The Freedom Connection Conference is a student-led initiative, hosted by Freedom Connection Rotaract at George Mason University, in partnership with the Rotaract of the University of Virginia, The District 7610 Rotaract E-Club, anti-trafficking professionals and volunteers from Love146. This Conference aims to bring together DMV stakeholders to discuss and collaborate on hyperlocal human trafficking issues.​​

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Human trafficking in the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region remains a serious yet often overlooked issue. The Freedom Connection Conference will bring together multidisciplinary stakeholders to discuss regional challenges, support survivors, and strengthen anti-trafficking efforts. 

Why this Conference?

Each semester, FCR hosts a career panel featuring service providers, policymakers, and survivor-leaders from nonprofits and government agencies in the DC-MD-VA region. Attendees—students in Dr. Al B. Fuertes’s Human Trafficking and Smuggling course, FCR members, and students from across disciplines—hear career insights, ask questions, and network. After three panels, Spring 2024 Board members noted a common theme: panelists valued networking and idea-sharing. This inspired our vision to expand this event into a conference. 

 

Through conversations with anti-trafficking professionals, survivor-leaders, direct service providers, and advocates, we realized that human trafficking and survivorship truly affects the whole community - and it requires the whole community to respond effectively to support survivors and prevent trafficking. 

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