Today's tip for the individual advocate: Utilize your talents! When we say that everyone has something to offer, we mean it!

Just as we want freedom for every single person who has been harmed by human trafficking, we also want justice to be served for those who have perpetrated that harm. Human trafficking is a notoriously difficult crime to prosecute, as traffickers are experts at flying under the radar. But today, we share a story of hope and justice.

This month's featured human trafficking abolitionist is Tanner Hensley! Tanner is currently working on a big anti-labor trafficking project, helping to create awareness and promote current legislation to protect and support survivors. Policy and how it can be used to assist or defend people is something Tanner is passionate about, so this work is right up his alley!

At the beginning of our journey of advocacy, we debunked some common human trafficking myths. Today, we're going to have a little refresher!

Today's tip for the individual advocate: Volunteer!

The scene: A cozy home in a quiet neighborhood in the Philippines, complete with stuffed animals, funky printed blankets, and pictures on the walls.

The story? Completely different.

This month's featured abolitionist is Courtney Kinter! Kinter is a Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, where she provides free legal assistance to many people, including survivors of human trafficking!

Today is internationally recognized at the World Against Trafficking in Persons day! If you’ve been thinking about taking action or getting involved in anti-human trafficking work, today is a perfect day to do it.

In movies and media, it often seems as if human trafficking situations begin spontaneously. A person in a van snatches someone off the sidewalk or someone is lured into a trap where they're suddenly captured and instantly become victims. The truth is, trafficking is a much more deliberate and psychological crime than that. The story of Yuri Guerrero demonstrates the dependence traffickers create perfectly.

The coming of COVID 19 has changed so many things about our way of life. In some ways, it has brought forth some incredible innovation. The way people learned to adapt and appreciate what they have was truly something of beauty. In other ways, the pandemic has absolutely wreaked havoc. Instability in relatively every form has become the norm. That instability created all kinds of extra problems, including exacerbating the issue of human trafficking.

To help all of our individual advocates, we have started a series with some practical tips on how to join the work against trafficking. Today’s tip: Join a coalition!

Growing up in a small town in Midwest America, James Evans always knew he was different. He also knew that his family and hometown would never accept his authentic self if he ever found the courage to be open about his sexuality. In his final year of high school, Evans' worst fear came true. He was "outed" and his family rejected him. This sent him into a dangerous spiral that lead to being trafficked.

This month's featured anti-trafficking abolitionist is Bhumika Patel! After completing her Master's degree, she knew she wanted to enter a role in which she could somehow support others who were oppressed or marginalized. And she has done just that!

When regular media and news outlets cover stories that involve human trafficking, they typically share a story that sounds something like this: "An villain has kidnapped people and is holding them in his basement for sex. Someone tipped off the police, the SWAT team completed a sting operation, and rescued all of the victims! They're safe now. The End!" This story is horrifying, thought provoking, wrapped up in a nice little bow, and, unfortunately, far from the truth.

With a problem as pervasive as human trafficking, how can a single person make much of a difference? Follow our new series for practical tips for the individual anti-trafficking advocate!