NJ Coalition speaker tells Hillside students trafficking can begin through relationships and online contact

Lindsay Terry Bryant, arts director for the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking, told the Hillside Board of Education on May 29 that human trafficking often occurs through relationships, online grooming and local networks, and that awareness programs can help students recognize coercion.

Terry Bryant, who said she developed a program called Traffic Jam and brings theatrical performances and songwriting workshops into schools, said students and community members told her that New Jersey ranks among the top 10 states for trafficking because of its highways, ports and transportation hubs. “The youngest person in the system is 2 years old. The oldest person in the system is 76 years old,” she said, noting that that range challenges common stereotypes about victims.

Her presentation described how traffickers can cultivate trust and dependence—gifting, isolation from family and coercion—then exploit victims repeatedly. She said traffickers may use online platforms, pose as peers in chat rooms and move conversations to other apps, and described a coalition demonstration in which an 11‑year‑old persona received repeated solicitations in a short time.

Terry Bryant said the coalition’s school programs teach relationship safety, signs of coercion, and practical steps such as telling parents when someone asks for secrecy. She also described a staged performance model using professional actors to show students how trafficking can progress and to avoid framing all trafficking as abduction.

Superintendent David Glover thanked the coalition and noted the district’s commitment to bringing the program to middle and high schools. Board members and staff responded with appreciation for the local emphasis on prevention and student-facing education.