Silver City, NM – In a bold step toward confronting the growing crisis of human trafficking, Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services (SRSASS & CAC), a trusted non-profit rape crisis center founded in 2011, successfully launched its first-ever Human Trafficking Conference this week, drawing more than 100 participants to a united front of education, prevention, and collaboration

Held from April 22nd to 24th at the Grant County Business and Conference Center, the three-day event brought together a powerful coalition of law enforcement officers, attorneys, healthcare professionals, social workers, behavioral health experts and advocates from across New Mexico and beyond. The conference aimed to strengthen the community’s response to trafficking through comprehensive training, shared resources, and critical networking to achieve positive outcomes.

National keynote speaker Cheryl Csiky, Executive Director of In Our Backyard and a child sex trafficking survivor, moved the audience with her powerful testimony and urgent call to action. “It can be happening over a device in your own home,” Csiky shared. “If telling my story helps protect just one child from falling victim to this horrific crime, it’s worth it.”
Highlights of the event included:

  1. An award ceremony on April 24 will recognize outstanding anti-trafficking efforts in the region
  2. Presentations from national experts, including representatives from Shared Hope International and the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children
  3. Community-focused discussions led by key New Mexico leaders, including:
    1. District Attorney Norman Wheeler (6th Judicial District), underscored the need for grassroots engagement to hold criminals accountable
    2. State Senator Gabriel Ramos, who issued a bipartisan call to action: “Whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent, or Green – we must all unite to fight this crime in our communities.”

State Representative Luis Terrazas, a champion of the conference, remarked: “This conference shines a light on what’s happening everyday in our own backyard.and needs action.”

This conference was made possible because of the support of several community partners including:
State Representative Luis Terrazas, “GRO Funds”
Freeport - McMoran Mines - Premier Sponsor
Grant County Administration & Chamber of Commerce
Western New Mexico University (WNMU)
The Town of Silver City.

We would also like to recognize Daylight Donuts, Silver Plate Catering, Silver Shuttle, and the Murray Hotel for their outstanding service during our conference.

Thank You to Our Vendors:
We are grateful to the following organizations for their valued support and collaboration:
Gila Regional Medical Center, Grant County District Attorney's Office, Western New Mexico University, Winborn Wellness & Counseling, Center for Health Innovation: Public Health Institute, Supporting People In Need (SPIN), El Refugio,  In Our Back Yard, Blue Campaign, and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

About SRSASS & CAC:
Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services & Children’s Advocacy Center is a non-profit organization based in Silver City, New Mexico, offering advocacy, education, and healing services to survivors of sexual violence and their families. Since 2011, SRSASS has worked to build safer communities through prevention, support, and survivor-led change