Human Trafficking Happening Here?

Human trafficking, one of the most grievous injustices of our time, is something that’s happening in the cities, suburbs and rural areas of every New England state. It isn’t limited to just illicit massage parlors, and it isn’t a crime that only affects non-citizens or recent immigrants. The reality is that young women and children born in the U.S. can be victims of trafficking, too. And it’s happening in plain sight in our own community.

We need to shine a light on this often hidden issue to help current victims and prevent future victimization. While much is being done to address the issue, more needs to be done to eradicate this form of modern-day slavery. The Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative Social Justice Committee has been hosting a series of events to raise awareness and take action.

Please come to the next event to learn more about the challenges facing law enforcement, the resources available for victims, and what we can do to help stop human trafficking. This free event will take place on Tuesday May 21st at 7:00 PM at St. Mary’s Hall, 25 North Road in Chelmsford. Four panelists will share their experience and insights with human trafficking in our region. Following the panel presentations, we will engage the panelists in a discussion to determine how we can take action. Panelists will include Massachusetts State Police Captain Pi Downsborough, New Hampshire Resident Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Mike Posanka, a clinical social worker from RIA House, and a survivor professional from RIA House.

Captain Pi Downsbrough is a 27-year veteran with the Massachusetts State Police. She is currently the Commander of the High Risk Victim Unit which is a state-wide investigative unit focusing on the commercial sexual exploitation of children and youth. Over the past 12 plus years, she has been actively conducting human trafficking investigations and has been a strong advocate for trafficking victims, focusing on improving a systemic response. As part of her assignments she was a member of the F.B.I. Innocence Lost Task Force and served on the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Task Force, which lead to the implementation of the Massachusetts Human Trafficking statute.

Mike Posanka is the Resident Agent in Charge (RAC) for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Manchester, New Hampshire. Among other areas, HSI is a lead federal agency for Human Trafficking, Child Exploitation, and Narcotics investigations nationwide. HSI Manchester is responsible for investigating these cases throughout New Hampshire. RAC Posanka developed the Human Trafficking course presented at the Recruit Academy at the NH Police Standards and Training Council.

RIA (Ready, Inspire, Act) House is in organization in Framingham, Massachusetts that provides a range of community-based services for women involved in the commercial sex trade and its associated exploitation, trafficking and prostitution. Their model, Sisters Leading Sisters, is one of accompaniment on a journey towards wholeness and healing. Accompaniment is a trauma-informed approach to care that requires understanding how power over another human being affects a person's sense of safety and control over their own life. They employ a survivor-engaged, clinical team approach, with small caseloads and the capacity to provide mobile support across all levels of care.