The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford hosted a full-day Human Trafficking Awareness and Response Conference Friday, bringing together professionals, students and community members to learn how to recognize and respond to human trafficking.
One hundred nursing, criminal justice and computer information systems and technology majors from Pitt-Bradford and the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville heard from speakers who included a trafficking survivor, a state legislator and representatives from healthcare, law enforcement, higher education and victim advocacy who shared perspectives on building awareness and strengthening community-based responses to human trafficking.
During a panel discussion, participants urged others to see the humanity of those being trafficked.
“To recognize the signs is to see the person in front of you,” said Jen Spry, who shared her own story of being trafficked as a child during a keynote speech. Spry, a registered nurse and forensic nurse examiner, now trains advocates, medical professionals, and law enforcement to build trust with victims and connect them to medical care, intervention, and safety.
For the students who heard Spry’s story, it brought home the humanity of victims. “Hearing her story was eye-opening,” said Arika Songer, a nursing student from Pitt-Titusville. “It actually happens to real people.”
A Pitt-Bradford student said that Spry’s emotional testimony was compelling and attention grabbing.
Wylique Byard-Moses, a nursing student from Philadelphia, said he’s heard about human trafficking in the city. “I didn’t think it happened so often in rural areas, but when (Spry) made the connection with drugs, it hit home,” he said.
Panelists said that trafficking victims can sometimes be dismissed because of drug use or crimes such as prostitution or theft. Pennsylvania state Sen. Cris Dush said that some victims are forced to commit felonies, something that, if charged and convicted of, makes them unable to hold state certifications from a driver’s license to nursing certificate. He has introduced legislation that would reverse that penalty for victims of human trafficking.
Students also had a chance to hear from a pair of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners who explained their training and occupation.
Students from all three majors also had a chance to participate in break-out sessions with Spry, who led an interactive session on identifying signs of trafficking and supporting survivors; McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Shaffer, who worked with criminal justice students; and Joseph Sweeney, co-founder and CEO of The Asservo Project, who discussed online exploitation and strategies for digital prevention and awareness with computer information systems and technology students.
Throughout the event, representatives from regional organizations — including the YWCA of Bradford, Bradford Regional Medical Center, McKean County District Attorney’s Office, Bradford City Police, and national partners such as The Asservo Project, ZOE International, Shared Hope International, and Greenlight Operation — provided resource materials and support contacts for victims and advocates.
David Bish is a lawyer and assistant professor of criminal justice at Pitt-Bradford who took part in the panel discussion. “This conference gave our students some new perspectives on a really important issue,” he said. “I’m thankful that our campus put it together.”
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