Since 2014, The Avery Center for Research and Services has been serving survivors of human trafficking. Their dedication to centering survivor voices and creating meaningful change to end commercial sexual exploitation has led to the partnership with Rollerskate to Liberate to better serve survivors. The Avery Center is a survivor-led, research-driven organization that centers the voices of those with lived experiences in all of their work. Their core belief is that “lived experience must inform change.” They have made a reputable name for themselves within the survivor community and work with individuals who are currently being exploited as well as those who have exited “the life.” We will highlight what The Avery Center is doing to combat human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation and how RS2L works together to support survivors.

Since The Avery Center is survivor-led, they are able to center the voices of those with lived experience in all of their work. Their belief is that “lived experience must inform change.” They have made a reputable name for themselves within the survivor community and work with both those who are currently being exploited and those who have exited “the life.” Through the Rollerskate to Liberate and the Avery Center partnership, we are able to do more than just donate to survivors; we employ them and allow them to become their own researchers, writers, educators, speakers, and more. This ensures that our data stays up-to-date and is aligned with lived experience while also offering skilled employment opportunities for survivors.

“Working with Roller Skate to Liberate has been a positive and empowering experience. Their high value for current research has been refreshing to work with, because they want to communicate current and accurate information. As a researcher, this is invaluable, and working with them has provided me with the space to continue to hone these skills. I appreciate that they listen to the voices of lived experience experts to direct and create the content for their educational platform. As a lived experience expert, this honors both my expertise and experience and I look forward to working with them more!“

- Emily Robinson, Research Assistant at The Avery Center

One of the ways the Avery Center’s research is used is to raise awareness and dispel myths regarding sex trafficking by offering training sessions. They have trained individuals from different sectors domestically and internationally, offering basic to advanced training and consulting. They also conduct research studies, using their networks to make innovative changes in how data is collected.  

The service side of The Avery Center allows them to walk alongside survivors through their individual journeys. They provide an array of services that can appeal to someone who's currently being exploited as well as someone who has been exited for years. They seek to empower survivors, offering meaningful connections and more than just basic services.  

They offer support groups, including the Ending the Game curriculum. And they connect with survivors throughout the country through their Care Package Program. Every month, they send out care packages with self-care items and handwritten affirmation cards. This allows them to facilitate relationships with those who have experienced trafficking and they have found that those individuals are more likely to reach out for help when needed.   

In 2018, The Avery Center launched their Economic Empowerment Program, which provides immediate employment for survivors. That program has evolved to include DBT skills, financial literacy, and meaningful employment opportunities. This program is what brought Rollerskate to Liberate and the Avery Center together and allowed us to partner in 2021, creating contracting opportunities for survivors who are interested in pursuing careers in research, content creation, marketing, technology, and more.  

“When I began Rollerskate to Liberate, I made it a key point to center survivor voices and share our passion for understanding the importance of long-term, trauma-informed care for survivors. The Avery Center has been nothing short of an exceptional example and partner to look to in order to complete our mission. In addition, we know that the minds we collaborate with help us create the best and most accurate educational content for individuals to understand how to end, and prevent human trafficking.”

- Sarah Virgil, President and Founder of Rollerskate to Liberate