Jessica Kay - Survivor Advocate

Talk Trafficking

Jessica Kay shares her personal story of being trafficked and the challenges she faced on her journey towards healing. She underlines the need for stronger safety measures for at-risk youth and other vulnerable populations, as well as the importance of educational programs on prevention in schools and systems.

In this episode Jessica highlights the significance of survivor voices in all aspects of the anti-trafficking movement and the need for long-term services such as housing, job training, and specialized training for professionals. She also emphasizes the importance of respecting the choice and consent of survivors in advocacy and storytelling.

Penny and Jessica discuss the importance of protecting survivors and giving them a voice. They discuss the role of organizations in supporting and mentoring survivors and highlight the significance of law enforcement training in addressing human trafficking. They also explore the impact of language in shaping perceptions.

The conversation further delves into the topic of full decriminalization and legalization of commercial sex, with Jessica sharing her perspective as a survivor. Finally, they discuss actionable steps individuals can take to combat human trafficking in their communities.

To learn more about Jessica Kay, please visit her website HERE.

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit their website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning
Writer: Penny Ronning
Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe
Editor: Ty Lowe
Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe
Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov
Graphic Design: Rae Clark
Website: Justin Townsend

Jessica Kay Bio

Jessica Kay strives to connect with people on a fundamental level and believes that human connection is the most powerful healing agent we have.

“I once felt like I was a victim of the system, a stack of mental diagnoses, police reports, and hospital visits - instead of a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking, and homelessness,” said Kay, who decided to tell her story to help others in vulnerable situations find the courage to continue. “I decided I wanted to dedicate my life to advocating for those who are hurting in our community and use my experiences as a medium to champion change.”

To this end, Kay received a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV) and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California (USC). Jessica is currently working as a Clinical Social Work Intern for Brighter Tomorrow and is a Survivor Consultant for UNITAS. In addition, Jessica is the CEO of I AM Jessica Kay LLC. She also serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the Nevada Policy Council on Human Trafficking, and she played a key role in developing Nevada’s CSEC Strategic Plan.

Jessica received the Freedom Award from the New Jersey Coalition against Human Trafficking, was named in Las Vegas’ 40 Under 40, and is a survivor leader collaborating with numerous agencies across the country.