Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
The Lab on and Modern Slavery aims to mobilize resources and individuals to invest in high impact solutions that address the root causes of human trafficking and combat modern slavery.
History of NEXUS Efforts on Human Trafficking
The Lab on Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery started as a NEXUS Working Group in 2014 with the goal of exploring the issue in an effort to leverage the unique skills, talents, and access of NEXUS members to change domestic and international policy, promote partnerships among and between civil society and governments, explore options for social impact investments in this space, and end the plight of slaves and human trafficking victims. The then Working Group hosted a Speaker Series, with experts on the issue from across the world for many years and produced several annual reports from 2014-2018. They launched a viral Anti-Slavery Selfie Campaign on social media @NEXUSHTMS with the hashtag #EndSlaveryNow.
Definition
According to the U.S. State Department, Modern Slavery is a crime that includes forced and bonded labor, migrant labor debt bondage, sex or human trafficking, involuntary domestic servitude and child soldiering. Human Trafficking, or the trafficking of persons, is when someone obtains or holds a person in compelled service. According to United Nations, human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that subjects children, women, and men to force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labour.
Mission
The NEXUS Lab on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery aims to mobilize resources and individuals to invest in high impact solutions that address the root causes of human trafficking and combat modern slavery.
Goals
Advance the mission of organizations combating human trafficking and modern slavery; inspire next-gen donors and millennial activists to combat human trafficking and modern slavery; and bridge knowledge gaps, silos and lack of resources with communities of dialogue and wealth.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Diana Mao
NEXUS Lab Co-Chair for Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
Diana Mao is the President and Co-Founder of Nomi Network, a non-profit that creates economic opportunities for survivors and women at risk of human trafficking. In 2015, she joined the inaugural class of Presidential Leadership Scholars. From April of 2013 to the present day, Diana has also Co-Chaired the Nexus Human Trafficking Modern Day Slavery Work Group. In her work for justice and freedom, Diana also writes for the Huffington Post, Reuters, and the United States Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership
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Melissa Jane Kronfeld
NEXUS Lab Co-Chair for Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
Melissa Jane Kronfeld is a Ph.D. (ABD) in the Division of Global Affairs at Rutgers University. She received a B.A. in International Relations from George Washington University, a M.S. in Global Affairs from New York and Rutgers Universities. In 2012, she was awarded the Richard A. Clarke National Security and Counter-Terrorism Scholarship and in 2014 the Walter F. Weiker scholarship celebrating students who possess academic excellence and exceptional contributions to society.
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Patrick Gage
NEXUS Lab Co-Chair for Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
Patrick Gage is the Director of Development and Fundraising at the Scalabrini International Migration Network. As one of the abolitionist movement’s youngest leaders, he has spoken about human trafficking at the White House, United Nations, U.S. Capitol, and Vatican; co-chairs the NEXUS Working Group on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery; and serves on Nomi Network’s Board of Directors. His work focuses on the intersection between migration, slavery, and business. Patrick holds a B.S.F.S. in International History with Honors from Georgetown University.
Our Reports:
Learn how easy it is to join the abolitionist movement. Download our 100 Acts of Abolition and get started today!
- #EndSlaveryNow: A Discussion With Activists, Survivors, Influencers & Visionaries in the Modern Anti-Slavery Movement (Fourth Edition, 2018)
- #EndSlaveryNow: A Discussion With Activists, Survivors, Influencers & Visionaries in the Modern Anti-Slavery Movement (Third Edition, 2017)
- #EndSlaveryNow: A Discussion With Activists, Survivors, Influencers & Visionaries in the Modern Anti-Slavery Movement (Second Edition, 2016)
Our Programming
Speaker Series
Join our speakers’ series featuring the world’s leading abolitionist in the anti-trafficking movement. To sign up and receive reminders for, or notes from, our weekly series click here. To recommend a speaker (including yourself), MJ Kronfeld at MelissaK@NexusGlobal.org.
Join the Freedom Collaborative
Become a member of the Freedom Collaborative and be a part of the world’s largest and fastest growing network of abolitionists collaborating online.
Exclusive Salons
Salon dinners with international speakers in intimate settings organized globally on the topic of what we can all do to combat and end modern slavery.
