TRUST

I am an intern at TRUST: Training & Resources United to Stop Trafficking. After reading my previous post, you know this is a really great place for me to be. 

I am interning with TRUST. Learn more about their work and partners at their website.

TRUST works to unite and coordinate the anti-trafficking efforts of all stakeholders in the movement. They have partners from all aspects of combatting and ameliorating the effects of trafficking; law enforcement, victim care, community awareness and outreach, youth services, attorneys and Homeland Security to name a few. Like this:

TRUST organizes training for specific sectors- like law enforcement or the airline industry- so personnel are better equipped to recognize trafficking and know how to help victims. They compile a calendar of all anti-trafficking events organized by the various organizations and distribute it for a wider audience. TRUST works to improve community awareness; they have a great booklet to help talk to children and teens about trafficking. TRUST works to improve legislation for protection of trafficked persons and prosecution of traffickers (pimps) and buyers (johns). If it has to do with forwarding the anti-trafficking movement, TRUST is involved. I really encourage you to go to their website and look around.

This internship is a great opportunity for me because I can be involved with and learn about so many aspects of the anti-trafficking movement. As a public policy/ public leadership major, I am particularly interested in public awareness programs and campaigns and affecting legislation.

As the public comes to recognize that this horrifying crime is happening in their own community (yes, yours, too), legislation addressing trafficking issues will become salient. Things that are a priority to people in the community become the issues law makers address; legislators respond to their constituency- other wise, they get ousted in the next election! This is an issue that we need everyone on board; email, call and write your legislators- state and national. It is my involvement- your involvement and concern- that will affect legislation that can address demand and treat sex trafficked victims as victims- not criminals.

Okay, so what are some concrete things I will be doing, you ask? Well, I will be gathering and preparing data and information; attending DOJ TRUST council meetings, coordinating and preparing for events, prepare presentations and reports. I am also tasked with developing 2 web-ready trainings during my internship- so, be on the look out for that (towards the end of the semester)!

Next up, you'll be getting specifics- "day in the life" or "week in the life" kind of thing. Hang on; here we gooooo!