A STORYCORPS STUDIOS SPECIAL COLLECTION

As part of the Voices of Freedom initiative, the Office on Trafficking in Persons partnered with StoryCorps Studios to collect oral histories through conversations with those who have informed, shaped, and contributed to the successes of the anti-trafficking field over the past two decades.

To learn more contact: [email protected]

Creating social change on entrenched issues like human trafficking takes decades and often requires sustained vigilance across generations.  Our collaboration with StoryCorps provides a platform for survivors and allied professionals to pause, reflect, and share their personal journeys towards progress over the last 20 years.  Just as legacies of historical injustices contribute to human trafficking today, these stories reveal the influences and lessons learned from intergenerational struggles for justice.

— Katherine Chon, Director of the Office on Trafficking in Persons

All Voices of Freedom Interviews

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42:05
Kimberly Chang, Allison Chang, and Jocelyn Chang

Daughters Kimberly Chang [no age given] and Allison Chang (48) discuss with their mother Jocelyn Chang (75) the topic of human trafficking and how their family history as Asian/Native Hawaiians overlap with this issue.

Wade Arvizu and Elizabeth Scaife break down the anti-trafficking movement’s past, present, and future.

Wade Arvizu (aka K.D. Roche) and Elizabeth Scaife candidly discuss the evolution of the anti-human trafficking movement and the importance of survivor leadership within every aspect. They reflect on the humble beginnings of their friendship and their hopes for future...

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39:27
Caroline Palmer and Beatriz Menanteau

Friends and colleagues Beatriz Menanteau [no age given] and Caroline Palmer (53) talk about their shared work at Safe Harbor in Minnesota and how they got involved with anti-trafficking work within the public health sector. Together, they discuss the implementation...

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47:13
Kate Keisel and Cristal Mills

Kate Keisel (35) has a conversation with her colleague Cristal Mills (38) about their work, their friendship, and the importance of resilience.

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41:50
Benjamin Adriano and Katherine Chon

Colleagues Benjamin Adriano [no age given] is interviewed by Katherine Chon [no age given] about his work in the Human Trafficking Leadership Conference, his experience as a survivor of labor trafficking, and his plans for his career.

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57:10
Shanika Ampah and Nathan Earl

Friends Nathan Earl (46) and Shanika Ampah (41) discuss how they each came to the anti-trafficking field, their individual stories of being trafficked, what they hope to see in the ant-trafficking field, and how they would like to pass on...

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39:41
Fainess Lipenga and Marga Fripp

Marga Fripp (47) interviews her friend Fainess Lipenga (42) about her experience being trafficked, what it was like returning to Malawi after ten years, are her work in the anti-trafficking field.

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01:32:48
Chris Smith and Katherine Chon

On the 20th anniversary of passing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, Representative Chris Smith (68) speaks with his colleague in anti-trafficking work, Katherine Chon [no age given] about his role in writing and passing the bill. He talks about how...

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45:18
Lauren Devine and Jordan Greenbaum

Friends and colleagues Lauren Devine [no age given] and Jordan Greenbaum [no age given] share their varying experience working with victims of human trafficking.

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38:31
Kaleilani Grant and Nicole Farmer

Kaleilani Grant (38) talks to her best friend, Nicole Farmer (39), about her faith in God through many life obstacles. She talks about the period of life that she was forced into sex work and talks about how she is...

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43:53
Eric Harris and Kate Kimmer

Eric Harris [no age given] talks to his friend and mentor, Kate Kimmer [no age given] about the realities of being a survivor of trafficking and engaging in anti-trafficking work. The two talk about the importance of including survivors in...

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40:54
Meredith Dank and Amy Farrell

Friends and research colleagues Dr. Meredith Dank [no age given] and Dr. Amy Farrell (48) talk about the complexities of anti-trafficking work and the discoveries they have made in their research on human trafficking. They talk about the methods used...

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35:57
Paul Chang and Lauren Devine

Paul Chang (48) is interviewed by his colleague Lauren Devine (33) about his childhood and moving from China to the United States, starting his career in the Department of Labor, and some of the cases he has worked on throughout...

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41:29
Chris Ash and Erin Albright

Friends and colleagues Chris Ash (45) and Erin Albright (39) talk about first connecting with each other through finding common beliefs they share on social media about human trafficking and sex trade. Together, they discuss some of the opinions they...

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42:03
Paola Sanchez Valdez and Kate Cooper

Kate Cooper (35) interviews her colleague Paola Sanchez Valdez (25) about her community organizing work with migrant farm workers in Virginia. Paola discusses how she got started in her work, how her work has changed in the midst of COVID-19,...

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41:45
Katherine Chon and Catherine Pierce

Katherine Chon [no age given] interviews her colleague Catherine Pierce [no age given] about her work in the criminal justice system, with the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and in the anti-trafficking movement.

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50:01
Karen Countryman-Roswurm and Ashley Garrett

Friends and colleagues Karen Countryman-Roswurm (40) and Ashley Garrett (47) discuss how their lives have been different than what they expected, their impact on the anti-trafficking field, and what the future holds for them.

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43:24
Erik Gray and Robin Miller

Erik Gray (30) and friend and colleague Robin Miller (49) have a conversation about how they met, their work within the anti-trafficking community, the sense of value in their chosen field and gaps in service provided to those violated in...

Ana Cody and Kimberly Casey

Kimberly Casey interviews her colleague Ana Cody about her efforts to prevent and respond to human trafficking among youth who are experiencing homelessness.

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41:08
Harold D’Souza and Katherine Chon

Katherine Chon [no age given] interviews her friend Harold D'Souza [no age given] on his past experiences being a survivor of human trafficking to now being an outspoken advisor on the subject.

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54:16
Shannon Sigamoni and Wilnisha Sutton

Shannon Sigamoni (28) interviews her friend and colleague Wilnisha Sutton (33) about Wilnisha's work in the anti-trafficking field, her advice to people wishing to join the field, and how she thinks the field has progressed over the past 20 years.

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34:56
Santiago Perez Navarro and Estela De los rios

Estela De Los Ríos (66) entrevista a Santiago Pérez Navarro (54) sobre su experiencia como víctima de la trata de personas, cómo ha cambiado su vida, y lo que le gustaría que otros supieran sobre la trata de personas. [Estela...