Announcement
Victoria joined the IRC team as a volunteer in December 2016. Recently nominated for the Washington Governor's Volunteer Service Award, Victoria shares how she got her start at the IRC, the work she’s focused on in her role, and some heartfelt wishes for IRC clients in the coming year. On how she first got connected with the IRC: “A friend of mine volunteered for the IRC in Baltimore and loved it! She highly recommended I get involved. That’s how I found the IRC. It was even more opportune that a volunteer role was available in my field of study! The timing was perfect.”
The Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN) is a coalition of organizations, led by the IRC in Seattle, that provides direct services to survivors of human trafficking across Washington State. WARN serves all survivors of human trafficking regardless of age, country of origin, legal status in the United States, or industry in which the trafficking occurred.
“Human trafficking is a pervasive, often overlooked injustice in our society,” Victoria states. “I want to raise awareness, but also fully participate in the work it takes to make a difference in the lives of survivors.” Having already served at organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Baltimore, the Public Justice Foundation, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), Victoria came to the IRC in Seattle wanting to broaden her horizons: “I wanted to understand more about the implementation and management of federal grants intended to provide support and services to survivors. Learning the administrative side of grant management revealed to me how the WARN program logistically focuses on the needs of survivors. This was a new and exciting skill to develop.”
Applying her educational background in Applied Conflict Management, Criminology, Psychology, and a Master’s in Criminal Justice with a focus on Victimology, Victoria has contributed to many aspects of funder-mandated reporting and helped enhance WARN’s systems for data management. With more than 200 volunteer hours logged (and rising!) she’s been instrumental in supporting the administration of the IRC’s anti-trafficking program. Being an advocate for marginalized communities and victims of crime can be challenging, but Victoria says one of the highlights of her volunteer role, so far, was representing the IRC at the Freedom Network USA Conference in Washington, DC last year. Freedom Network is the largest coalition of experts and advocates providing direct services to survivors of human trafficking in the U.S. “I loved meeting people from around the country doing similar work. It was empowering!”
When asked about challenges in her role, Victoria takes a deep breath: “We have many sub-grantees under one particular grant. There is a lot of paperwork involved that demands uniformity. Communication and coordination are essential skills for any aspiring WARN volunteer or intern to have.”
Kathleen Morris, the IRC’s Senior Program Manager and Victoria’s direct supervisor adds: “Victoria’s contributions to the IRC’s WARN program have indisputably become a vital part of our team’s success. Her commitment to our organization is evident. She shows up and knows exactly what to do.”
As Victoria’s graduation approaches, she reflects on her experience with WARN and shares her wishes for IRC’s clients who are survivors of trafficking, refugees, asylees, and immigrants: “Maintain your strength and dedication to your dreams. Even when your goals seem impossible to reach, there are good people all around that want to help you reach them. Stay connected to those people. Always ask for help when you need it.”
We thank Victoria for all she’s done to support the WARN program and survivors in our community. Victoria is expected to graduate in June 2018 with her Master’s in Criminal Justice. We wish her all the best as she explores new ways to make a positive impact in our community.
Interested in becoming a volunteer or intern with the IRC? Check out our Volunteer Opportunities page to learn more!