Dear partners, advocates and friends:

This past week, multiple videos were released by the CV Thriver Council, a team of women who are leaders, advocates, mothers and survivors of human trafficking.  They represent a few of a larger group of women who have shared that they have had many experiences of re-exploitation. 

Over the past 10 years, though there have been dozens of attempts to address this matter with this organization privately and through mediation, nothing has been successful thus far.  This organization has demonstrated a severe lack of ethics around the retelling of survivors’ stories which compromises survivors’ safety, privacy and mental health.

The CV Thriver team collectively decided to release videos explaining some of their experiences. When victims of crime and survivors of trauma are asked or empowered to share their story, they should have full support before, during and after. They should be informed of the risks. They should understand their audience and the safety concerns for themselves and their families. They should be informed of how their story will be shared and used. They should be compensated generously.  Survivors own the rights and use of their own stories.

We as community leaders, advocates, and concerned residents recognize that there are organizations around the nation, and world, who intentionally and unintentionally re-traumatize victims.  The Justice Coalition has been guilty of this in years past, and upon this realization, we have done our best to correct our actions and address additional concerns as they arise.  As leaders in the anti-trafficking community, we speak up with those who have been ignored, dismissed, or judged. We do not speak FOR them. We speak with them. If you have questions, concerns or would simply like to show your support, we encourage you to reach out to them directly via Youtube or Facebook.

Sincerely,

Central Valley Justice Coalition Board Members