HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Freekind has been spreading human trafficking awareness since 2012, and the Hampton-based nonprofit now works directly with adult survivors and trafficking victims who become criminalized.
“It is victims, more so than their traffickers, and certainly more than buyers, who are the ones who end up in jail, being convicted for crimes related to their abuse, crimes that their trafficker either makes them do or they do in an effort to get away,” said Freekind Executive Director Lisa Kersey.
In 2023, Polaris released an eye-opening report, stating that, out of roughly 400 trafficking survivors in the U.S. who were surveyed, 62% admitted to being cited, arrested or incarcerated.
“We teach right now on a regular basis in the Norfolk jail, in Newport News and up in Chesterfield,” Kersey said. “There are other jails that we’ve been in periodically. We’d love to be in every jail in our community to help stop that cyclical pattern of people just cycling in and out of the jail system over not being identified properly.”
Trafficking is present in every Hampton Roads municipality, according to Kersey. Freekind works with about 200 individuals each year, with 75 new survivors annually.
“The truth is, all of us are vulnerable to trafficking.” said Freekind Community Engagement Manager Tori Jones.
Continuing its fight against modern day slavery, Freekind is gearing up to host its 7th annual Celebrate Freedom gala, with hopes of raising $200,000 for trafficking survivors and the organization.
“This night is really to bring awareness and educate and empower and celebrate all of the work that the survivors are doing,” Jones said.
The gala will be held at Hilton Norfolk The Main from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Nov. 2. Tickets are expected to sell out fact. You can purchase tickets here.