Press Releases

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking To Announce New Name, Initiatives

Contact: Christine Commerce, USCSAHT Communications Director, Christine@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org, 321-750-4996

MEDIA ADVISORY … MEDIA ADVISORY

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking To Announce New Name, Initiatives

Annual Conference Provides Opportunity To Educate and Collaborate Efforts To End Human Trafficking

WHAT: You are invited to the U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking Annual Conference, “Breaking Barriers To End Human Trafficking,” where an announcement will be made about its new name and initiatives to combat trafficking along with our 10-year anniversary celebration. Workshops will include sextortion, child labor, a legal panel, trauma-informed care, and the Sister Margaret Nacke Bakhita Awards Dinner.

This year’s conference marks a 10-year journey for USCSAHT, which started as an inspiration and grew into a nationwide movement that spurred Catholic sisters across the United States into action. USCSAHT is a collaborative, faith-based national network that offers education, supports access to survivor services, and engages in advocacy in an effort to eradicate modern-day slavery.

WHO: U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking has invited its member organizations, sister congregations, local anti-trafficking agencies, university students, and more to attend and learn more about how we may better address this heinous crime.

WHEN: The conference commences on Sept. 28, at 1:30 p.m. EST and concludes on Sept. 30 at 11:45 a.m. The announcement will be made on Sept. 29 at the Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m. preceded by a Happy Hour Reception at 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Double Tree by Hilton Chicago North Shore Conference Center, 9599 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL 60077

WHY: Human Trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world.  It is the second most lucrative and is soon expected to surpass the illegal drug trade. Drugs can be sold once, but people can be sold multiple times, with many victims being sold 15 to 30 times a day.

This is a $150 billion dollar industry with an estimated 50 million people ensnared in labor and sexual exploitation along with forced marriage. USCSAHT recognizes the need to address this issue in the United States and abroad while collaborating with other organizations to make ending human trafficking a possibility.

HOW: Visit SistersAgainstTrafficking.org for more information about the conference and agenda. Join us to learn more, and get access to our founding sisters and our survivor advisory council for interviews. For more information, email christine@sistersagainsttrafficking.org

USCSAHT was founded in 2013 by a group of Catholic Sisters committed to ending human trafficking and supporting survivors. They created a national network of resources and support that includes many different congregations of women religious and mission-aligned partners. Today, this member-based organization has grown to include more than 115 congregations and another 100+ individuals and organizations spread throughout the United States. USCSAHT is also the U.S. member of Talitha Kum, the international network of consecrated life working to end human trafficking.

###

Download a PDF of this Press Release

Press Release Archive

Contact: Christine Commerce, USCSAHT Communications Director, Christine@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org, 321-750-4996 MEDIA ADVISORY … MEDIA ADVISORY U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking To Announce New Name, Initiatives Annual Conference Provides Opportunity To Educate and Collaborate Efforts To End Human Trafficking WHAT: You are invited to the U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking Annual Conference, “Breaking Barriers To End ... ...

Read More

Date: Aug. 15, 2023 Contact: Christine Commerce, USCSAHT Communications Director, Christine@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org, 321-750-4996 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE … FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Every Fall, students embark on a new journey of independence as they navigate the unknown waters of college life while others continue their academic trajectories and return to universities. “Attending college is a pivotal time that ... ...

Read More

Date: July 17, 2023 Contact: Christine Commerce, USCSAHT Communications Director, Christine@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org, 321-750-4996 OR Kathy Dempsey, NAC Communications & Advocacy Consultant, kathydempsey8@gmail.com, 202-359-4379 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE … FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Day Against Trafficking in Persons “Leaves No One Behind” – July 30 United States, July 17 – Cristian Eduardo was 24 years old when he ... ...

Read More

Date: May 31, 2023 Contact: Christine Commerce, USCSAHT Communications Director, Christine@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org, 321-750-4996 OR Kathy Dempsey, NAC Communications & Advocacy Consultant, kathydempsey8@gmail.com, 202-359-4379 MEDIA ADVISORY … MEDIA ADVISORY Briefing To Highlight the Nexus Between Human Trafficking and Forced Migration Through Survivor Stories and the Voices of Those on the Ground WHAT: You are invited to our ... ...

