a professional opinion to share. These advocates believe they wouldn't ask a police office to come to table to share his/her story, and we would ask his/her professional opinion - as it should be with survivors. Lauren discusses the importance of action research in developing policy and services for and with those involved in "transactional sex", a term used to recognize the need for those involved to self identify as survivors of sex trafficking, sex workers, or other terms they choose to use.
A powerful podcast with Shamin Brown, artist, activist, and thriver who discusses her experience as a victim of sex trafficking and other abuses and provides human trafficking advocates with the message that above all else is the need to be nonjudgmental, authentic, and trust worthy and to have self-compassion while doing this work.
Powerful Take-Aways from the Podcast with Artist, Activist, Survivor and Thriver Shamin Brown
- Not having agency or control over your own body is often what happens to victims. Whenever possible, make sure survivors have agency, freedom, and self-determination during their healing and recovery experience.
- The individual experience of recovery is different for everyone.
- Fundamental healing comes about from people loving people.
- Survivors and other helpers have to learn to have self-compassion.
- There is a difference between shame vs guilt. Shame is never appropriate.
- In working with survivors, emphasize their worth along with their progress – worth comes first.
- Always value someone’s inherent worth.
- Our job is to show survivors love until they are able to give themselves the love they need.
- We have to earn the right to hear someone’s story and survivors deserve the right to share their story in a safe environment.
- Develop authentic, transparent relationships with survivors in order to do the deeper, effective work.
- Know your limits. Know what you’re good at and the best ways you can contribute. Everyone isn’t suited for direct service work. There are so many ways to get involved and do meaningful work.
- Know the difference between intention and impact. Your intention may be good, but your impact may be poor.
- Practice nonjudgement in your daily life.
- Non-traditional therapies and culturally appropriate healing may be included as a part of the healing process.
- Follow Shamin to learn more about responsible survivor engagement in employment, peer leadership, mentoring and more. Learn about those ways to help survivors engage in helping others, while making space for their own recovery.
The first episode is devoted to introducing the host, discussing the purpose for the podcast, and providing listeners with the format for the podcast, which is to bring on guests that have extensive experience and expertise in the anti-trafficking field to share the latest knowledge. Listeners will be informed and will be able to implement those best practices shared on the weekly podcast.