Theresa Flores is a trafficking survivor (Day 18 of 19 Days of Activism Against Abuse)

Theresa Flores

As a 15-year-old girl in a well-to-do white suburban neighborhood Theresa Flores survived two years of living hell being trafficked to men in their 20’s and 30’s. She was given as a reward when men in this criminal ring did a good job.   Not even her parents knew she was being trafficked for sex.

Twenty years later, Theresa is speaking out on the reality of human trafficking in the U.S.  She is the author of “The Slave across the Street”, a USA Today and Wall Street Journal best seller, and the “Sacred Bath”. Her new international book, a top seller on the UK Sunday Times list, offers a look into her escape from her traffickers and her new life.  Theresa has been invited as a guest on The 700 Club, The Today Show, and, MSNBC’s Sex Slaves-The Teen Trade. She has also been featured on Nightline and America’s Most Wanted as a sex slave survivor.   Theresa is featured by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Museum in a traveling exhibit entitled, Invisible Slavery.

As an international speaker on human trafficking, Theresa was also appointed to the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission in 2009 and has testified before the Ohio House and Senate in support of Human Trafficking Legislation.  Her efforts were a major part of the success of SB235 being passed into law by Ohio Governor Strickland on December 23, 2010.

Theresa has been awarded one of the top influential women in the Columbus, Ohio area. She received the Courage Award for her work in human trafficking.

Theresa is a licensed social worker for more than 20 years. She received her Master’s in Counseling Education from the University of Dayton and a Bachelor’s of Social Work from Ball State University.

Read More: http://www.mcccagora.com/features/theresa-flores-from-victim-to-human-trafficking-activist-1.2940316#.Uom6mRaIXES

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