Speakers urge Tulsa community to deepen prevention and survivor support for human trafficking

Ann Marie Hayden, power project manager at Skull Games Solutions, and a community presenter identified as Prima Donna addressed the Tulsa Women’s Commission on June 6 about human trafficking, prevention and survivor recovery programs.

Hayden, who described herself as a survivor of familial trafficking and now works with Skull Games Solutions, told commissioners the group trains law enforcement to identify predators and victims and runs programs designed to “empower the survivor.” Prima Donna reviewed recruitment tactics, common victim vulnerabilities and prevention approaches and emphasized the role of community education.

Why it matters: presenters said trafficking is present locally and often targets young people and vulnerable adults. They urged the commission to consider prevention, survivor recovery and housing and economic supports as part of city‑level responses.

Hayden said Skull Games trains officers to “hunt predators” and to identify victims, then connects those victims with local services and church or community partners who can provide housing, job training and mentoring. “We walk with survivors long after the headlines fade,” Hayden said. She described an empowerment weekend that uses team exercises, self‑defense and simulated rescues to help survivors rebuild confidence and learn to work as teams to respond to trafficking scenarios.

Prima Donna outlined common recruitment and control tactics she said traffickers use, including false romantic relationships, social‑media grooming and strategic isolation. She described victims being moved between locations to prevent escape, the use of children as leverage against parents and cases in which victims did not recognize their own exploitation. “They have time. They have a lot of time,” she said of traffickers, explaining grooming often begins years before victims are exploited.

During a question period, a meeting participant said she had twice felt that someone might be a trafficking victim while in public places. Hayden advised engagement when it can be done safely — for example, greeting a person and asking how they are — and recommended calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline or 911 if the person appears to be in immediate danger. She said airport security and posted bathroom signage have helped in some cases and that local and state hotlines also exist.

Presenters recommended community actions including school‑based awareness, digital literacy for families and workers who interact with vulnerable people, and improving coordination among social‑service providers, law enforcement and faith‑based groups. Prima Donna said prevention is critical and that recovery for survivors often requires comprehensive, long‑term supports.

Both presenters pointed to state and national responses: Hayden noted legislation in Oklahoma reclassifying child prostitution as human trafficking and described ongoing training for law enforcement. Prima Donna said social media platforms are a frequent recruitment tool and called for more localized training of platform moderators and first responders.

The discussion concluded with an invitation to commission members and attendees to identify roles the city and community organizations can play in prevention, intervention and long‑term recovery work.

Ending: Commissioners thanked the presenters and said they would share follow‑up materials distributed at the meeting. Hayden and Prima Donna offered to provide resources and contact information for further questions and coordination.