Millennial Magazine
Read our column in Millennial Magazine, where we work to expose the many faces of slavery, profile the leaders in the movement, and provide current resources on how you can get involved. To recommend someone (under 40 years old) to be featured (including yourself), contact MJ Kronfeld at MelissaK@NexusGlobal.org.
PAST FEATURED SPEAKERS
In an effort to educate the community, the Working Group has featured a series of presentations by Ernie Allen (ICMEC), Ria Abadi & Alpana Patel (Mount Sinai Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Program), Christian Arnold (Prevent Human Trafficking), David Batstone (Not for Sale), Robert Beiser (Seattle Against Slavery), Ryan Berg (Aruna Project), Robert Billheimer (Not My Life), Brandee Butler (C&A Foundation), Betsey Bramon (U.S. State Department), Mary Caparas (New York Women’s Asian Center), Jane Charles (SOLD), Gerardo Chavez (Food Chains), Kay Chernush (Artworks for Freedom), Fr. Leonir Chiarello (Scalabrini International Migration Network), Michele Clark (Artworks for Freedom), Lori Cohen (Sanctuary for Families), Mary David (Human Rights Advocate), Jeffrey Dean (SOLD), Justin Dillon (Made in a Free World), Lynly Egyes (Urban Justice Center), Nathaniel Erb (Worthwhile: GO), Thomas Estler (Abolitionista), Katie Ford (Freedom for All), Alison Friedman (United States Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons), Shanya Friedman (Met Council), Patrick Gage (Carlson),Kelsey Galaway (Willow International), Cara Gardner (Amara Legal Center), Sarah Gardner (Thorn), Pearl Gluck (The Turn Out), Molly Gochman (Red Sand Project), Katie Godkin (The Batey Rehab Project), Sarah Godoy (Google/UCLA Trafficking Project), Rudy Gonzalez (Sert Ministries), Mary Caparas (New York Asian Women’s Center), Elca Grobler (Red Alert), Nick Grono (Freedom Fund), Laura Hackney (Annie Cannons), Fergus Hanson (Walk Free Foundation), Dawn Hawkins (National Center on Sexual Exploitation), Anna Jaeger (SafeNight App), Lima James (LifeWay Network), Duncan Jepson (Liberty Asia), Siddharth Kara (Harvard University), Emily Kennedy (Traffic Jam), Smriti Keshari (Food Chains), Kevin Kish (Bet Tzedek Legal Services), Samantha Kinkaid (Integrative Restoration Institue), Vandana Kripalani (Set Beautiful Free), Mark Lagon (Ambassador), Michele Law (Cerno Solutions), Jimmy Lee (Restore NYC), Rachel Lloyd (GEMS), Rachel Lohan (The Samaritan Women), Stephanie Lorenzo (Project Futures), Marti MacGibbon (Survivor, Author, Speaker & Comedian), Diana Mao (Nomi Network), Christie Marchese (Food Chains), Ashley Marinaccio (Girl Be Heard), Ross Mason (The Healthcare Institute for National Renewal and Innovation), Cindy McCain (McCain Institute), Peter Mihaere (Stand Against Slavery), Alicia Mills (ChildReach), Kenneth B. Morris Jr. (Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives), Killian Moote (Humanity United), Sarah Jane Murray (Nefarious), Padmini Murthy (New York Medical College), John Nehme (Allies Against Slavery), Peter Nestor (BSR, gBCAT), Consolee Nishimwe (Rwandan Genocide Survivor), Benjamin Nolot (Nefarious), Cecilia Oebanda (Visaya Forum Foundation), Yvonne O’Neal (Episcopal Diocese of New York Task Force Against Human Trafficking), Will Ortell (CFA Institute), Morgan Perry (Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution), Andrea Powell (Fair Girls), Rev. Que (Not On My Watch), Sanjay Rawal (Food Chains), Stacie Reimer (Amara Legal Center), Nancy Rivard (Airline Ambassadors International), Seirah Royin (SOLD), Alezandra Russell (Urban Light), Raleigh Sadler (Let My People Go), Rebecca Sadwick (Google/UCLA Trafficking Project), Sophia Sanders (Stolen Youth), Conchita Sarnoff (The Alliance to Rescue Victims of Trafficking), Joe Schmidt (ENDCrowd), Amy Sobel (Human Rights First), Eric Shih (Spendrise), E. Ben Skinner 3(TAU Investments), Carol Smolenski (ECPAT-USA), Roisin Stallard (ChildReach), Dornnapha Sukkree (MAST), John Temple (New York District Attorney Human Trafficking Unit), Zeke Thomas (Survivor & activist), Susan Tenby (SafeNight App), Ehb Teng (The Wren Initiative), Amanda Weikel (The Samaritan Women), Jody Weiss (Sports Pledge for Freedom), Katherine Welch (Relentless), Adam Whinston (SGS), Shandra Woworuntu (Survivor), and Lynn Zovighian (The Zovighian Partnership).
