LCHT

To Relay Marathon

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:19:00 GMT

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D.
Research Director, The Colorado Project
LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Music cue: Chariots of Fire
(honestly, when else would I find this truly apropos AND dorky at the same time?)

To listen to this blog’s music selection is to elicit images of youth running with abandon along a beach.

See?

I pose to you an entirely different image to accompany this hopeful, inspiring and dramatic tune. Mostly because we’re not a group of Olympic athletes. Nor do we have expansive beaches of this sort in land-locked Colorado.

What we do have is a team of people passionate about human trafficking and drawing attention to the work of the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. As one of the Charity Partners, we have four relay marathon teams, three kids and two marathoners all running for a shared reason. We’re educators, law enforcement, computer science folks, physicians, designers, engineers, social justice advocates, development folks, researchers, carpenters, parents, students…kids.

And why would this dedicated team decide to run together for this Colfax Marathon?

I think they should speak for themselves.

"Running on LCHT's team matters because..."

…this is a reflection of the way in which we do our work: team, team, TEAM!
…we need to draw attention to this human rights issue, and this is my part.
…we can’t do this work alone.

"LCHT rocks because..."

…they are the only organization dedicated to ending human trafficking through investigation and reason, and not blind passion or hyperbole.
…they get out there and do it - they're on the ground looking for real solutions to the actual problems confronting trafficking victims and the people working to help them.

"I am dedicating my run to..."

…all the Moms in my life, who took care of and take care of their children by making their worlds, both small and big, safe places in which to grow and thrive.
…my mom, I love and miss you.
…to people who may not feel seen or heard, but who REALLY matter.

"Training for this marathon has involved..."

…buffing up on my LCHT facts to spread the word!
…slow and steady prep, like the tortoise.
…a great deal of procrastination, but also a few magnificent days, and a few opportunities for exploration.
…almost no physical activity but a large portion of hope and enthusiasm.
…stressing out about running in high altitude!
…confronting my own fears, and pushing past them.

"The adrenaline from my runner's high makes me..."

…feel like I can keep running forever.
…feel grounded, energized and creative.
…feel like I can take on anything.
…feel like there is possibility.

"I care about LCHT's efforts because..."

…[their] analytical approach has helped me look human trafficking right in the eye. Now I want to stare it down!
…they think critically and thoughtfully in everything they do.
…someone has to do it, and I’m glad it’s them!
…they are doing the right thing and doing right by the communities they work with.
…they work on an important issue, that can easily be sensationalized, with patience, grace, and compassion.
…they make spaces for people, ideas, and communities to grow.

On the behalf of this co-founder, I’m grateful for the passion and energies of our runners for the Colfax Marathon. I’m also grateful for those of you staffing our tent in the Charity Village in City Park, and for the countless numbers of those helping to raise awareness and funds to sustain us. Running or not, please join us along the marathon route wherever you can, to cheer us all on!

And to my co-runners: see you in the last hundred yards near the finish line!

An Officer's Perspective: Human Trafficking

Tue, 22 May 2012 14:53:00 GMT

Authored by Meagan Morris, Outreach & Development Coordinator, LCHT
and Officer Isaac Wall, Denver Police Department

Officer Isaac Wall has been with the Denver Police Department for seven years. In 2010, Wall and some of his fellow Officers formed “Team Zero Fail” in order to raise funds for local Colorado non-profits.

“I started Team Zero Fail because fitness has always been a big part of my life, and I decided to begin using it for good causes." -Wall

For 2012, Team Zero Fail is setting its sights on a new fundraising effort to support Denver-based Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT). On May 19, 2012, Wall and members of the LCHT team will take to the streets of Denver to run in the Colfax Marathon in an effort to raise awareness about the existence of this crime in our communities (read our blog about the race here).

Wall, who has investigated trafficking cases in the Metro area, feels strongly about the issue. “The crimes of human trafficking are not only destroying the lives of the victims and their families but it is also tied into many other crimes that affect everyone.” He hopes that the fundraising and awareness efforts of Team Zero Fail, “Can make a difference by not only helping the victims of this terrible crime, but by fighting human trafficking so that someone may not become a victim.”

Run for a Reason

Wed, 09 May 2012 16:06:00 GMT

Meagan Morris
Outreach & Development Coordinator
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

We know what you’re thinking. Another race, another cause; whether it be for scientific cures, or public awareness... Marathons particularly conjure up images of distance, endurance, and brave solitary athletes. And marathoners may also be questioned about their sanity…who takes up that kind of goal alone? Who could stand up to the rigors of the Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon?

At first glance, several members of our Denver-based Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking jumped up and said, “I can!” As for the rest of us… some thought of those very same images of lone runners and immediately declined. Some of us questioned the last time we exercised.

However, a little-known option for this particular marathon is to run as a team—a relay team comprised of runners who could tackle shorter distances with the energy and excitement of kindergartners. Now THAT was appealing for LCHT, a team whose central drive is to collaborate with people from an array of disciplines, professions and points of view.

Why not apply the same mix of passionate short-distance runners to this worthy event? The marathon symbolically mixes diverse runners from diverse background, running along a mix of terrains (with fantastically creative names like “No Groans at Sloan’s” and the “Screaming Downhill." And while we’re at it, we can draw positive attention to a heavy issue like human trafficking.

We were ON.

Runner by runner, the team grew. 20+ strong, comprised of: fifth and eighth graders, members of the Denver Police Department, health care professionals, staff members, volunteers and community members, all of whom are motivated by our cause. We are an anti-trafficking marathoning community of runners, many of whom understand the importance of stamina and endurance required to work in this movement.

At the core of who we are is the idea that solutions to the problem of human trafficking will come from mixing ideas: yours + ours. We are so proud by the diversity of our team because fighting human trafficking takes all of us! We also believe that the most promising responses to an issue facing a community will come from the community itself. Thus, we take to the streets, and run on the longest commercial avenue in the country. Colfax traverses many Colorado cities, towns, and neighborhoods, the distinctiveness of which represent unique challenges and possibilities for working to fight this growing human rights abuse.

