“Human Trafficking Comes to College”

On Tuesday, March 5, 2014 Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas hosts human trafficking expert, Dottie Laster for three class sessions at the Cyprus Campus Center, room 121-122, 3535 N. Ellison Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78251. The sessions will be held at 9:30am, 11:00am, and 2:00pm. The classes are free and open to all students, faculty, and the public. Contact Carlos Lopez by telephone at 210-486-4604 or email clopez19@alamo.edu for details.

Human Trafficking is invading our country, and especially our college campuses.

Raising awareness and educating the public about the dangers of human trafficking has been a mission for Dottie Laster for over 10 years. Her involvement in the movement led to the rescue and restoration of hundreds of victims from all over the country who would still be living in bondage in the commercial sex industry, labor servitude, and modern day slavery.

Laster is the co-founder of the San Antonio, Texas, Coalition Against Human Trafficking and the past Administrator of the Orange County, California, Human Trafficking Task Force and has successfully written millions in grants to assist children and victims of human trafficking. Currently, she is the Anti-Trafficking Coordinator with the Bernardo Kohler Center as an accredited representative recognized by the Bureau of Immigration Appeals to practice immigration law under BKC.

Laster says, “I’ve seen a marked increase in trafficking on college campuses and high schools and I’m often contacted by distraught family members for help. While working on these cases I see that more frequently victims are being lured from stable homes, those who are doing well academically, and not necessarily  from the marginalized population that most think of as potential victims.”

Dottie Laster and Laster Global Consulting provide project development, consultancy, and training resources in domestic and international trafficking. The strong multi-disciplinary team has an established track record of helping victims of trafficking and developing anti-trafficking programs with law enforcement, universities, faith-based, and non-profit organizations.

Laster is featured in the documentary on sex trafficking in Latin bars and cantinas, The Cantinera, and her direct rescue work will be the subject of the television show,  Project Red Light. She is the recipient of several human rights awards and has been featured in numerous publications including recent issues of Texas Monthly, Town Hall, and MORE Magazine.

Coming full circle, Dottie Laster hopes to be the inspiration to those who hear her speak passionately about ending human trafficking, just as she was inspired years ago in a college class as a student.

Northwest Vista College welcomes the opportunity to bring awareness about important issues like human trafficking to, not only students and faculty, but to the citizens of San Antonio during 2014 International Women’s Month. For detailed information about the event, contact Carlos Lopez by telephone at 210-486-4604 or email clopez19@alamo.edu.

Human Trafficking Comes to College