Companies We Support
More Companies We Admire
All Good, Alphabet Scoop, Alternative Apparel, Beulah London, Beyond Beanie, Branded Collective, Brunello Cucinelli, C&A, Coca Cola, Coalition Snow, ConscisouCo, Dare Mockingbird, Equal Exchange, FSI Worldwide, GAP, Greyson Bakery, Hilton, Hobbs Tea, Humble Hilo, Ivory Ella, Just Good, Kowtow, Laughing Man Coffee, Liberty United, Lola, Love for Humanity, LSTN Sound Co., Marie Mae, Marriott, MAS Holdings, MudLove, Mulberry Press Co., NXP Semiconductors, Old Skool Cafe, Outland Denim, Pact Apparel, Princess Awesome, Reformation, Sabre Technologies, Safeway, Same Sky, Sseko Designs, Tentree, The Mason Bar Company, Thistle Farms, Unilever, Warby Parker, Well People, Wills Vegan Shoes, Won Hundred
Organizations we admire
Airline Ambassador Internationals, Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST), Allies Against Slavery, Amara Legal Center, Annie Cannons, Anti-Slavery International, Artworks For Freedom, Aruna Project, BSR/ Global Business Collation Against Trafficking, Bureau Veritas, Cerno Solutions, CFA Institute, Challenging Heights, Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), ChildReach, Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), Courtney’s House, Covenant House, C&A Foundation, ECPAT-USA, Episcopal Dioceses of New York Task Force Against Human Trafficking, ENDCrowd, End Slavery Now, Fair Girls, Fair Food Standards Council, Freedom For All, Freedom Fund, Free the Slaves, GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services), Geneva Global, Girl Be Heard, Global Freedom Network, GoodWeave, #HeForShe, Heartland Alliance, Humanity United, Human Rights First, Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB),Integrative Restoration Institute, International Center for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), International Justice Mission (IJM), International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), Just Business, Let My People Go, Love 146, Liberty Asia, Made in a Free World, Marriott/Disney CSR, MAST, McCain Institute, Mentari, Met Council, Migrant Forum Asia, National Domestic Workers Association, New York Medical College, New York Asian Women’s Center, New York District Attorney Human Trafficking Unit, Nomi Network, Not For Sale, Not on My Watch, Polaris, The Porch Light (Florida Baptist Children’s Homes), Prevent Human Trafficking, Project Futures, Red Alert, Red Sand Project, Relentless, Rescue Freedom, Responsible Sourcing Network, Runaway Girl, Safe Horizon, The Samaritan Women, Sanctuary for Families, Saving Innocence, Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN), Seattle Against Slavery, Senhoa Foundation, Sert Mininstries, Set Beautiful Free, Solidarity Center, Sports Pledge for Freedom, Stand Against Slavery, Stolen Youth,Supply Chain Consulting (SGS), TAU Investment Management, The Batey Rehab Project, The Healthcare Institute for National and Renewal Innovation, The Wren Initiative, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Traffic Jam, Transparent, UNICEF, United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking (Obama Administration), United States Department of State, UN Women, United Way, Unseen, Urban Light, Urban Justice Center, Verité, Visaya Forum Foundation, Walk Free Foundation, Willow International, Young Minds for Gender Equality (YM4GE), and The Zovighian Partnership
Get Involved with HTMS
To see what HTMS Salons, Delegations and other events are upcoming, please reach out. Please note, most HTMS Working Group events are limited to members only. Not a member? Membership is based on your application, acceptance and attendance to a multi-day event. Click here to see our next upcoming Summit.
