Trigger warning: This story discusses sex trafficking and labor trafficking. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or the Georgia Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-363-4842.
Human trafficking is often imagined as kidnappings by strangers and dramatic rescue operations. Advocates say the reality is often hidden in everyday places most people would never suspect.
At a human trafficking awareness training hosted by Wellspring Living in partnership with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction, attendees learned that trafficking frequently occurs through manipulation, coercion and exploitation by people victims already know.
Founded in Atlanta, Wellspring Living provides survivor services, residential programs and prevention education for victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking. Speakers defined human trafficking as the exploitation of a person through force, fraud or coercion for labor or commercial sex.
Maja Hasic, Anti-Human Trafficking Program Director at Tapestri, said labor trafficking can exist in industries many people would not immediately associate with exploitation.
“Because we’re doing more training and more educating, we are discovering more labor trafficking across the state,” Hasic said. “Many individuals don’t identify as survivors of human trafficking. They might identify as a survivor of a different crime of domestic violence, gang violence, sexual assault, wage and hour related exploitation.”
According to Sarah de Carvalho, founder and CEO of It’s a Penalty, “Human trafficking is the fastest growing and second largest criminal industry in the world today. Fifty million people are trapped in it, and a third of them are children under the age of 18 years old.”
The Wellspring Living presentation also noted that Atlanta’s underground sex economy was worth an estimated $300 million in 2022.
Advocates at the training also worked to dismantle common myths surrounding trafficking.
Dionysia Ambrose, Director of Institute Services at Wellspring Living, said many people incorrectly associate trafficking exclusively with kidnappings involving white vans.
“I want people to understand that that’s not the only way it happens, because sometimes we miss [the] opportunity to help someone because we’re so fixated on what we think trafficking is,” Ambrose said.
Ambrose said trafficking affects people across genders, ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.
“We’re seeing more young boys speaking up and saying that they’ve been trafficked or they’ve been sexually abused,” Ambrose said. “Society, for a long time, has put it in a space where males haven’t felt comfortable to say that they’ve experienced certain things.”
She also warned who traffickers target.
“Exploiters know what that looks like,” Ambrose said. “They don’t target specific peoples or zip codes. They target vulnerabilities.”
Those concerns were echoed during an “It’s a Penalty” press event held ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which Atlanta is preparing to host June 15-July 15. The campaign works with airlines, hotels, tourism groups and major sporting events to raise awareness about exploitation and trafficking prevention, as millions of visitors are expected to travel through host cities.
Marcus Walker, Director at the Mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction, said major sporting events can increase vulnerabilities traffickers attempt to exploit.
“Traffickers use athletic events, sporting events as a tool for recruitment or a tool for engagement,” Walker said. “All of those who are participants in these major events should take a role in making sure that their staffs are trained.”
Nia Brown, the Public Policy Manager for the Southeast United States at Airbnb, said the World Cup presents an opportunity for cities and corporations to strengthen anti-trafficking awareness efforts.
“Human trafficking is a global crisis hiding in plain sight,” Brown said. “Major sporting events don’t create trafficking, but they can increase demand and amplify vulnerabilities.”
“At Airbnb, we take our role in this fight seriously,” Brown said. “Tackling trafficking demands collective awareness and action.”
Corporations are also becoming more involved in anti-trafficking efforts through employee education and partnerships with advocacy organizations.
Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, has partnered with anti-trafficking organizations to help train frontline employees to recognize possible warning signs during travel.
“In January, we announced our new Anti-Human Trafficking Advocates Program,” Delta said in a statement. “This is a new initiative to empower Delta employees to take an active role in preventing and eradicating human trafficking.”
Potential warning signs discussed during the training included individuals appearing fearful, avoiding eye contact, lacking possession of identification documents or appearing controlled by another person.
Advocates encouraged residents, hospitality workers and visitors to report suspicious activity through proper hotlines and law enforcement channels rather than intervening directly.
“If you see something, say something,” Walker said.
We can all play a role in the fight against human trafficking.
Wellspring Living and the City of Atlanta will host additional trafficking awareness training sessions in southeast Atlanta on June 4 and June 6.
Disclosure: The author is an Airbnb co-host and a volunteer member of Airbnb’s Host Advocates team. Quotes, statements and viewpoints in this article are attributed to speakers, organizations and materials presented during the events covered.
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