The event takes place over two days, beginning on Saturday May 19, 2012 and ending with the marathon on May 20, 2012. The Colfax Marathon allows participants and supporters to run in support of a charity. If you want to join our team of runners please contact Meagan. If running isn’t your thing, you can make a donation in support of the amazing efforts of our runners by going to our Donate page or by visiting the Colfax Marathon’s List of charity partners, and find LCHT amongst the list of 96+ charities that are partaking in this amazing event.

We will host a tent in the Charity Partner Village throughout the two-day event, so stop by and say hello!

To NAAG (National Association for Attorneys General)

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:28:00 GMT

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D.
Research Director, The Colorado Project
LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Notice: National setting. Glaring stage lights. Cue: Talking Heads, Once in a lifetime

There have been many times in my life where I have moments of pure and simple notice. Times where I’ve found myself consciously noticing where I am and wondering, “How did I get here?” As in Wow these are top-of-the-line stage lights. And there are these Attorneys General listening to what I’m saying about the Colorado Project.

How did I get here?

I had the honor of sitting on a panel at the Presidential Summit of the National Association for Attorneys General that took place in Seattle, WA between March 28 and 30. Until this point of personally sitting on stage, I had the opportunity to sit in the audience to hear from many leading folks in the anti-trafficking field. Thanks to the table set by Rob McKenna and his NAAG staff, many anti-trafficking folks and countless representatives from state AGs offices were flown to Seattle to make the collective point of the importance of prioritizing human trafficking as a very difficult crime worthy of prosecuting. And I was included as one of the voices.

Admittedly, when I walked into the learning space (read: ballroom), I was blown away by the sheer size and production of the venue. (That’s not easy to do, having coordinated many conferences in my past.) The minute I stepped in, I gulped. I saw high end professional video and audio equipment, a large bank of stage lights and a huge podium flanked by two tables. And I was grateful for not being on the first panel.

Each year the President of NAAG chooses an issue/ crime to bring to the attention of the 50 Attorney Generals offices, and this year it was human trafficking. It could have easily been money laundering or the challenges of navigating federal and state jurisdictions, but thanks in part to the steadfast efforts of anti-trafficking folks in Washington State, human trafficking stayed present for McKenna.

Organized by Presidential Pillars, the Summit included these categories: 1. Make the Case; 2. Hold Traffickers Accountable; 3. Rescue Victims; and 4. Reduce Demand. These were the nine primary sessions, in addition to lunch speakers and film makers unveiling their efforts to draw wider public attention to the issue:

Human Trafficking: A North American Perspective
Rescuing Victims: Human Trafficking and Major Sporting Events
Keynote Address by US Ambassador at Large Luis CdeBaca
Making The Case: Research as a Tool to Define the Problem and Measure Progress
Public Response: Corporations Taking the Lead in Fighting Human Trafficking
The Business of Trafficking: Data Mining and Following the International Money Trail
Prosecuting Traffickers: Best Practices
Holding Traffickers Accountable: What NGO’s Want Law Enforcement to Know
Mobilizing Communities to Care for Victims: Collaboration Amongst anti-trafficking NGO’s

My role on the last panel was to feature our work on the Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking, one that has taken intentional time and design to frame the complexity of this crime. Although my nerves were on high gear (cue music), I stayed true to what I was there to represent: the hard work of my colleagues who were trying to think critically and comprehensively about this issue. I was there to represent 30 of us who were creating a tool to think comprehensively about prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership at the statewide level.

As a long-time educator, I could see the general challenge of educating representatives from the 50 AGs offices. Clearly, the goal was to convey the importance of this issue—to localize it, not only for the United States, but for each of the 50 states. The other goal was for panel presenters to provide foundational resources, some that have been carefully built over the last 12 years.

But then…as with every audience, the true challenge comes after the event. Will this crime remain present in their home states, long after they have left Seattle? What politics will muddy these new lenses upon return? Which AGs will sustain this momentum?

To have the opportunity to see power structures that help to create policy juxtaposed to folks in the anti-trafficking field was fascinating. In practice, this was an impressively massive “space in between” prosecutors and practitioners. If there was one random observation made from my time amongst these two groups, it was that people were trying in earnest to communicate. There were efforts to speak and listen…all in the name of making change, making a prosecutorial dent in this crime.

It was good to hear various exchanges and efforts people made to network and bring consistent message of prioritizing attention on this crime was humbling.

No matter how different each speaker came to the issue, no matter how diverse the listener, it was good to see an alignment of a single message: Make human trafficking a prosecution priority for your state.

That remains to be seen in the months ahead. But it gives me some hope.

To blog

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:25:00 GMT

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D.
Research Director, The Colorado Project
LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

To blog. A foray into my brain and the spaces it is privileged to navigate. Cue: Chasing Pirates, Norah Jones:

My assignment this week is to reflect upon the start of my recent travels in relation to my work with the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. However, as I began this current journey, I realized that I needed some kind of “anchor” blog. Something eloquent and witty to set off a series of blogs; a starting point of some kind.

And it felt a little overwhelming. I must have started a handful of times. And true to the social scientist that I am, I did my due diligence and did some research.

Word length. Tone. Level of seriousness. What are these bloggers trying to convey? With the guidance of our communications expert, I read…many…many blogs.

And the anxiety increased ever so slightly.

Reading through the blogs, I got insight into the different ways in which people shared what was happening in their heads. Thoughts. Observations. Irritations. Passions. To consider this was to really think hard about the thoughts in my own brain and whether it was blog-worthy. Of course I overthought this.

I came to the realization that it’s rare that I think with one “hat.” And I’m fortunate to never really have to be in a position to think “alone.” The nature of the Laboratory is to mix ideas and perspectives; the work and thinking of my incredible colleagues informs one another. We’re fortunate to be able to think intentionally and critically about nuances of the anti-trafficking movement. So for me, to blog is not only to share what’s going on in my own head, but to honor and feature the influence of family, friends and countless colleagues on my thinking. I’ve been extremely lucky to engage in some poetically simple and fantastically complicated conversations related to human trafficking.

