Show notes
Survivors provide an important perspective on how we can work to end human trafficking. Sandie and Dave are joined by Carissa Phelps and Mariana Smirnova to discuss survivor empowerment and state and national legislation to address human trafficking.
Speakers
Carissa Phelps
Carissa Phelps, Runaway Girl, Inc.’s founder and CEO, strives for social impact. She is a licensed attorney, author, trainer, consultant and small business owner. Carissa’s fearless leadership in the survivor community has led to an increased level of awareness among communities, as well as improved legislation and responses to human trafficking victims, especially children. In 2012, Carissa, founded Runaway Girl, Inc., a training company that offers survivor-led experiential trainings to individuals and communities. Runaway Girl, Inc. has offered hope to survivors through opportunities to lead in their own communities. As a social purpose corporation, the company has a charitable purpose to improve outcomes and create opportunities for runaway and homeless youth. Carissa’s inspiring memoir Runaway Girl: Escaping Life on the Streets, One Helping Hand at a Time, has been instrumental in changing countless hearts and minds. In 2008, she co-produced the award winning short documentary that took her back to the streets where she was trafficked at 12 years old. Her memoir and film are used as tools to train and teach by organizations worldwide. In 2007, Carissa earned both a Juris Doctorate and MBA from UCLA. In 2010, she was named one of the top 100 inspirational graduates by UCLA Anderson School of Management. She holds a BA in mathematics summa cum laude from Fresno State, and in 2013 she was celebrated as a Top Dog by the university. Carissa lives on the Central Coast of California, where she creates and contributes to positive impact businesses as a social entrepreneur.
Mariana Smirnova
Mariana has nine years of experience in human rights and compliance issues in supply chains, including human trafficking, conflict minerals, and raw materials traceability. Her expertise includes leading global collaborative projects, program management, policy analysis, standards and audit tool development, training, capacity-building, and research. Previously Marianna managed the raw materials and extractives auditing and advisory services program at UL’s Responsible Sourcing group. Marianna has a Master’s in International Public Affairs from the University of Wisconsin.
Key Points
Exploited people can become the exploiter, carrying on and normalizing what has been done to them.
Carissa's book, Runaway Girl, is honest and open to the struggle of trying to figure out the world.
It's important to understand the circumstances that survivors faces, which lead to their exploitation, and to not blame or shame them.
A state policy trend is vacating and expunging criminal records for survivors so they can move on with their lives and decrease the barriers they face.
Survivors need to be at the table and need to be part of the conversation to understand how to end human trafficking.
Many victims not only face not having a family, but once victimized, also losing their community.
Resources
Runaway Girl: Escaping Life on the Streets, One Helping Hand at a Time by Carissa Phelps
California Transparency in Supply Chains Act
Ep. 17 - California Transparency in Supply Chains Act
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Transcript
Dave [00:00:00] You're listening to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. This is episode 19, recorded in January 2012. Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. My name is Dave Stachowiak.
Sandie [00:00:28] And I am Sandie Morgan.
Dave [00:00:29] And this is the show where we empower you to study the issues,