Zephi Trevino was 16 years old when she was first trafficked by a young adult, Philip Baldenegro, who originally posed and acted as her boyfriend. Just prior to meeting Baldenegro online, Zephi had been abused and introduced to drugs by another boyfriend, resulting in trauma that manifested in depression and anxiety, a significant departure from […]
The Gifts that Give
As I reflect on the last year, I consider my journey that included cancer, COVID-19, kids, and raising domestic minor sex trafficking awareness. The past year, I simultaneously battled and beat breast cancer during a pandemic, while homeschooling my four children under age 9. And I continued to fight against child sex trafficking because I […]
Combating Human Trafficking in and out of Uniform
My name is Mary Kate (Donnell) Soliva and I am a volunteer Ambassador of Shared Hope International. I am also a Special Operations soldier currently serving in the US Army. I joined the fight to combat human trafficking in 2012 while a student at the University of Guam. After hearing about the first known human […]
Announcing Report Cards on Child & Youth Sex Trafficking; grades based on an advanced legislative framework. Coming Nov 18, 2020
Many of you have met Brianna… She was just 18 years old, a straight A student with dreams of becoming a nurse, when a trafficker made his move and began to groom her in preparation to sell her into the underworld of commercial sexual exploitation. Through the intervention of a high school friend and his […]
Child Trafficking Misconceptions – How the Spread of Misinformation Threatens Effective Solutions That Address Child Sex Trafficking
Let’s be honest. Child trafficking misconceptions are everywhere. Although we have been extremely encouraged by the recent substantial increase in online and in-person advocacy for sexually exploited youth, we have also observed that there is a troubling amount of false information being rapidly spread by well-meaning, impassioned individuals. Unfortunately, no matter how well-intentioned, this spread […]
