June 18, 2025 • 7 mins
Lori Blackburn, Community Outreach and Development Coordinator, and Executive Director Nadine Thomas of The Underground New England joins us live from the Travelers Championship to highlight their mission to support survivors of human trafficking.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, thank you for listening to Community Access. I'm
Alison Demurz. I'm over here at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell.
We're doing interviews for Birdie's for Charity. For every dollar
raised they get fifteen cents from Webster Bank.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Today.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
My guest is Lorie Blackburn. She is community Outreach and
Development coordinator from the Underground New England and executive director
Nadine Thomas.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good morning, ladies, Good.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Morning, thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
So for people who don't know about the Underground New England,
what is it all about?
Speaker 4 (00:33):
So?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
The Underground Newing then has made a great impact, a
significant impact on the anti trafficking movement here in Connecticut
and we have formed a strong community of people and
organizations that have come together to support survivors of human trafficking.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
How prevalent is human trafficking in Connecticut?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
According to the recent National Human Trafficking Hotline statistics in
Connecticut in twenty twenty four, there were one hundred and
sixty seven signals. Fifty nine of those were from actual
survivors or victims. Ninety six cases of those calls were
identified one hundred and seventy survivors from those ninety six
(01:19):
calls were confirmed.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Where is it most rampant places like the Berlin Turnpike
motels that you can run by the hour.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Absolutely, they are also illegal massage parlors that you know
presents themselves as a massage parlor or a spa. It
happens in the hotels as you mentioned, truck stops, restaurants, if.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
I can jump in casinos.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Absolutely, but we also are seeing a very large uptick
in online recruitment for human trafficking.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
It's just so heartbreaking, and I'd like.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
To say those statistics that you're hearing, those are just
the cases that have called the hotline. There's so many
that go unidentified. Tell me how have you helped people
involved with it?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
A survivor or a survivor we like to call them.
Survivor of human trafficking is referred to our organization.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
They can either self refer or.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
They're referred from other agencies, law enforcement or the hospital.
And what we do as the Underground New England is
to walk these individuals along with mentors. We assign them
mentors and we walk them through this journey of healing
and empowerment and taking back their lives and their voice
and their right to make a choice, and we just
(02:43):
bring them to that part of healing and independence. So
they're coming to us afraid and frightened and broken and
not trusting anyone, and they're leaving independent, having a job, owning,
I mean, in their own apartments, driving, going to school,
(03:04):
and that's always beautiful to see.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Is there a particular age that you see more affected?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
We serve the Underground serves adults from eighteen to whatever age.
But I will tell you this, there are much more
data and statistics on children, and so we will hear
a large number for children, but a smaller number for adults.
But I think with online trafficking, there's been a significant
(03:33):
increase in child trafficking, but adult trafficking is also one
on the increase. But also awareness because of awareness through
organizations like ours, more people are stepping forward and say
I've been trafficked, I need help, So that also is
helping the statistics.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Can you mention some of the lures that these traffickers
use to bring in these adults or children?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Most trafficker is attracted to someone who's vulnerable. So where
there's a vulnerability, where there's insecurity, then a trafficker will
tap into that and pull that individual in. There's what
is called the Romeo effect. So of course the trafficker
goes in as a friend, a lover, or a savior,
(04:23):
and you know that relationship disintegrates into the individual being trafficked.
And also online basically, whether it's in personal or online,
it's basically the same thing. There's a vulnerability, someone sees it,
takes advantage and exploits.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
I know the answer to this, but why is it
so difficult for someone to get away from their online
or in person predator that traffics them.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Because, contrary to what a lot of people believe, most
traffic victims or are not physically tied, but they're mentally tied.
They're so connected to their their t so dependent, so
afraid whether it's fair, whether it's guilt, whether it's loyal
there's some kind of loyalty, and it's really difficult for
(05:07):
them to break free. We've had situations where our clients
will come and after a few weeks they you know,
our mentors are working over time to try to encourage
them not to return.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
To their trafficker, and unfortunately, with mental health issues or
with addiction, they do return because they go back to
the familiar because it's the devil they know and they're
not healed yet. So thank God that you're here and
that you can do this to help heal all of
these people.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Thank you so much. And we've had a really great
success with our programmers. So excited about the success we're seeing.
