A Pitt-Bradford conference taught students to recognize signs of human trafficking

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford hosted a full-day Human Trafficking Awareness and Response Conference on Oct. 24, bringing together professionals, students and community members to learn how to recognize and respond to human trafficking.

Around 100 nursing, criminal justice, and computer information systems and technology majors from Pitt-Bradford and Pitt-Titusville heard perspectives on building awareness and strengthening community-based responses to human trafficking from a state legislator, representatives from health care, law enforcement, higher education and victim advocacy organizations, and even a trafficking survivor.

“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. The registered nurse and forensic nurse examiner now trains advocates, medical professionals and law enforcement to intervene, build trust with victims and connect them to medical care and safety.

“Hearing her story was eye-opening,” said Arika Songer, a nursing student from Pitt-Titusville. “It actually happens to real people.”

Panelists discussed the ways trafficking victims are themselves condemned. Pennsylvania Sen. Cris Dush said some victims are forced to commit felonies, which, if charged and convicted, makes them unable to hold state certifications — from a driver’s license to nursing certificate.

Students from all three majors had a chance to participate in breakout sessions with Spry, who led an interactive session on identifying signs of trafficking and supporting survivors, 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. McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer also worked with the criminal justice students in attendance.

Throughout the event, representatives from regional organizations, including the YWCA of Bradford, Bradford Regional Medical Center and Bradford City Police, and national partners such as ZOE International, Shared Hope International and Greenlight Operation, provided resource materials and support contacts for victims and advocates.

“This conference gave our students some new perspectives on a really important issue,” said Daniel Bish, a lawyer and assistant professor of criminal justice at Pitt-Bradford who took part in the panel discussion. “I’m thankful that our campus put it together.”

Photography courtesy of Pitt-Bradford; from left, YWCA Victims’ Resource Center Program Director Shelley Alcorn, Bradford City Police Chief Mike Ward, McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Shaffer and keynote speaker Jen Spry.