Read More

DATE: May 10, 2023 CONTACT: Christine Commerce, Communications Director, Christine@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org; Cell: 321-750-4996 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE … FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCSAHT Announces Human Trafficking Teen Video Contest Winners Holmdel, NJ — Students around the United States had a chance to display their talent, earn cash prizes and educate teens about human trafficking in a video contest, ... ...

Read More

Date: April 25, 2023 Contact: Christine Commerce, Communications Director, Christine@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org Phone: 321-750-4996 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE … FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Catholic Sisters Celebrate 10 Years of Forming Nationwide Effort To Combat Trafficking BRIGHTON, MI — Ten years ago, a Catholic sister’s inspiration led to a nationwide movement to address human trafficking within Christian and secular communities ... ...

Read More

Concordia, KS – It started out as an inspiration,  and it grew into a nationwide movement that spurred Catholic sisters across the United States into action. Sister Margaret Nacke was honored on March 25 along with other leading abolitionists from around the country fighting to end modern-day slavery on March 25th at the Greek Annunciation ... ...

Read More

Columbus OH — Sister Margaret Nacke will be honored along with other leading abolitionists from around the country who are fighting to end modern-day slavery on March 25th at the Greek Annunciation Banquet Center in Columbus Ohio. Sister Margaret Nacke, Sister of St. Joseph, Concordia, Kansas, has been involved with anti-human trafficking initiatives for the ... ...

Read More

CONTACT: Christine Commerce, Communications Director, christine@sistersagainsttrafficking.org Wellness Weekend for Male Human Trafficking Survivors FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE … FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Columbus, Ohio – Twelve men, ages 27 to 57, got the chance to heal from their past trauma and practice some self-care techniques in the first Wellness Weekend for Male Survivors of Human Trafficking Dec. ... ...

Read More

DATE: Nov. 17, 2022 CONTACT: Christine Commerce, Communications Director, Christine@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org USCSAHT Encourages Students to Educate Youth on Human Trafficking in Video Contest United States — Students around the United States will have a chance to display their talent, earn cash prizes and educate other youth about human trafficking in a video contest, “What Would You ... ...

Read More

ST. LOUIS, MO – U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking hosted its Second Annual Human Trafficking Conference with nationally renowned speakers and survivor leaders, who shed light on many of the dark issues surrounding the exploitation of individuals Oct. 26-28 in St. Louis, MO. This year’s conference theme, “Weaving Community, Building Capacity, Affecting Change,” featured ... ...

Read More

Brighton, MI – The ECPAT-USA Awards were held recently in New York City to celebrate individuals who work to combat child trafficking. Theresa Flores, Program Director for the United States Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking, was recognized for her work in preventing sex trafficking and the exploitation of children. “It’s an honor to be recognized by ... ...

Read More

BRIGHTON, MI — U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) announces its new Communications Director, Christine Commerce. Commerce began her tenure with USCSAHT Sept. 12, 2022 and will be the first communications director for the organization. USCSAHT was founded in 2013 by a group of Catholic Sisters who were committed to ending human trafficking and ... ...

Read More

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) is honored and grateful to receive a very generous legacy gift from Our Lady of Victory Missionary (OLVM) Sisters, also known as the Victory Noll Sisters. This legacy gift will sustain the ongoing work of USCSAHT and honor the long history of the OLVM Sisters work accompanying those ... ...

Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 7, 2022 Jennifer Reyes Lay (Executive Director) U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking Jennifer@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org  |  314-707-7313   USCSAHT Launches Search for New Executive Director   ST. LOUIS: US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking, a collaborative, faith-based national network that offers education, supports access to survivor services, and engages in advocacy to ... ...

Read More

ST. LOUIS: As people throughout the United States prepare to celebrate Independence Day this weekend, we are reminded of the many people in our own communities and throughout the world who are still not free due to the global crime of human trafficking. U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) is a collaborative, faith-based national ... ...

Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jennifer Reyes Lay (Executive Director) U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking Jennifer@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org  |  267-332-7768   Survivor-Advocate Theresa Flores Hired as USCSAHT Program Director ST. LOUIS: U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) is proud to announce that Theresa Flores will be joining their staff as the new Program Director for the organization, ... ...

Read More

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9.29.2020 Jennifer Reyes Lay U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking Jennifer@SistersAgainstTrafficking.org ‪(267) 332-7768   Catholics Call on Attorney General Barr to Protect Children from Online Trafficking Petition with Over 1200 Signatures Sent to the Department of Justice St. Louis, MO: U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT), a national faith-based network ... ...

Read More