Lori Cohen, Sanctuary for Families, and Constance Rossiter, YMCA Suggested donation $10

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery and a gross violation of human rights, affecting all genders, ages, and nationalities. Houston is a major labor and sex trafficking hub in the United States; roughly one in four women trafficked in the United States travels through Houston according to the Department of Justice. Lori Cohen, Senior Staff Attorney of New York City’s Sanctuary for Families and local activist Constance Rossiter, Social Responsibility Director of YMCA’s Trafficked Persons Assistance Program, discuss human trafficking nationally and in Houston. Lori Cohen represents immigrant victims of sex trafficking and conducts training sessions for law enforcement, legal and health care professionals and social service providers. Ms. Cohen has spoken widely in both the United States and in Mexico on identifying trafficking and providing victim services. Ms. Cohen is a frequent contributor to news reports on trafficking, including the BBC, the New York Times, and Telemundo. Constance Rossiter, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Social Worker, is an active member of the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force, the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA), and Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition. YMCA has been providing services to victims of human trafficking since 2003 and has served more than 200 foreign national victims. A reception on the plaza follows the program.