It’s lurking closer to you than you think. Learn why and become aware.

The stark realities of trafficking encompass the harrowing experiences of humans who are coerced, deceived, or forced into labor or sexual exploitation. These victims endure physical and psychological trauma, often trapped in situations of vulnerability and abuse. The scale and sophistication of trafficking networks, coupled with deep widespread societal misconceptions, contribute to its persistence. Our speaker will shed light on the stark realities of human trafficking and how we are touched by it. We all bear responsibility in shaping a world free from exploitation.

Speaker: Jess Torres, a Survivor Leader and Human Trafficking expert, spearheads one of the pioneering prevention programs in the nation to be created and led by survivors of trafficking. Jess is a Trans Indigenous writer, educator and organizer dedicated to community building, direct action and policy work for the marginalized and criminalized. They are of Lenca lineage born on the stretch of earth now called El Salvador; displaced on unceded Matinecock land in so-called NYC as an “undocumented” immigrant for 25 years. Jess is a systems-impacted youth with lived experience of child trafficking. They have 15 years of advocacy in the anti-trafficking and sex worker rights movement, including leadership roles with: the Little Market, the former Survivor Leadership Program Coordinator at the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), and currently serves as an independent consultant with federal and state agencies and as an Expert Trainer and Communications Specialist with Rising Worldwide in addition to being an active Consultant for the Southern CA region, with the Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking (PACT) Project.