And then there’s the added challenge of the hats that my brain occupies.

Psychologist. Co-Founder. Academic. Victim Advocate. Feminist. Daughter. Partner. First-generation U.S. born Pacific Islander-American. Musician. Board Chair. Dog owner. Research and Training Director. Runner. Wanna-be oenophilist. Nerd.

To have the privilege of knowledge from these various hats also means that I get to reside in what we refer to as “spaces in between.” Each of us at LCHT not only see these spaces in ourselves personally, but we get to help translate and make those connections to encourage shared learning. So for me, it’s concretely navigating my two academic departments, psychology and women’s studies. Navigating music and dance worlds. Navigating U.S. and Filipino cultures. Navigating law enforcement and service providers. Navigating academe and nonprofit cultures.

Admittedly, there are times where those spaces are vast, the kind where I need to use my “outside voice.” And sometimes that feels lonely where I belong everywhere and nowhere. Residing in these spaces can be exhilarating, aggravating and downright humbling.

So.

As I begin this formal foray into the blogosphere, I’ll share two consistent threads that will help to set my blog intentions: random observations and music cues. Maybe it’s my scientific training, my curious observant nature, but these two things usually happen all the time in my head. Not only am I always sensing, I’m usually noticing something out of the ordinary. Or annoying. Or inspirational or insightful.

And there’s usually some kind of music playing in there as well. A soundtrack to my brain, you might say; it’s always there in the background and sometimes I just have to focus to notice it. It’s usually rhythmic, or speaks to my mood or reflects the “metronome” of my brain activity. Like Norah Jones’ Chasing Pirates for this blog; it’s there rhythmically calm and yes, those pirates roll around in there everyday. Oh, every now and then there’s a distracting or intrusive earworm (thanks, Foster the People). My co-workers will tell you of my ever-present music distraction, however it also serves as an absolutely critical factor to my sustainability in this field.

But then that would be an entirely different blog.

First Research Steps: Formulating Questions and Refining Definitions

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:18:00 GMT

Authored by the Colorado Project Research Team

The Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking formally began with the hypothetical question:

“What would it take to end human trafficking?”

Over the years, the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT) has spent time critically thinking about the complexity of this crime as it applies to our Rocky Mountain state. Because many of us in the Colorado anti-trafficking movement have reactively worked to fill the needs of survivors and first responders, we often did not have time to reflect upon the comprehensive nature of the crime, until Gayle Embrey posed this question in 2009.

For years, the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking has prided itself as a grassroots organization, grounded in community needs, history and voices. We are privileged with academic tools to help navigate challenging theoretical discussions; we have the collective experience of teaching the Human Trafficking course for eight semesters (at Metropolitan State College of Denver); and we have facilitated countless staff and intern discussions, encouraging critical thinking and awareness of privilege as we engage in this work. We draw upon our experiences of training approximately 12,000 first responders and community members, and we draw from our direct experiences with survivors as a member of the Human Trafficking Academic Response Team at Metropolitan State College of Denver. Over the last six years, we have occupied the “space in between” as we seek to bridge theory and practice; we are able to navigate and partner with many sectors, including: direct service providers, law enforcement, coalitions and academia.

Additionally, the Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking Project Team includes perspectives from: international studies, law, women’s studies, political science, sociology, psychology, social work, religion, communications and law enforcement. In this Project Brief, we openly share our experiences as a way to provide insight to the ways in which we very intentionally think about the anti-trafficking movement and undertake a project of this scope. We hope to take you through the first stages of research, starting with a refining of the original question, “What would it take to end human trafficking?” We honed down the question to focus on the communities we knew best—communities positioned along the front range of Colorado. Then, we posed this question:

How does Colorado address human trafficking through prevention, prosecution, protection, and partnerships?

The hardest part about designing a research project whose goal is to examine the preparedness of any particular state in the U.S. to deal with human trafficking, is figuring out how to comprehensively capture what human trafficking actually is. Because extreme labor exploitation occurs at the intersection of some of the most profound moral and ethical debates of our time (namely the regulation of sexuality and the regulation of migration), its very definition is rife with political, ideological and cultural meanings. The project’s name – the Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking (Colorado Project), implies that we must already know what “human trafficking” is. However, as social science researchers trained in interdisciplinary feminist methodologies, our most important first steps involved questioning our assumptions and the assumptions of the anti-trafficking movement as a whole. For example, we have been mindful of historical framings of human trafficking as the unique experience of women and girls; the occurrence of non-commercial sex related labor trafficking relative to sex trafficking; and whether or not human trafficking should be approached as a crime or as a human rights abuse.

The United States government and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (2008) have defined what human trafficking is, and they continue to address it as a social problem by creating initiatives and policy. Hence, this project started with these definitions and frameworks as guidelines from which to work, but we continue to question the motivations that drive the existing legal definitions and policy decisions. We have turned to the vast array of experts in the field whose experience as practitioners, academics, activists, persons who have been trafficked or are most vulnerable to trafficking, constituents and professionals in various affected industries, leads them to find weaknesses in the existing frameworks. Their collective wisdom has led the way toward a more comprehensive understanding of human trafficking.

In formulating our research statement, we knew we had to distinguish our project that gathers information about trafficking-related efforts in Colorado apart from an evaluation of these efforts. We chose our language to reflect this difference and crafted the following research statement: We are assessing the past and present anti-trafficking efforts in the state of Colorado because we want to know if and how the state addresses prevention, protection and prosecution of human trafficking in order to inform future anti-trafficking efforts. It has never been our goal to evaluate how well these efforts are working, which would be a near impossible undertaking given the overwhelming lack of data on this front, but rather what has been (or is being) done in comparison to “promising practices” throughout the country. Our goal is to highlight strengths and gaps (or areas that need attention) in Colorado. The hope is that this kind of comprehensive baseline overview will point the way for evaluative research in the future.

