Human Trafficking Research Lab @Millikin

Today we went to Springfield and presented to a full room about our Human Trafficking Research Lab work at the Illinois Department of Human Services, Office of Adult Services and Basic Supports, Bureau of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault & Human Trafficking. There were also people online in Chicago and throughout the state so it was a much larger group of people than I had anticipated. We shared with them the different types of research that we do in the lab using survey methods, network analysis, mapping software, and statistical analysis. It was great to showcase the research that we do and share our thoughts and impressions with policymakers and people who can actually change things in our state. I am trying to advocate for state level task force coordinator and possibly a hotline and the state entities are really focused on getting more assistance for victims/survivors. I hope our collaboration can continue!

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to host a Millikin University Human Trafficking Research Lab table at the A21 walk. This walk is intended to spread awareness of human trafficking. At the booth, we had research literature, keychains, totes, Fair Trade chocolates, and stress balls. Individuals who visited the table were given information on the research that we do here at Millikin. A heartbreaking and memorable moment occurred when a homeless woman walking through the park started crying and shared that her daughter is deceased because her trafficker killed her. This really made an impact on me and on why I do what I do. After hosting the table, we all left to walk the streets of downtown Springfield, Illinois, holding signs with various facts and statistics on human trafficking. The A21 walk put together a podcast on Spotify to listen to as we walked and held our signs. It was surrounding human trafficking and the difference one act can make to help spread awareness. It was a g...

After numerous rounds of revisions and almost a six month wait from acceptance to this FirstView, I am proud to see this article "Human Trafficking Dynamics and Prevention Efforts as an Outcome of Russia’s War on Ukraine" finally published in Nationalities Papers. I wrote this article in late 2022/2023 during the first full winter of the war among power disruptions and internet outages and it was difficult to write while dealing with the daily traumas of the war. I am thankful for all of the Ukrainians who took the time to talk to me about how the war has changed trafficking dynamics and responses. The article is based on years of fieldwork in Ukraine before and during the different stages of the war and it would not have been possible without Ukrainians who work everyday on the frontline of this war helping to combat human trafficking in their country! You can read the article here . 

We found out in late September that our Department of Justice OVC FY24 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking grant was not renewed which is disappointing. It means that I can no longer employ two students so I had to stop paying them (one will finish out her internship unpaid so at least she is getting course credit). It's definitely a weird scenario to go from having funding to pay my students and then in the middle of the semester (according to the federal fiscal year) not having funding. I will try to fundraise to continue to pay one of the students to work on a new project on policy narratives until my money runs out. As an academic, I am used to rejection but for some reason rejections with students always hit differently since we have to talk through them. It's a difficult conversation to have with students who depend on these grants. We haven't yet found out why we did not get it but we hope that the feedback that we receive will h...