Emancipation Nation

Send a text 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 esse...

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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. 

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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. To...

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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 d...

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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 foundat...

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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 a...

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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 cove...

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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 fr...

Send a text 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 c...

Send a text 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, yo...

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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...

Send a text 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.

Send a text 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.

Send a text 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 ca...

Send a text 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 traf...

Send a text 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.