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Dover council hears survivor testimony from Nashville anti‑trafficking group and is offered local partnership
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Summary
Council members heard a presentation from Christina of the Nashville Anti Human Trafficking Coalition about survivor‑informed rescue, prevention in schools, a survivor employment program and resources the group can bring to Dover; presenters said trafficking exists locally and asked for partnership options.
Christina, who identified herself as director of operations at the Nashville Anti Human Trafficking Coalition, told the Dover City Council that her organization uses survivor‑informed interventions to connect with and rescue women and children affected by trafficking.
"I'm a survivor of human trafficking myself," Christina said, describing how survivor peers can build trust in a way law enforcement alone sometimes cannot. She said the coalition’s approach pairs rescue with residential treatment, comprehensive aftercare, therapy and wraparound supports to reduce recidivism and help people rebuild their lives.
The presenter said trafficking and substance use often overlap: "99.9 percent of the women that we have rescued report using a substance before, during, or after the time of trafficking," she told the council. She described programs that move survivors into detox or residential care, then into job training and ongoing support.
Christina outlined prevention work the group offers in middle and high schools and parent‑education sessions. She also introduced a child ID kit the coalition distributes that includes guidance on fingerprints, DNA, and high‑risk apps parents should watch for online grooming. The coalition also runs a social‑enterprise employment program called Sweet Daisy Pedicure Shop that employs survivors to provide on‑ramps to stable work.
The speaker asked the council to partner with Nashville programs to provide services locally, noting the coalition has already placed several local women into Nashville programs and has partnered with a Pierce treatment center for some placements. The presenting officer had described a recent local incident he said was likely related to trafficking, and Christina said the group would support outreach, jail‑based education and prevention work in Dover.
Council members thanked the presenters and described the discussion as informative. The meeting record shows no formal commitment, but staff and council members were receptive to exploring partnerships and resource options in future meetings.
The coalition’s presenter and a second guest named Amber attended the meeting to explain services and bring informational materials to the city.