The research team agreed to approach this project using what is known as the “3P paradigm” of prevention, prosecution and protection (framed by the Palermo Protocol), as a starting place. We also agreed to build in contingencies in order to consider aspects outside that framework. As mentioned above, we are aware of the myriad complications and critiques that plague this movement, and while we did not want to blindly accept the 3P paradigm as the only way to see this issue, we also were cognizant of the fact that ten years of efforts on the part of governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders around the globe could not be ignored. For example, in the United States, anti-trafficking funding streams are based upon the 3P paradigm and therefore it provides an excellent framework from which to begin our work. We turned to the following documents to inform our working definitions of “prevention”, “prosecution” and “protection”: the United Nations (2000) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Palermo Protocol); the 2000 U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA); the 2010  U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report); the July 2006 U.S. Government Accountability Office report, “Human Trafficking: Better Data, Strategy, and Reporting Needed to Enhance U.S. Anti-trafficking Efforts Abroad” (2006 GAO Report); the 2008 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons” report (UNODC Toolkit); and the 2008 Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights report, “Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking” (OHCHR Report). The definitions we assembled for each of the “Ps” are directly informed by the way these entities understand these terms.

The final development at this definitional stage of the research process was the addition of a fourth “P” to the paradigm: “partnerships.” Although the 2010 TIP Report discusses the need for partnerships in these efforts, as an organization, we have long understood that all of the best and promising practices in the world will not provide positive outcomes without strong partnerships among a broad array of community members who share similar interests in addressing a social problem of this scope. For example, some of the most successful efforts to address trafficking in the U.S. have come from personal relationships between law enforcement and outreach workers, faith-based activists and refugee programs, victim service providers and policy advocates, sex workers and academics. In short, it is the lived experience of the people on the ground in this effort, and no study would be complete without accounting for these relationships.

In our continued efforts to honor history and the work of those who have come before us, we took intentional steps to look towards parallel movements for inspiration and ideas. It was in the Sourcebook on Violence Against Women (2011) that we discovered “social ecology theory” in Graffunder, Cline and Lane’s chapter, “Primary Prevention” as it relates to violence against women and intimate partner abuse. Social ecology is an interdisciplinary approach to social science research on social problems, which has been particularly well received in the various fields of health, psychology, sociology, social work and environment. This approach is “the application of multiple levels and methods of analysis and theoretical perspectives to social problems, recognizing the dynamic and active nature of human-environment interactions and the social, historical, cultural and institutional contexts of people’s lives” (Taylor cf Whiteley, 1999).

As mentioned in the introduction, we needed to find a way to amplify the less obvious aspects of human trafficking in order to accurately examine the efforts to combat it. Social ecology theory guides the researcher to look at various intersections of micro-, meso-, exo- and macro-level contexts of a problem, including contexts outside of the defined parameters of an issue, in order to better understand it in the social world. In other words, if we simply examined “anti- human trafficking efforts” in Colorado without looking at issues around interpersonal relationships, community resources and structural issues such as immigration, gender inequality, poverty, racism, youth homelessness, and how these various issues and identities intersect with individual lived experience, we would miss the full picture of what is being done to create change.

Although social ecology theory is most commonly used when conducting empirical research (as opposed to an assessment like the Colorado Project), we have found it a very useful heuristic tool in terms of helping us to keep this project truly comprehensive. We have incorporated social ecology into each of the four “P” templates by adhering to social ecology principles, such as viewing the problem from multiple levels and methods of analysis and applying diverse theoretical perspectives.

Additionally, we are utilizing social ecology as a methodological step in the process of examining the overall social climate of Colorado as it relates to trafficking vulnerability. One of our key goals is to understand a geographical area in terms of causes and conditions that create vulnerability and drive trafficking as they relate to nationality, industry, displacement, and social marginalization within social, historical, cultural and institutional contexts. For example, what are the main labor-related issues happening now or in the past in a state or region? Has this created a potential vulnerability for workers? Promising practices in one geographical area may be working well because of various contexts that are perhaps different somewhere else...Learning how to recognize those differences could mean more successful efforts against trafficking in the future.

Considering the social, historical, cultural and institutional contexts of people-environment relations, another principle of social ecology, has become an integral part of the Colorado Project (Whiteley, 1999).

Our next brief will provide background and insight into how our research project defines “promising practices” as it fits into our research methodology and analysis. For additional information, please visit the “Research” section of the Colorado Project website or contact us. To download this Project Brief, click here.

Whiteley, J. (1999). Conceptual Social Ecology. School of Social Ecology at the University of California at Irvine. Re- trieved May 2, 2011 (http://socialecology.uci.edu/cse/cse.html#toc).

“Take Root. Rise Up.” Fundraiser

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:48:00 GMT

LCHT was honored to host more than 50 people last week for a night of “organic collaboration” - literally with scrumdiddlyumptious local, organically grown and raised food; and figuratively with people coming together to explore collaboration with their neighbors at TAXI Development by Zeppelin and the Denver community at large.

The event, hosted by Fuel Cafe and the TAXI Community, also supported Salus World and the TAXI Community Garden, a Denver Urban Gardens project. In addition to scrumptious tapas crafted by Fuel Cafe, supporters enjoyed learning more about each of the three TAXI-based organizations.

Feast your eyes on the following photos from the fundraiser, which we hope will tempt both comrades and friends-to-be to join us at the 14 October fundraiser hosted by NOVO Coffee - watch for registration info on our website and newsletters.

Demand Reduction: Beginning a Dialogue

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:21:00 GMT

Meagan Morris
Demand Reduction Roundtable Conference Coordinator
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Colorado’s ongoing efforts to better understand human trafficking in our communities has received a lot of momentum in the past year and LCHT is jumping in the conversation with both feet. We recently announced that more information would be forthcoming on two of LCHT’s primary 2011 projects: the Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking and a new initiative on demand reduction. This blog kicks off our 2011 Demand Reduction Roundtable project.

I have joined the LCHT team to coordinate the Demand Reduction Roundtable. I came to the issue of human trafficking during my undergraduate studies. As a student in the political science department, I found myself in a course addressing human trafficking taught by the co-founders of LCHT. Following the course, I completed an internship with LCHT and have become wholly dedicated to the issue.

