The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children is hosting its 8th annual Child Safe conference.
Throughout the day, speakers touched on topics like child abuse and sex trafficking.
Julia Walsh spoke from personal experience.
"It started when I was in college, it was domestic violence then it turned to trafficking," Walsh said. "From there it was just kind of a cycle because once you fall into trafficking it's really hard to get out of it."
Walsh was trafficked at age 18. It lasted for four years before she was rescued by law enforcement.
It's not easy for Walsh to stand up and share her life story, but she does it to shed light on a community that's in desperate need of help.
"Often times, people think it's just people who are poor and coming from these really broken homes," Walsh said. "Honestly, it happens to anybody that could be in that moment of really intense vulnerability."
Dr. Kerry Burkley is the program director for the Children's Advocacy Center. He said law enforcement and CPS workers can often be seen in the crowd at this event. They've also made a push to bring in educators and clergy members who work with children.
"What they take away from this is a collaboration with other partnerships," Burkley said. "With folks who are working similar cases in other areas, but also the resources to help them do their jobs better."
It's comforting for Walsh to see so many people come together for the same cause. She said it's this type of support and dedication that will put an end to human trafficking.
"I think a combination of them wanting to get out and fighting to stay out and then other people helping them, I think they can get out for sure and stay out," Walsh said.
The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children is also looking for volunteers who can help run its 24/7 crisis hotline. For more details, click here.
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