MATT KELLNER - UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
When I first arrived in Chicago two years ago as
a freshman at the University of Chicago, I was convinced that I wanted to spend
my college years working toward a PhD in biology. Like most undergrads, though,
I’ve seen my best-laid career plans fluctuate quite a bit and, fortunately,
lead me to IOFA for this summer.
Although I had been active in LGBTQ
organizations and had worked with my university’s Office of Multicultural
Student Affairs since coming to college, my first exposure to human trafficking
issues didn’t come until the beginning of this past year. Early in the fall, I
was lucky enough to hear Brenda Myers-Powell, who started the Dreamcatcher
Foundation here in Chicago, talk about her personal experiences with sex trafficking.
Brenda’s honestly illuminated how many misconceptions I had about prostitution
and pointed out the disturbing extent of sexual exploitation in the city I now
call home. Spurred by what I had heard, I became more involved in
anti-trafficking work, through my campus’ chapter of the Chicago Alliance
Against Sexual Exploitation.
Through Summer Links--a UChicago program that
pairs students with Chicago-based social justice organizations for summer
internships and orients them to the city at large--I was given the opportunity
to join the IOFA team this summer, and I couldn’t be more excited! As an intern
with IOFA, I’m looking forward to combining my interests in LGBTQ rights and
trafficking issues to address an area that is often overlooked. This summer, I’ll
be working with the LGBTQ subcommittee of the Cook County Human Trafficking
Task Force, as well as helping to develop the Coordinated Services Referral
Network to better equip organizations with the resources to help trafficking
victims. Look out for future blog posts, and here’s to a productive, powerful,
and empowering summer!
Matt Kellner
Intern
ALEXA SCHNIEDERS - LOYOLA UNIVERSITYWhen there’s a will, there’s a way.
I
first learned about human trafficking through a seminar in a tiny church in
Kansas City. At the time, awareness of trafficking in my hometown was minimal
and action was even more negligible.
In
Chicago six years later, I have been leading Loyola University’s chapter of
Free the Slaves to raise awareness of trafficking and to empower students to stand
up for vulnerable and trafficked youths. As I pass the baton on to new students,
I look back and realize that, in addition to growing our understanding of the
complexities of human trafficking, our team has also learned the necessity of collaboration
and strategy as we fight exploitation.
As
an intern with IOFA, I am excited to promote understanding of the
vulnerabilities that lead to trafficking – and how we can curb them. I look
forward to enabling key stakeholders in youths’ lives to better recognize and
provide legal and social resources to trafficking victims. I commit to smoothing
a way for vulnerable youths to enter adulthood, knowing freedom and
empowerment.
The
will to fight trafficking has been
there for quite some time; now I join IOFA’s team in helping create an
effective way.
It’s
great to be on board!
-Alexa
Schnieders
Intern
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