08/14/2025
Conferences like the Human Trafficking Summit put on this week by the Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares’ office is where the real work begins — bringing people from different communities and different roles together to share ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen the ways we protect the most vulnerable.
At our table, two things drew people in immediately: conversations about tattoos and our sensory cart. Both sparked meaningful dialogue, and both had a purpose beyond curiosity.
The sensory cart wasn’t just a display, it was a tool. Throughout the summit, many attendees used it exactly as intended: to ground themselves, manage triggers, and stay present during tough conversations. Several took photos and told us they planned to bring the idea back to their offices, creating a ripple effect of trauma-informed care well beyond the room.
The tattoo discussions were about perspective, not telling survivor stories though some shared that they had been tattooed. Helping multidisciplinary teams understand the culture, process, and complexity of how to approach the tattoo. We talked about how traffickers use tattoos as control, why covering or removing them can be complicated but can be done, done right and the importance of protecting everone involved in those processes. Many professionals left with a better sense of how this knowledge fits into their role in prevention and recovery.
Human trafficking doesn’t respect city or county lines, and neither should our solutions. These cases are complex, and real progress only happens when law enforcement, service providers, government, and community members work together — across jurisdictions, without silos, and with a shared goal.
At the end of the day, it’s about people. Protecting them, honoring their dignity, and making sure we all leave these conversations ready to act.