Voices of Resilience: Human Trafficking & How We Prevent It

During a public panel hosted by the 100 Families Initiative of Crawford County, experts, advocates, law enforcement, and a survivor underscored a critical truth: human trafficking is most often rooted in vulnerability, manipulation, and unchecked access — and it can exist quietly in any community.

"We find trafficking in places where there's vulnerability and that can happen in a lot of places," said Nicole Walton, Founder and Executive Director of Monarch 61.

Rather than focusing on fear or extreme portrayals, the discussion centered on awareness and prevention — and on what it looks like when communities recognize risk before exploitation occurs.

Panelists emphasized that trafficking does not always involve physical force. Instead, it often exploits emotional gaps, unmet needs, and periods of instability, particularly among children and teens.

"Its not chains and cages," Walton added.

Vulnerability may appear as neglect, poverty, foster care involvement, or a search for belonging. Speakers stressed that no demographic is immune — and that traffickers are often adept at identifying and exploiting these needs long before warning signs become obvious.

One of the most difficult realities discussed was how deeply traffickers manipulate their victims — often to the point that outsiders struggle to understand why victims don’t “just leave.”

Genevie Strickland, Assistant Director of the Morgan Nick Foundation, spoke to the psychological complexity of abuse and coercion.

"Its not going to make sense in the way we think about it."

She explained that even children who experience extreme abuse may still feel loyalty or attachment to their trafficker due to brainwashing, coercion, and emotional manipulation. This makes identification and recovery far more complex than most people expect.

Magdalena “Maggie” Mallard, a survivor of trafficking and now a business owner, shared her lived experience — grounding the conversation in human reality rather than statistics.

She spoke about searching for love while experiencing neglect at home, believing traffickers cared for her, and the lengths she had to go to in order to escape — including leaving the country.

Reflecting on her experience, Maggie shared:

"Its sad that a person can be embarrassed about it when I was only thirteen."

According to Heath Gurley, a Human Trafficking Special Agent with the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigations, traffickers may use romantic relationships, addiction, housing, food, or basic survival needs as leverage — creating dependence rather than visible restraint.

A major theme of the discussion was the growing role of technology in trafficking and exploitation. Unmonitored internet access, hidden apps, fake accounts, and secondary devices all increase risk — especially for children.

Panelists shared alarming examples, including elementary-aged children participating in group chats and sexting, often with predators infiltrating those spaces. Warning signs discussed included isolation, secrecy, multiple phones, burner devices, masked apps, and sudden changes in behavior or schedules.

Marguerite Nobles, Anti Human Trafficking Specialist with the Crisis Intervention Center, urged attendees to stay observant.

"Take notice of things going on around you."

Panelists discussed the critical difference between privacy and protection, noting that excessive secrecy — particularly around digital activity — can be a warning sign rather than a healthy boundary.

Mallard said this was true in her own experience. Her traffickers installed security measures on her phone that would wipe all information if the passcode was entered incorrectly, making outside intervention nearly impossible.

Attendees also shared that some apps can create false home screens or disguise content altogether, reinforcing the need for adults to educate themselves about evolving technology rather than assuming visibility equals safety.

The panel also encouraged community members not to delete suspicious digital content, as it may be critical evidence, and to seek professional help when concerns arise.

Gurley addressed a common fear by explaining that victims are not arrested and that investigations are conducted alongside advocacy organizations to minimize retraumatization. Building trust, however, takes time.

He shared that it can take multiple positive interactions with law enforcement before someone feels safe enough to tell the truth and accept help — a point echoed by Marguerite Nobles, who has witnessed trauma-informed practices firsthand, including taking testimony in shelters instead of courtrooms.

Panelists agreed education is prevention.

They urged adults to have honest, ongoing conversations with children — even when those conversations feel uncomfortable. Strickland offered a practical recommendation for navigating difficult topics: talk with kids while driving. Sitting side-by-side in the car removes the pressure of direct eye contact, creates a sense of safety, and allows conversations to unfold naturally. It also ensures children can’t simply walk away from important discussions.

Walton reinforced the importance of not avoiding difficult topics, encouraging people to listen well and to communicate using trauma-informed language.

Fathers, grandfathers, caregivers, educators, service providers, and community members all have a role to play. When people know what to look for — and are willing to speak up — exploitation becomes harder to hide.

The Voices of Resilience panel reinforced that preventing human trafficking isn’t about panic. It’s about paying attention, building trust, and protecting vulnerability before someone else exploits it.

Resources

• One Love Foundation
  Resources for parents and caregivers to help teach children and teens about healthy relationships and warning signs of abuse.
  👉 https://www.joinonelove.org/

• Army of Survivors
  Curated book lists for all ages focused on prevention, survivor stories, and understanding abuse and exploitation.
  👉 https://www.armyofsurvivors.org/

• Arkansas State Police – Criminal Investigation Division
  Information on human trafficking indicators and how to report suspected trafficking in Arkansas.
  👉 https://dps.arkansas.gov/law-enforcement/arkansas-state-police/divisions/criminal-investigations/human-trafficking/