Human Trafficking Awareness to Action

Carissa Phelps, Mike Laughlin, Keisha Head, Christina Rangel 

Carrisa Phelps opens this program from CSU, Chico’s fourth annual STOP Human Trafficking Conference with a powerful speech and the background of having been kidnapped and sexually trafficked at the age of 12. She is a graduate of UCLA Law School, has written a book titled “Runaway Girl – Escaping Life on the Streets, and founded and directs the Runaway Girl Foundation. To combat sexual and labor trafficking activities that enslave an estimated 27 million people worldwide, she emphasizes awareness of potential trafficking situations in one’s own community and taking action. 

Mike Laughlin, of the FBI, is private sector trainer for Central California Intelligence Center of the Sacramento Regional Threat Assessment Center. His agency collects information and channels it to local law enforcement. He explains exactly where and how to report suspicious activity to his agency that could be trafficking. 

Keisha Head is a human trafficking survivor and advocate for victims in Atlanta. She talks about the importance of communities pulling together to help victims and providing a safety net of services for them so they can escape their situation. 

Christina Rangel is a Redding resident who works with the FBI in Redding and Reno on sting operations on places where underage girls are being trafficked. She connects the victims to services – among them mentors, housing, counseling, and rescue homes for victims under 18. 

Recorded: March 4, 2015