People talk about the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. I think there can be an analogous model as it relates to a person’s experience learning about human trafficking. For me it was: outrage, sadness, helplessness, the do-something-no-matter-what-it-is feeling, and finally a feeling that it is possible to address human trafficking through collaborative, concerted efforts. It is from this place that I come to the discussion surrounding demand reduction. It is my hope that this blog serves as a forum for the anti-trafficking community and the general public to begin to engage in a discussion about how to carefully and meaningfully apply demand reduction strategies as a component of an holistic approach to combat human trafficking in Colorado.

Whether you are looking to media coverage, policy trends, or scholarly works, people are talking about the role of demand in perpetuating human trafficking. Colorado - a state facing incidences of labor and sex trafficking as well as a major transit point for trafficking - is constantly being pushed to better refine our anti-trafficking strategies. Following the national trend, our state has begun to explore how to best approach demand reduction initiatives. Such efforts around the country have included public awareness campaigns; prevention education; “john schools” (diversion programs to dissuade first time buyers or solicitors of commercial sex similar to the proposed SB 11-085); boycotts of businesses known to exploit workers; among many others.

It is not enough to know what efforts are out there. We have to begin to ask, what are the demonstrated outcomes in reducing trafficking?

LCHT’s goal for the Fall 2011 Demand Reduction Roundtable is to create a space for critical dialogue around effective demand reduction strategies for human trafficking in Colorado. LCHT plays a unique role in the process, as we are not direct service providers, law enforcement, nor policy makers, but we are educators and community organizers. At the present moment, while there is demand for both labor and sex trafficking, current momentum for 2011 points toward a greater will to discuss sex trafficking. This is our starting point.

In the ongoing weeks, we invite you to read, comment, discuss and engage on this topic. And with that I will leave you to ponder!

The Colorado Project

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:48:00 GMT

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D.
Research Director, The Colorado Project
LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

It started with a question: “What will it take to end human trafficking?”

At the time we were asked this question, we had five years of experience under our belts as a Denver-based anti-trafficking organization. We spent our formative years reacting to needs in our community; working collaboratively to best understand what human trafficking looked like in our part of the country. Over the years, we spent considerable time critically thinking about the complexity of the crime in the formal classroom, in conference spaces and on the ground. It wasn’t until Gayle Embrey posed the question to us at our 2009 Health Care Train-the-Trainer conference that we began to ponder the comprehensive nature of this question.

We started to think about the community we knew best--Denver--and thought about the breadth of our work in Colorado. What would it take to end human trafficking in Colorado? What would it take to answer this question? And how can we do it comprehensively given the complexities of the crime?

So, what will it take to end human trafficking?

It begins with finding out what is working well nationally and testing our findings in Colorado.

The Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking (Colorado Project) is a collaborative initiative that aims to develop sustainable efforts to end human trafficking with the essential input of those working on the ground. At a state level, the Colorado Project will develop a tool by which communities can assess their strengths and gaps in combating human trafficking. It’s a project that will honor local communities, document promising practices and inform anti-human trafficking efforts, both in Colorado and in other states.

As Research Director for this project, I invite you to learn alongside us through our newly-launched Colorado Project website, dedicated specifically to keeping you informed about the project. On the website, you can take time to learn about the project’s intentions, design and methodology. Feel free to proudly connect with your inner nerd to understand the importance of research in the anti-trafficking field. Join our creative collaborative space. Perhaps you will have connections and resources that will help along the way. Are you game?

So often in academe, the public is not privy to the research process as it happens. More often than not, we read sound bites in the public media that briefly oversimplify outcomes, neatly packaged for public consumption. With the help of the Colorado Project blogs you’ll find here, our Project Team hopes to share our process, our tools and our insights as we go along. Over time, you’ll learn about the disciplinary composition of our Project Team, our Advisory Board and the process of how we’ll gather information both nationally and locally.

For years, the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking has built its foundation as a grassroots organization, fully grounded in community needs and community voice, privileged with access to scholarly tools and spaces.

Because of our multidisciplinary lenses, we’ve had incredible discussions and debates, providing spaces for critical thinking and navigating the “space in between” multiple sectors. We hope that this blog will help to hold shared space open to inquiry.

Inspired by a piece in GOOD Magazine’s Winter 2010 “The Work Issue,” I spent considerable time questioning how to motivate the team to keep us going. As Research Director (and at the risk of sounding overly self-assured), I can say that we’ll aim to do the best we can with the tools we have today. I recognize that the tools may change next year, next month, in the next hour. And in this spirit, I share these thoughts as part of our invitation to you to get involved.

It’s going to be a good year.

International Women's Day

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:47:00 GMT

Amanda Finger & AnnJanette Alejano-Steele
Co-Founders of LCHT
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

On this 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, we would like to add our voices to the millions celebrating this day globally. As women who are co-founders of our organization, we wanted to reflect upon the profound accomplishments on the behalf of women by women.

Today, we honor the history of gender equality as a fundamental human right.

Today we honor the struggle for equality, justice, peace and development on the behalf of women worldwide. Our own organizational values echo those of the central organizing principle of the work of the United Nations: that “no enduring solution to society's most threatening social, economic and political problems can be found without the full participation, and the full empowerment, of the world's women.”

Drawing from the United Nations website, International Women's Day celebrates women as makers of history. The day is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women participating in society on an equal footing with men. As we reflect upon the long history of women working against human trafficking, we recognize and honor the histories of women worldwide who have been working in their local communities for social change. We recognize that there have been unsung heroes, women who have paved the way for anti-trafficking efforts, long before formal policies and laws. We are grateful for the paths that they pioneered ahead of us, many of whom have not had the privilege of access to formal educations and communications technologies - the portals by which social change discourses are often framed. We humbly hope that we’re carrying on their work to inform our approaches to understanding human trafficking in our local communities.

