Broad + Liberty ran my piece on The Philadelphia FBI’s community leadership award to an organization that is helping victims of human trafficking.
You
can read the piece via the link below or the text below:
More than drugs — the other tragedy playing out in Kensington
When
one thinks of the rough part of Kensington in Philadelphia, I suppose one
thinks of drug trafficking.
Yet,
there is another form of illegal trafficking that goes on in Kensington — even
more degrading than drugs — human trafficking.
The
FBI defines human trafficking the illegal exploitation of a person.
“Anyone
can be a victim of human trafficking, and it can occur in any U.S. community —
cities, suburbs, and even rural areas. The FBI works human trafficking cases
under its Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking program.”
According
to the FBI, the bureau takes a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach in
investigating these cases.
“Here
in the United States, both U.S. residents and foreign nationals are being
bought and sold like modern-day slaves,” the FBI stated. “Traffickers use
violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic
relationships to exploit victims. Victims are forced to work as prostitutes or
to take jobs as migrant, domestic, restaurant, or factory workers with little
or no pay. Human trafficking is a heinous crime that exploits the most
vulnerable in society.”
On
July 28, 2025, Wayne A. Jacobs, the Philadelphia FBI’s Special Agent in Charge,
announced that the Salvation Army’s New Day to Stop Trafficking (NDTST) was the
recipient of the 2024 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for the
Philadelphia FBI Field Office.
Heather
La Rocca, the NDTST director, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
The
FBI stated that the NDTST exists to foster safety, prevent re-victimization and
advocate for social change for survivors and those at risk of human trafficking
through trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and accessible services. The New
Day Drop-In Center welcomes women in the Kensington area who were exploited by
the commercial sex industry into a safe and trauma informed environment. The
FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office stated that they have been working with NDTST
for more than eight years to provide education and awareness around human
trafficking.
“The
Salvation Army’s New Day to Stop Trafficking has shown an extraordinary
commitment to raising awareness about the critical issue of human trafficking
and supporting survivors in our city” Jacobs said. “Their staff’s tireless
commitment to advocacy, education, and support truly embodies the spirit of the
Director’s Community Leadership Award. We are proud to recognize their valuable
partnership with our office and their dedication to making our community a
safer place.”
According
to the FBI Philadelphia Field Office, the community leadership award honors
those who are meeting community needs and working to promote safeness in the
community. NDTST exemplifies these standards through their continuous work in
bridging the gaps within the community and working with law enforcement to
recover victims and provide the support that they need.
The
NDTST works with Philadelphia Police Department on human trafficking recovery
and refers victims and survivors who are ready to speak about their experience
to the FBI.
The
Director’s Community Leadership Award, presented on behalf of the Director of
the FBI, was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and
organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and
violence in America.
“Every
day is a new day to help survivors of human trafficking,”
noted the Greater Philadelphia Salvation Army. “Since 2010, the local
faith-based nonprofit has provided a safe space and a second chance for
survivors through its New Day to Stop Trafficking Program. The program served
nearly 1,170 individuals in 2021 through a wide range of services that include
counseling, case management, rehabilitation and housing.”
Heather
LaRocca said that even during the Covid-19 pandemic, the NDTST’s services had
not stopped.
“Our
staff are on the frontlines of this very real issue in Philadelphia, and our
goal is to support survivors towards success in this world,” LaRocca
said.
According
to the United Judicial System of Pennsylvania, 784 human trafficking offenses
were filed in Pennsylvania over the past five years. Philadelphia County
accounts for eleven percent of those filings and is in the top ten for Pa.
counties with the highest number of offenses filed.
The
NDTST meets survivors daily to help them find a way out and embark on a new
journey of opportunity, the civic organization stated.
“Those
being trafficked can come into The Salvation Army’s New Day Drop-In Center in
the Kensington area and receive basic necessities such as food, clothing and
personal care support. They can receive transitional housing for rehabilitation
and safe reintegration into their community.”
The
NDTST program also includes a mobile case management operation that builds
strong bonds with clients through in-person and virtual meetings and
relationships with key city organizations to better respond to human
trafficking cases. A victim advocate, for instance, works with the Working to
Restore Adolescent Power (WRAP) juvenile court to provide resources and trauma
informed care at hearings.
The
Salvation Army staff works with The Philadelphia Police Department’s
Police-Assisted Diversion (PAD) initiative to bridge those involved in
commercial sex to supportive services, rather than criminal justice involvement
within the New Day to Stop Trafficking program.
The
NDTST stated that most recently, they have added a trauma-informed yoga class,
as well as a partnership with healthcare nonprofit Courage Medicine to provide
primary care physician appointments at the NDTST Center. NDTST is
expanding its transitional housing program from eight to sixteen beds and is
moving into a freshly rehabbed facility.
“We
have seen some amazing successes out of the program recently,” said LaRocca.
“We have a client at our transitional housing site graduating from high school
and going to college, and clients getting into housing and rekindling a
relationship with their kids. We have clients getting into treatment and being
seen as a victim rather than a perpetrator prosecuted by the criminal justice
system.”
Those
who are in need of help can call the Salvation Army’s Human Trafficking Hotline
at 267-838-5866.
Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes their online Threatcon column. His work has also appeared in the Washington Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Weekly. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com
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