The Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC) is excited to share the release of our new podcast, Imagine Freedom where we hear directly from human trafficking survivors, or “lived-experience” experts. More than anyone, they can dispel the many myths and misconceptions about sex and labor trafficking and help to fortify our communities against traffickers. Together, we can imagine freedom from sex and labor trafficking for everyone, once and for all.
In the podcast, STAC Executive Director Robin Hassler Thompson hosts enlightening conversations with survivors of human trafficking who are working to fortify our communities against the often-misunderstood realities of sex and labor trafficking. Here’s a preview of the first two episodes, now available wherever you get your podcasts.
Episode 1: Liz Kimbel
In the first episode, we imagine freedom with Liz Kimbel, program specialist and board member at the Restoring Ivy Collective. She is a survivor advocate with the Global Center on Human Trafficking at Montclair State University and secretary of the Maryland Survivor Network. Liz is a Survivor/Lived Experience Expert of minor domestic sex trafficking and has been working in the anti-trafficking field for over a decade. In our conversation, Liz shares her life experiences, wisdom on how we can empower youth and families to be safe from sex and labor traffickers, and much more.
From the Episode:
“I was in the car traveling from New York to Arizona with two toddlers and a teenager. And all I wanted was a magazine to flip through to keep my mind from going crazy. And I got to a story about three women who were talking about their experiences of being trafficked. And I just hysterically cried for a good while and realized this is my story. This is what happened to me. But that’s not the language that I use… I never thought that was what happened to me.”
Listen to Episode 1: https://surviveandthriveadvocacy.org/ifpodcast/
Episode 2: Christabelle Robinson
In the second episode, we imagine freedom with Christabelle Robinson. Christabelle is the communications and media specialist for The Global Center on Human Trafficking, where she is involved in everything from programmatics, media, graphic design and events, to research and training.
A survivor herself, her passion for survivor advocacy and rights is at the forefront of her work. Christabelle has years of survivor advocacy experience including training, consultations, programmatic development, blogs, interviews and public speaking on human trafficking and related issues.
She believes in survivors leading the fight against human trafficking, and it’s her goal to support other survivors in that mission.
From the Episode:
“For me personally, the second that person is exiting trafficking, or they come forward or they’ve been identified, that person becomes a survivor, because they’ve survived… I was a victim and I was victimized, but that does not mean I am perpetually a victim for the rest of my life.”
Listen to Episode 2: https://surviveandthriveadvocacy.org/episode-2-christabelle-robinson/
Listen and Subscribe
There is so much to learn about the realities of sex and labor trafficking of children and adults, and what we can all do to build stronger relationships, families, workplaces, and communities to end this traumatic and far too common exploitation. That is why the Imagine Freedom podcast features only the voices of trafficking survivors, whose lives and experiences are diverse, and whose backgrounds and perspectives are wide-ranging, compelling, and informative.
Several years ago, the board determined that STAC would focus on survivor support AND engagement. These podcasts are a current and impactful way to fully integrate survivors’ voices and expertise into community conversations about what human trafficking looks like and what we can all DO to empower survivors and prevent it from happening in the first place. Subscribe to Imagine Freedom: https://surviveandthriveadvocacy.org/ifpodcast/
Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center supports and empowers sex and labor trafficking survivors regardless of age, gender, immigration status, or faith, as well as those who are risk. STAC believes that having an educated and informed public is key to ending trafficking and so works hard to spread the word and catalyze communities to take action. STAC’s website has a rich array of information such as topical webinars ranging from continuing education programs for attorneys, healthcare professionals, businesses and many more, to downloadable guidance on to how to protect children and youth from online sex trafficking.