In our six years of anti-trafficking work in Colorado, we’ve observed that the majority of sex trafficking cases have involved young women, while the majority of labor trafficking cases have involved men. Overwhelmingly, our partners in the anti-trafficking movement are extraordinary women who are investigating, prosecuting, and supporting victims and survivors of trafficking, some of whom have survived trafficking themselves. And while they may not be authoring bestselling books, the impact they are making is to be commended. We absolutely could not create such impacts without male allies and GLBT communities, but today we honor the commitment of women and girls who are taking small steps to make our communities better places.

Because education is one of our organization’s core values, we invite you to learn more about International Women’s Day. Engage and learn about its commemoration in the United States between the 1910’s and 20’s…and question what happened in the decades that followed. Find out when the United Nations began sponsoring International Women’s Day. Find out which countries hold International Women’s Day as an official holiday. And then critically question which ones don’t.

Think about ways in which we’ve benefited from the work of those who trailblazed ahead of us, and paved the way to access and availability of information.

In this blog, we would like to preview two projects that reflect our guiding principles, the Colorado Project and Fall 2011 Demand Reduction Roundtable. Both projects honor the input of people “on the ground”, grounded in the context of community. Over the next year, we will regularly produce blogs about these projects to 1) keep folks informed of our progress, and 2) engage in critical discussions around human trafficking.

The Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking (Colorado Project) is a collaborative initiative that aims to help states better understand how well they are combating human trafficking. It’s a project that will honor local communities, document promising practices, and inform anti-human trafficking efforts.

In an effort to engage in conversations around the “demand” side of human trafficking, LCHT will host a 2-day roundtable discussion in Fall 2011. We seek to draw in a diversity of perspectives, to provide a space for ongoing interchanges, and to clearly frame the relationship between demand reduction initiatives and anti-trafficking efforts. With Governor Hickenlooper’s commitment to address demand within his first 100 days in office, combined with an increased focus on demand at the national level, LCHT believes it prudent to engage in these discussions as part of our training and education programs.

Thank you for supporting LCHT’s work and doing your part to work toward a solution to ending human trafficking.

Amanda and A.J.

Reflections on Poor Tom and What I'm Thankful For...

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:53:00 GMT

Rhonda Young
Program Associate
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

One of the greatest pleasures I have experienced in life is the blessing of sharing a meal with people I love. And while many of US holidays have been hijacked by overt commercialism, it seems like Thanksgiving has remained a holiday that is primarily about the relational importance of sharing an extended meal. Yet, as a food-centered holiday, there are aspects of Thanksgiving that give me pause. And while LCHT wishes you and yours a safe and festive Thanksgiving holiday, I want to start a discussion about how to consider food justice while planning this year’s festivities.

Primarily, I want to consider the star of the Thanksgiving meal, our old friend Tom. Now, I have to admit, I am not a fan of turkey and have always been more than willing to forgo his white meat for an extra helping of green bean casserole. But I surmise that most of you out there (excluding my vegetarian and vegan friends – yeah to-furkey!) would consider turkey essential to the feast. So to that end, let us consider Tom and his heritage.

Photo Credit: The Washington Times

One of my favorite pieces of useless trivia: Did you know that the founding fathers considered making the turkey the American national symbol? What a long way turkeys have fallen in national consciousness! Today, the turkey species revered (and eaten) by early Americans is now edging on extinction due to genetic engineering. In a 2001 New York Times article Marian Burros writes, “The turkey you'll be eating could never exist in nature. After 50 years of overengineering, it has morphed into a bizarre, ungainly beast that can no longer run, fly or even lay eggs. And all in the name of progress: what it can do is supply copious quantities of white breast meat at the expense of the dark meat from the leg and thigh.”

That’s right, folks. The proud turkey that once competed with the bald eagle for the title of “America’s National Symbol” is now a genetically modified mess. And given that most white-breasted turkeys today are slaughtered at the ripe old age of 18 months, the bird’s existence is surely a sad one. All in the name of quick, tasteless, commercialized perfection.

No, we are not an animal rights organization. But as I mentioned in my last blog, food issues are often interconnected. I would argue that the respect and value (or lack there of) given to animals is only a reflection of how we respect and value humans. And while white-breasted turkeys live a miserable 18-month existence, labor rights advocates fight a daily struggle to gain basic human rights for workers in the food processing industry. The Food Chain Workers Alliance outlines the serious realities of America’s food processing:

Meatpacking is the one of the most dangerous jobs in America – more than 1 in 10 workers in meatpacking plants suffer illness and injuries, double the rate for all U.S. manufacturing.[4]
The average earnings of meatpacking workers are $11.13/hour, 29% less than the average wage for all manufacturing jobs in the U.S.[3]
“Without living wages and benefits, food system workers cannot afford healthy food and often must work more than one job or 12+ hour days in order to pay for rent, food, and other necessities, and therefore they do not even have the time to cook fresh food.”

(Citations can be found at the bottom of this page.)

But I don’t want to leave you all in a funk as a result of my “Debby Downer” thoughts about turkey and food industry workers. I will leave you with just a few things I’m truly thankful for:

My Monroe Organic Farm Share with yummy local veggies that will soon become my own version of a Colorado-style Thanksgiving feast.
My “family,” including blood relatives, colleagues, and friends. I’m thankful for the conversations we engage in together, and the connections between us as we all navigate this crazy thing called life.
Grace to make mistakes, learn more, and grow. I know that I don’t know everything. And when it comes to food (and life!) the choices and connections are so complex that I can only make decisions based on what I know today. Tomorrow, I may learn something new and decide to approach food in a totally different way. Or, in an all too often moment of weakness, I may have an insatiable craving for a milk shake. I will go to the nearest fast food joint, ignore my scruples, purchase and consume said milk shake. (I’m only human after all.)
You! I am so thankful for the support, deep conversations, and true progress that we are making together on issues like food justice. Thank you!

We at LCHT are interested in continuing the conversation about the holidays and food justice, and we would love to hear your own thoughts on the issue. Please post any resources that have helped you make decisions about what food you buy and/or consume during the holidays or throughout the year.

Here are few of my own recommended sources:

See, they're all connected.

