Abolitionist Spotlight | Alex Fehder
When a human trafficking survivor comes forward to share their experience and seek justice against their trafficker, they are also embarking on an incredibly arduous journey. Between navigating the legal system and trying to heal from intense trauma, survivors need all the support they can get. That's where people like Alex Fehder come in. Alex is a Victims' Rights Advocate with the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center (OCVJC), where she does everything from intake meetings with victims to holding their hand during court proceedings. OCVJC is a non-profit that provides free legal services to crime victims as they pursue the justice prescribed to them by the law. They represent victims of many different crimes, including domestic violence and human trafficking.
Before working at OCVJC, Alex received both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in criminal justice from Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Cincinnati. During college, she interned in the anti-human trafficking department of the Catholic Charities in Louisville and interned at the Hope's Wing's Domestic Violence shelter in Richmond, Kentucky. It was here that Alex realized her passion for helping others. In particular, she realized that the media frequently misconstrues what actually happens in violent crimes like human trafficking. Her favorite part of her job is getting to meet so many different kinds of people. "Sometimes you see people in the hardest part of their lives," she says. "And I am honored to support them through that."
Thanks, Alex, for all that you do!