We are thrilled to announce the Voices of Freedom initiative, a public—private collaboration with StoryCorps to record, preserve, and share the stories of individuals who have experienced human trafficking and allied professionals.
In the words of Dave Isay, Founder and President of StoryCorps, “StoryCorps tells the true American story—that we are a people defined by small acts of courage, kindness, and heroism. Each interview reminds people that their lives matter and will not be forgotten.” We see these attributes reflected in the lives of the survivors and professionals we work with on a daily basis and are excited to provide a platform that will capture their stories for future generations.
In recognition of the 20-year anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), the Voices of Freedom initiative will chronicle the impact of this seminal piece of legislation by preserving the stories of survivors and exploring the legislation’s legacy. We will also invite allied professionals working on policy, victim services, and prevention to share their perspectives on how the anti-trafficking field has evolved over the past two decades. These firsthand accounts will be preserved in the StoryCorps Archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and will be distributed as part of our broader public awareness and education initiatives. The perspectives shared throughout the project will also be used to inform our future priorities and initiatives.
We will also partner with the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) to engage those with experience at the intersection between human trafficking and the Missing and Murdered Native Americans crisis.
Phase 1: On March 5, StoryCorps will kick off the first of two customized training sessions on StoryCorps’ methods, the power of storytelling, and how to create a culture of listening at any organization.
Phase 2: OTIP will conduct an interview drive, inviting survivors and allied professionals to use StoryCorps’ digital platform to record their own virtual StoryCorps interview about their work and experiences with a colleague, friend, service provider, or family member.
Phase 3: StoryCorps will record a series of conversations between survivors, allied professionals, and people who know them well. A trained StoryCorps Facilitator will guide the pair through the recording process, but the two participants will talk to each other directly, to ask and answer questions in their own words, and share memories that are meaningful to them.
Participants who share their story through the digital platform or record their stories with a StoryCorps facilitator will receive a digital download of their interview, which they can then grant permission to have archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and on the OTIP website.
For more information about the Voices of Freedom initiative, email EndTrafficking@acf.hhs.gov.