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:53:00 GMT

Rhonda Young
Program Associate
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

It started with my move to Denver. I expected the acclimation to the altitude, the outdoorsy “let’s hike a 14er” attitude, and the presence of jeans and cowboy boots at every event from graduations to weddings. I did not expect the meaningful conversations about agriculture, the prevalence of buy local sentiments, or the general culture of foodie-ness. And I most certainly did not expect to connect my food choices to my understanding of human trafficking.

But moving to Denver and meeting socially- and gastronomically-conscious foodies has fundamentally shifted my perception of daily meals. While the national and international voices of Vandana Shiva, Wendell Barry, Michael Pollan, and Nina Planck have informed my decisions philosophically, it has been the day-to-day discussions with fellow students, coworkers and friends that have sent me on a path of local discovery and personal food choices.

That said, I canned pickles this summer. As I poured the hot and smelly brine into the last jar, I thought to myself, “How did I get here?”

It started with a conversation with a fellow church congregant and friend, Gretchen. I told her that I had been thinking about the connection between where our food comes from and exploitation. I wanted to start making personal life choices that matched my professional decision to pursue a career in the anti-trafficking field. Gretchen, who pursues local eating herself, recommended I check out a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share with Monroe Organic Farms here in Colorado. Months of new recipes, bags of veggies, and a purchase of canning supplies later, I was turning Monroe’s cucumbers into tasty jars of pickles. But even as I savored my culinary accomplishments, mentally, I was still navigating the complicated connection between food and exploitation.

Wendell Barry suggests that intentional eating involves more than choosing an organically-produced vegetable. He emphasizes the need to relink human, animal, and vegetable life in the agricultural process. As our video, "Every Small Action" says, “they’re connected.” And it’s true; they are connected. What’s more, those connections make my own food choices even more complex.

So, as I’m still figuring out what to do with the two dozen ears of corn in my freezer, I’m also working through what it means that food and human trafficking, community and animals, labor and agriculture are interlinked. I’ve had some great conversations with folks at my local farmers market, staff at LCHT, friends and family. I hope to expand upon some of these individual themes in future blogs.

But today, I want to start a conversation with you.

How do you understand food and food production in relation to the issue of human trafficking? Where do you get information about food and where food comes from? What individual choices do you make regarding what and where to eat? Let’s start this conversation about connection today.

Keep Going

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 03:04:00 GMT

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele
Co-Founder and Board Chairperson
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

It’s somewhere after midnight post-Launch party, and I should be exhausted. I can’t quite settle down yet, because of all of the amazing things I observed tonight. I’m in a reflective space, appreciative of the energies that went into the evening. I’m thinking about the community support that presented itself in our beautiful space. I’m thinking about Bradley Myles’ recent blog about our LCHT community that is “immersed in good vibes, laughter, engaging discussions, and great energy surrounded by genuinely authentic people.”

Tonight, guests perused our office space, interacted with our computerized learning stations, and contributed to our Action Mural. As importantly, guests talked to each other about the issue of human trafficking on various levels.

I was humbled by the number of people who came to share in our celebration. Anti-trafficking field colleagues. Law enforcement. TAXI neighbors. College and university colleagues and students. Friends. Family. There was this uber-diverse and supportive community celebrating our efforts.

And surrounding us was a collective undercurrent whispering, “Keep going; we’re behind you because this work is necessary.”

This is the essence of sustainability.

Our launch event captured the fine details of our sustainability as a five-year old organization, a product of our intentional collaborations, both in the preparations and the party atmosphere. These details include steadfast optimism, trust, and pulling up as we climb.

Steadfast optimism. In my part of our presentation tonight, I mentioned my entrée into the local anti-trafficking movement that began as a thought: “Let’s see what happens when I approach Amanda to join her in this work.” Through the years, we have persevered as ever-positive optimists, open to possibility, and open to the fact that stumbling blocks created alternate paths to explore. Borrowing words from Derek Siver (2010), much of what we’ve done over the years has included a series of optimistic “tests and trials: an ongoing experiment to see what happens.” Indeed, a lot has happened in our rich history and we were thrilled to share with our guests tonight.

Trust. In the anti-trafficking field, trust is such a core component of the crime, in both negative (criminal) and positive (supportive) ways. At our launch, I could feel the trust that we held in the community. What I felt during today’s events was the implicit trust between our staff members, the trust of our friends and family, and the trust between our anti-trafficking colleagues. And here’s the thing. Trust takes intentional time and patience. Inherently, trust is about conveying “you matter.” Trust is the outcome of follow through. Reliability. Common ground. Humility. And trust-building is also about coffee. Healthy doses of humor. Awesome places to meet for lunch. Debates about Glee.

Pulling up as we climb. I think that when most of us hear “leadership development,” the emphasis is on “leader.” I humbly disagree. I think it’s about “pulling up as we climb,” because what is the use of laying down leadership initiatives if there is nobody to sustain the foundational work? It was great to see younger activists eager to learn tonight. It was great to feature the work of our interns in our leadership development program. This is a shout out to colleagues in my age cohort (yes you, listen up). We need to do our best to take patient time with our mentees. And we must include self-care tools to sustain their work. But that’s worthy of a blog unto itself (stay tuned…promise).

So…it’s about time I closed out the night. As co-founder of LCHT, I appreciated the time everyone took to join us. Thank you for holding us in trust and encouraging us to keep going. I stand alongside Amanda in the invitation to think critically with us in the laboratory and become part of the solution.

Let’s collectively see what happens when we mix your ideas with ours, and let’s keep going in a sustainable way.

LCHT – Filling An Important Niche

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:09:00 GMT

Bradley Myles
Executive Director
Polaris Project

Colorado is one of the states in the U.S. where there is a thriving movement combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery. I currently spend most of my time based in Washington, D.C., but each time I’ve visited Colorado for various anti-trafficking events throughout the past five years, I’m always struck by certain distinguishing features of the movement there – the dedication of everyone involved, the commitment to being thorough and strategic, the value placed on inclusivity and collaboration, the new ideas, and the widespread positive energy.

When working on an issue that is as dark and complex as human trafficking, the way we conduct ourselves and treat each other in this movement matters a great deal, to sustain our spirits.

