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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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...

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42:00
Neha Misra, Janie Chuang, and Anne Gallagher

Colleagues in the anti-trafficking field, Neha Misra (51), Janie Chuang (47), and Anne Gallagher (57), all share their "lightbulb moments" of memories that shifted their perspectives in their work. They discuss the complexities of human trafficking and how it's understood...

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39:29
Robert Lung and EleSondra DeRomano

Robert Lung (50) and EleSondra DeRomano (54) remember their first meeting, share about the work they do with survivors of sex trafficking, and talk about their own healing processes.

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41:20
Patricia Medige and Anlan Du

Patricia Medige (55) talks with her daughter Anlan Du (20) about her path from college to law school to becoming a civil lawyer for immigrant survivors of human trafficking. Pat remembers some of the cases she has worked on and...

Stories from 3Strands Global Foundation’s Employ + Empower Program – Empowering Survivors of Human Trafficking

Ashlie Bryant (54 years), Co-Founder and CEO of 3Strands Global Foundation, sits down to interview Kaitlyn DiCicco (30 years), National Director of Social Services Programs, about the Employ + Empower program. Through the program’s 4 years of operation, over 300...

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43:54
Lauren Devine and Alexis Polen

Colleagues Lauren Devine (33) and Alexis Polen [no age given] come together to share their personal and professional experiences to analyze the field of Human Trafficking.

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40:11
Maria Echaveste and Luis C.deBaca

Friends Luis C. deBaca (54) and Maria Echaveste (66) discuss their early careers and arrival to labor law, share about some specific cases of labor abuse they worked on, and reflect on the larger global factors that contribute to labor...

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41:59
Lisa Williams and Sharon Cooper

Lisa Williams (56) talks with her colleague Sharon Cooper (68) about her work in the military and the federal government, and how that influenced her work at Living Water, which provides refuge and resources to women and girls who are...

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56:04
Jeri Jimenez and Elizabeth Pfenning

Jeri Jimenez (60) speaks with her colleague Elizabeth "Beth" Pfenning (34) about the experiences that have led her to become a voice for change for survivors of human trafficking. She shares about her experiences of sexual abuse in childhood and...

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49:51
Rachel Niemiec and Elizabeth Hopper

Colleagues Elizabeth "Elise" Hopper (48) and Rachel Niemiec (37) discuss their work in the anti-trafficking field. Elise talks about entering the field as psychologist and how she manages secondary trauma. Rachel shares about her work as a sexual assault nurse...

Sophia Eftimiades and Nicholas Kuyers

Co–workers Sophia Eftimiades (28) and Nicholas Kuyers (24) discuss the anti human trafficking movement and their roles as advocates on the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Recalling the Trafficking in Persons Protocol negotiations and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

A conversation by Trafficking in Persons protocol negotiators James Puleo, Mary Helen Carlson, snd Thomas Burrows regarding their work during the two years it took to complete the UN discussions.

Steven Procopio and Kimberly Casey

Steven Procopio talks with his colleague, Kimberly Casey, about his journey as a licensed clinical social worker and how he came to work as an advocate for male survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking. He discusses the barriers, successes,...

Ashlie Bryant and Gordon Jackson Discuss Human Trafficking Prevention Education

Join Ashlie Bryant and Gordon Jackson as they discuss the impact of education and training when it comes to human trafficking prevention.

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45:39
Amy Richard and Alyse Nelson

Amy Richard (55) talks with her friend and colleague Alyse Nelson (47) about the evolution of her work in anti-trafficking. She recalls her work in the early 90s conducting interviews with human trafficking survivors through a fellowship, and explains how...

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42:12
Hanni Stoklosa and Katherine Chon

Hanni Stoklosa [no age given] talks with her friend, Katherine Chon [no age given] about how her upbringing and faith influenced her decision to become a doctor, and how she has expanded on her role as a doctor by incorporating...

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49:23
Helen Taylor and Katherine Chon

Katherine Chon [no age given] interviews her friend and colleague, Helen Wong Taylor [no age given], about how she arrived to the anti-trafficking field, what she has learned from her work, and how parenthood has impacted her work.

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53:47
Kara Doan and Marian Hatcher

Marian Hatcher [no age given] shares with her friend Kara Doan (46) details of her journey within the anti-trafficking movement and how she made incredible use of a second chance after being a victim of domestic violence and trafficking abuse.

Megan Lundstrom & Angie Henderson, FreedomVoices

Survivor Megan Lundstrom talks with her close friend Angie Henderson about her experiences in commercial sexual exploitation, and her journey to healing. They both share their experiences in fighting commercial sexual exploitation, in particular how meaningful it has been for...

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37:09
Melanie Thompson and Taina Bien-Aime

Colleagues and friends Melanie Thompson (24) and Taina Bien-Aime (62) talk about Melanie's lived experience in sex trade. They discuss the systems -- racism and misogyny -- that influence the sex trafficking industry and talk about how partial decriminalization offers...