Recently, there has been calls for meaningful survivor inclusion into research on human trafficking. The presenters agree with these calls and believe that survivors can greatly impact knowledge on human trafficking through equitable research partnerships. There is a growing literature aimed towards researchers on this topic, but few guides developed by and for survivors. This presentation will provide an overview of a new toolkit that can support survivors who plan to be involved in research projects as an equal. The guide will support the inclusion of people with lived expertise in trafficking who have minimal or no formal research training. It will focus on how to identify partnerships that promote equitable, inclusive, and respectful ways to work with traditional researchers. The guide covers five important domains: (i) understanding the research process, (ii) assessing the researchers, (iii) professional development, (iv) level of engagement, and (v) personal wellness. The guide provides survivors with tangible resources such as how to ensure their lived experience expertise is valued; how to approach conflict or misunderstandings with researchers; how to ensure clear communications around time commitments and payment; and when research engagement might not be serving a survivor anymore. This guide has been created by a group of lived experience experts and community partners that have been partnering with a group of traditional researchers for over seven years. The presenters hope that this guide will allow for more lived experience experts to engage with research in a way that is meaningful, respectful, and promotes mutual professional development.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
PLEASE NOTE: This session will only be offered live and will NOT be available to watch as an on-demand recording.
Tonique Ayler moved from survivor to advocate and educator, highlighting her dedication to raising awareness about sex trafficking. She served as a Housing Program Manager at a non-profit that provided permanent supportive housing for women that have been exploited sexually and who seek a healthy environment to reach their goals.
Terry Forliti is a survivor of sexual exploitation. She works diligently to create social justice for survivors. Locally, she has served as CEO of a non-profit focusing on housing for survivors. Nationally, she serves in leadership roles including World Without Exploitation’s STAND program and Shared Hope International’s JustUS advisory committee.
Joy Friedman is an internationally recognized author, public speaker, consultant, and change-maker leading the fight against sexual exploitation, drawing from decades of experience. After overcoming sexual exploitation, she has spent the last 24 years determined to help others do the same. She is the founder of The Missing Peace.
Mikki Mariotti is Director of Pride, The Family Partnership’s anti-sex trafficking program, bringing more than 25 years of survivor-centered advocacy experience to it. She played a key role in securing ARPA funding that established the UPSIDE Initiative, a collaboration among Minneapolis-area service providers.
Christine Nelson was part of the first cohort of Survivor Alliance and advised the City of Minneapolis Blueprint for Action against Human Trafficking. She is currently a contract enforcement specialist representing 50,000 public service employees in central California.