Colorado is a state where we all can learn from the collaboration, partnerships and strengths-based approaches that are being developed.

The Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT) is one of a number of great non-profit organizations addressing human trafficking issues in Colorado, including COVA, Colorado Legal Services, the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, Prax(us), and many others. There are also innovative coalitions and partnerships working on the issue, such as the Colorado Network to End Human Trafficking (CoNEHT) and the Colorado Collaborative formed through an HHS regional grant led by Colorado Legal Services. These organizations and coalitions are making important strides in building a sustainable movement to end this horrific human rights abuse. They’re also working on unique types of trafficking that aren’t found in many other places in the U.S., such as sheep herders held in forced labor situations in remote areas.

Polaris Project was directly involved in the movement in Colorado through the efforts and programs of our Colorado office between 2005 and 2009. In early 2010, the office that once was Polaris Project Colorado transitioned into its own independent non-profit, now called the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT). This transition enabled LCHT to explore new program areas, and to respond more directly to the ever-changing local landscape. However, within the new working structure, the relationship and bond between Polaris Project and LCHT remains strong.

I have great affection, admiration, and respect for the whole LCHT team, and what I know they bring to the anti-trafficking movement in Colorado and throughout the country. One area that LCHT is especially good at is producing sharp-minded, thorough, and practical research on human trafficking efforts. For example, the Colorado Community Needs Assessment (CNA) they’ve developed and implemented is an innovative model and framework that focuses on all forms of human trafficking and that can be applied and replicated in states across the U.S. LCHT is also incredibly skilled at building community and mentoring new leaders who are eager to join the movement.

Anyone who gets involved in the broader LCHT community will immediately find themselves immersed in good vibes, laughter, engaging discussions, and great energy, surrounded by genuinely authentic people.

Bravo to all the great work that LCHT has done throughout their inaugural year in 2010. Polaris Project looks forward to working with them for many years into the future! Be sure to attend their official launch event on October 20th where you can meet their staff and hear more about the important work they’re doing.

Every Small Action

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 04:52:00 GMT

Just a quick update tonight as we're gearing up for our launch party on Wednesday:

We released a new video this afternoon, "Every Small Action." It's about trafficking, but it's also about so much more. It's our attempt to start a dialogue we hope to carry on for a long time to come...one where we hope to start digging deeper than the simple answers and having the tough conversations. We want to peel back the common misconception that human rights abuses happen in isolation and instead start to talk about how it's all connected. But, more importantly, we want everyone to understand that every day and every small step provides the opportunity to create small, yet meaningful, change.

We're the "laboratory" because, as our home page says, we want to be a group of people that fosters an environment for the exchange of thoughts, ideas and research. That doesn't just mean us, as a nonprofit organization. It means you: your own talents, your own interests, and your own unique way to engage in this issue. When we say the issue of trafficking "is complex and constantly changing, and everyone must play a role in creating a solution as organic and adaptive as the issue itself," we mean it. We think you bring an history and a perspective that's needed, and we'd love for you to join us in working toward a solution.

So first, watch the video and pass it on to your friends. Then, come to our launch party on the 20th. We can't wait to see you.

Every Small Action from LCHT on Vimeo.

LCHT

To Relay Marathon

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D. Research Director, The Colorado Project LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

"Running on LCHT's team matters because..."

"LCHT rocks because..."

"I am dedicating my run to..."

"Training for this marathon has involved..."

"The adrenaline from my runner's high makes me..."

"I care about LCHT's efforts because..."

An Officer's Perspective: Human Trafficking

Authored by Meagan Morris, Outreach & Development Coordinator, LCHT and Officer Isaac Wall, Denver Police Department

Run for a Reason

Meagan Morris Outreach & Development Coordinator Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

To NAAG (National Association for Attorneys General)

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D. Research Director, The Colorado Project LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

That remains to be seen in the months ahead. But it gives me some hope.

To blog

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D. Research Director, The Colorado Project LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

But then that would be an entirely different blog.

First Research Steps: Formulating Questions and Refining Definitions

Authored by the Colorado Project Research Team

“Take Root. Rise Up.” Fundraiser

Demand Reduction: Beginning a Dialogue

Meagan Morris Demand Reduction Roundtable Conference Coordinator Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

The Colorado Project

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D. Research Director, The Colorado Project LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

International Women's Day

Amanda Finger & AnnJanette Alejano-Steele Co-Founders of LCHT Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Amanda and A.J.

Reflections on Poor Tom and What I'm Thankful For...

Rhonda Young Program Associate Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

See, they're all connected.

Rhonda Young Program Associate Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

But today, I want to start a conversation with you.

Keep Going

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele Co-Founder and Board Chairperson Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

And surrounding us was a collective undercurrent whispering, “Keep going; we’re behind you because this work is necessary.”

Let’s collectively see what happens when we mix your ideas with ours, and let’s keep going in a sustainable way.

LCHT – Filling An Important Niche

Bradley Myles Executive Director Polaris Project

When working on an issue that is as dark and complex as human trafficking, the way we conduct ourselves and treat each other in this movement matters a great deal, to sustain our spirits.

Anyone who gets involved in the broader LCHT community will immediately find themselves immersed in good vibes, laughter, engaging discussions, and great energy, surrounded by genuinely authentic people.

Every Small Action

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D.
Research Director, The Colorado Project
LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Authored by Meagan Morris, Outreach & Development Coordinator, LCHT
and Officer Isaac Wall, Denver Police Department

Meagan Morris
Outreach & Development Coordinator
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D.
Research Director, The Colorado Project
LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D.
Research Director, The Colorado Project
LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Meagan Morris
Demand Reduction Roundtable Conference Coordinator
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, Ph. D.
Research Director, The Colorado Project
LCHT Co-Founder and Board Chairperson
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Amanda Finger & AnnJanette Alejano-Steele
Co-Founders of LCHT
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Rhonda Young
Program Associate
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Rhonda Young
Program Associate
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

AnnJanette Alejano-Steele
Co-Founder and Board Chairperson
Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Bradley Myles
Executive Director
Polaris Project