The Bowling Green State University Labor Trafficking Education and Research Initiative held a public event to all community members wanting to learn more about labor trafficking — as it exists not only in the U.S. but also in Ohio.
This meaningful and equally informative event took place from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday (2/27/25) at BGSU Firelands’ Huron-area campus, 1 University Drive, in McBride Auditorium, North Building.
Attendees viewed “Frontline: Trafficked in America,” a 55-minute PBS documentary that takes an in-depth look at human trafficking, telling the inside story of Guatemalan teens who were forced to work against their will on an Ohio egg farm in 2014.
A discussion panel moderated led by Tracy McGinley and Lara Wilken, co-founders of the BGSU Labor Trafficking Initiative followed the documentary.
Panelist speakers included:
- Linda Majeska Powers, legal director for the Ohio Human Trafficking Initiative for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost
- Kwami Adoboe-Herrera, survivor ambassador for the Ohio Human Trafficking Initiative and also the founder of Teleios, a nonprofit supporting male human trafficking survivors in Ohio
- Marilyn Missler, representative for Threads of Hope, a global nonprofit fighting human trafficking through sustainable job creation
- Marrisa Orzechowski, director for Hope’s Landing, a nonprofit providing employment opportunities for survivors of trafficking and domestic violence
Those attending will learned critical information regarding the new Ohio Human Trafficking Tip Hotline, challenges faced by trafficking survivors and how organizations are helping them rebuild their lives.
Both Threads of Hope and Hope’s Landing had representatives on-site to speak about their work and how they help survivors.