Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Cusack.
Hi Laura, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I got started with the issue of human trafficking before I event know what it was. In high school, I spent a couple of summers in Uganda volunteering and living with a local family. I had heard about a rebel war impacting the northern part of the country and wanted to meet the people affected and bring their stories and their voices back to the United States so they could be heard. So on one of my trips, I went to the north and visited entire communities displaced into Internally Displaces Persons camps- families torn apart and mutilated by rebel soldiers; parents whose children were kidnapped and forced to be child soldiers; children whose parents were murdered. Children and adult abducted and forced to carry the stolen goods from the pillaging of rebels. I interviewed one man, who had been stabbed in the back multiple times by bayonets and forced to carry heavy loads of stolen goods. The rebels had cut his lips off, a signature of theirs. I didn’t know at the time that he was a victim of forced labor, and that many others had been trafficked. I did several trips to Uganda, but my father was an inner city pastor at a local mission church, so we essentially couldn’t afford to keep going back. It forced me to look closer to home and see what issue I could throw myself behind. I went off to college to study missions, determined to one day move to Africa and be an aid worker in a refugee camp, or join the Peace Corps (but only if they promised to send me to Africa!). I switched my major to Sociology, and was advised by a professor to also add a Communications double major. At the same time, I was doing presentations to churches across the state about my trips to Uganda and the experiences and needs of the people I met in order to fundraise various projects abroad. The communications major seemed to fit perfectly with the public speaking experiences that continued to find me. Around this time, I met a social worker who was working with human trafficking survivors. I became shocked at what I was learning about the issue and how it was happening right here in our own communities. It was too late to change my major (I was now a senior in college), so I decided to go to grad school for social work- the only person I knew working to address the issue of human trafficking at the time was a social worker, so that seemed like the right path for me to take. Originally I was interested in becoming a therapist specifically for victims of human trafficking, but my passion and opportunities continued to propel me towards the prevention side of the issue. Eventually, while in grad school at Florida Atlantic University, I became a volunteer at the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches, and soon was invited to join the board, while also becoming more active in coalition presentations. In 2020 I was honored to be elected Board President, and served in that role for 5 years. This year I stepped down from the board in order to move into a newly created role of Director of Programs, where I continue to be heavily involved in the community education/prevention side. I am so honored for all of my experiences leading up to my role with HTCPB. I am thankful for everyone along the way that took a chance on me and gave me a seat at tables I didn’t think I deserved to be at. I’ve been blessed with diverse experiences that have allowed me to see the issue of human trafficking from different angles- from standing in a refugee camp in Northern Uganda talking to survivors of a horrific war, to standing in the streets of West Palm talking with women stuck in street-based commercial s*x, to helping youth in a juvenile justice facility recognize and process their own experiences of human trafficking, to educating youth in our schools on how to protect themselves from online predators, to teaching diversion classes for men arrested for buying s*x- I truly believe prevention is critical to eradicating human trafficking in our community and beyond.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Every journey has its ups and downs, but with that comes lessons learned. I’ve learned a lot and grown a lot over the years, and so has the organization. HTCPB was a working group/community coalition for 15 years before we took the big step of becoming a nonprofit. Shortly after jumping into that, and just 3 months after I became Board President, the world closed down due to COVID. We quickly shifted and offered virtual presentations, but in some ways it felt like set backs after years of building and growing. Turnover at agencies meant we lost some key connections. Hands on volunteer opportunities ended. Trying to keep momentum and grow and expand was challenging during COVID, and we pivoted the best we could but it certainly wasn’t always easy. The issue and our understanding of it also changed- we started seeing a drastic increase in online exploitation and s*xtortion of children. We quickly expanded to include information on these topics in all of our presentations. Throughout all of this I grew and became more confident as a leader and professional in the field. I’m grateful to have had several incredible women come into my life who became mentors and fellow board members who really encouraged me to stay true to my values and to not be afraid to lead the organization confidently. It certainly doesn’t happen every day, but the support HTCPB has in the community, and the shared passion with all of our volunteers, partners, and members really encourages me!
As you know, we’re big fans of Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches (HTCPB) is a dedicated nonprofit organization committed to eradicating human trafficking in Palm Beach County. Established in 2004, HTCPB has evolved from a grassroots initiative into a comprehensive network of over 450 individuals and organizations working collaboratively to raise awareness, advocate for victims, and hold perpetrators accountable.
HTCPB focuses on providing education and outreach to prevent human trafficking. Our specialized training programs cater to diverse audiences, including:
Youth and parents
School staff
Health professionals
Substance Treatment Staff
Hospitality industry workers
Law enforcement and emergency responders
These programs are designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to identify and prevent human trafficking.
HTCPB stands out due to its comprehensive approach that combines education, advocacy, and direct support for survivors. One of our unique initiatives is the Survivor Support Fund, which provides financial assistance to eligible human trafficking survivors for services or items not covered by other funds. This fund aims to empower survivors to rebuild their lives with dignity and support.
HTCPB is also endorsed by the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force and School District of Palm Beach County. It is approved by the Florida Department for Business and Professional Regulation to train hospitality staff to meet the Florida state mandate requiring training.
We take pride in our collaborative efforts that have led to significant strides in combating human trafficking. Our monthly community meetings, held on the second Wednesday of every month via Zoom, feature speakers who share insights on human trafficking, allowing stakeholders and community members to stay informed and connected.
The Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches serves as a unifying force in Palm Beach County for human trafficking awareness and prevention through education, community collaboration, and survivor empowerment.
We invite community members to join our efforts by participating in our programs, attending our meetings, and supporting our initiatives to make a tangible difference in the fight against human trafficking.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I don’t have a single childhood memory that stands out to me, but I think it is a lot of individual moments that I would describe as the magic of childhood- waking up on Christmas morning, going on a surprise trip to Disney World, being in nature and learning about the world around us, escaping into a world of imagination, stepping into a captivating storybook. So much of childhood, when left untouched by the virtual/online world, is full of magic that is hard to find in adulthood. In human trafficking, predators rob children of these magical moments. I was so blessed to get to experience these magical childhood moments, and it motivates me to fight so that no child gets robbed of these in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.htcpb.org
- Instagram: humantraffickingcoalitionpb
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HUMANTRAFFICKINGCOALITIONOFTHEPALMBEACHES/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/human-trafficking-coalition-of-the-palm-beaches
