According to the National Hotline for Human Trafficking, more than 6,352 contacts were made referencing the State of Virginia from 2007 to 2020. Many believe these numbers are grossly underestimated.
Learn more about what human trafficking really looks like right here in Northern Virginia. It is hidden, under-reported, and often ignored. Let’s stop turning a blind eye and instead get informed.
As part of a recorded Learning Series event, Second Story staff held a frank discussion about the local situation and explored how our programs provide much-needed support for victims.
The recording explores:
- The definition and signs of human trafficking
- Recruitment tactics
- Trends, challenges, and gaps
- How Second Story works with victims
- How the community can help be a part of the solutions
- Available resources for the victims and the community
Participants include:
Cathy Benn, Vice President of Residential Services, Second Story
Cathy Benn has an MS in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University, a BS in Nursing from Duke University, and is a licensed professional counselor (LPC). She is also a certified supervisor for residents in counseling and for graduate-level mental health interns. She has worked at Second Story since 2011 in various capacities. As Vice President and Senior Clinician for 2S, Cathy oversees all residential programs and serves as a clinical resource for all other programs. She feels strongly about creating safe spaces, promoting belongingness, and recognizing strengths and resilience in all persons.
Soraya Borja, Vice President of Community-Based Services, Second Story
Soraya Borja serves as the Vice President of Community-Based Services and has been with the organization since 2006. She started her career by joining the Ecuadorian Youth Red Cross. From there Soraya continued to support underserved communities in Latin America and relocated to Puerto Rico where she pursued her degree at Inter-American University. She then moved to New York and studied International Relations at the City University of New York. When she and her family moved to Virginia, Soraya found an opportunity to continue her work with immigrant families at Second Story. Since joining the organization Soraya has managed the Culmore Safe Youth Project, the Culmore Teen Center, and now she manages Second Story in the Community.
Genevieve Dunn, Compliance & Risk Management Officer, Second Story
Genevieve Dunn is Second Story’s Compliance & Risk Management Officer and is responsible for developing effective compliance programs and managing organizational risk. She received a B.S. in Psychological Science from the University of Mary Washington in 2016, with concentrations in Child & Adolescent Developmental Psychology as well as Quantitative Psychology. Genevieve creates training programs to educate all levels of staff on issues relevant to our mission of serving youth and families. Genevieve has worked for Second Story since 2017. Prior to her current role, she worked as Assistant Program Manager for Second Story for Teens in Crisis.