So we just you know, we just want to continue
that work and help more and more people in that realm.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
You have events coming up.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
We do tomorrow night if you're not busy. We have
an amazing pig roast that's taking place at Raymond Family
Farm in New Hartford. Fabulous music, top notch entertainment, pig roast, appetizers,
great silent auction. So we'd love to have you join
us and you can get tickets on our website.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
What about donations, volunteers or sponsors?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
What can people do?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Absolutely, there's always we can always use donations. Sometimes we
get indkind donations. Again, that can be done on our website.
For the first two years of a program, one of
the clients we serve, it takes about twenty five thousand
dollars per client to just get them through the first
two years, so it's an expensive endeavor, but a worthwhile
endeavor and if you help, you're helping someone on their
(06:35):
journey to freedom.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Wonderful. Excuse me, wonderful. I'm speaking with Lori Blackburn. She
is community outreach and development coordinator over at The Underground,
New England and named Nadine Thomas executive director. It's the
undergroundne dot org. Thank you so much for being here.
And by the way, I forgot to say, you need
to go to Travelers Championship their website because again thank
(07:00):
her for Bertiees for Charity. For every dollar raised, Webster
Bank is going to give fifteen cents, so please support
this worthwhile cause. Thank you so much, Thank you so much.
Good morning, thank you for listening to Community Access. I'm
Alison Demurz. I'm over here at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell.
We're doing interviews for Birdie's for Charity. For every dollar
raised they get fifteen cents from Webster Bank.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Today.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
My guest is Lorie Blackburn. She is community Outreach and
Development coordinator from the Underground New England and executive director
Nadine Thomas.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good morning, ladies, Good.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Morning, thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
So for people who don't know about the Underground New England,
what is it all about?
Speaker 4 (00:33):
So?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
The Underground Newing then has made a great impact, a
significant impact on the anti trafficking movement here in Connecticut
and we have formed a strong community of people and
organizations that have come together to support survivors of human trafficking.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
How prevalent is human trafficking in Connecticut?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
According to the recent National Human Trafficking Hotline statistics in
Connecticut in twenty twenty four, there were one hundred and
sixty seven signals. Fifty nine of those were from actual
survivors or victims. Ninety six cases of those calls were
identified one hundred and seventy survivors from those ninety six
(01:19):
calls were confirmed.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Where is it most rampant places like the Berlin Turnpike
motels that you can run by the hour.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Absolutely, they are also illegal massage parlors that you know
presents themselves as a massage parlor or a spa. It
happens in the hotels as you mentioned, truck stops, restaurants, if.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
I can jump in casinos.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Absolutely, but we also are seeing a very large uptick
in online recruitment for human trafficking.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
It's just so heartbreaking, and I'd like.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
To say those statistics that you're hearing, those are just
the cases that have called the hotline. There's so many
that go unidentified. Tell me how have you helped people
involved with it?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
A survivor or a survivor we like to call them.
Survivor of human trafficking is referred to our organization.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
They can either self refer or.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
They're referred from other agencies, law enforcement or the hospital.
And what we do as the Underground New England is
to walk these individuals along with mentors. We assign them
mentors and we walk them through this journey of healing
and empowerment and taking back their lives and their voice
and their right to make a choice, and we just
(02:43):
bring them to that part of healing and independence. So
they're coming to us afraid and frightened and broken and
not trusting anyone, and they're leaving independent, having a job, owning,
I mean, in their own apartments, driving, going to school,
(03:04):
and that's always beautiful to see.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Is there a particular age that you see more affected?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
We serve the Underground serves adults from eighteen to whatever age.
But I will tell you this, there are much more
data and statistics on children, and so we will hear
a large number for children, but a smaller number for adults.
But I think with online trafficking, there's been a significant
(03:33):
increase in child trafficking, but adult trafficking is also one
on the increase. But also awareness because of awareness through
organizations like ours, more people are stepping forward and say
I've been trafficked, I need help, So that also is
helping the statistics.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Can you mention some of the lures that these traffickers
use to bring in these adults or children?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Most trafficker is attracted to someone who's vulnerable. So where
there's a vulnerability, where there's insecurity, then a trafficker will
tap into that and pull that individual in. There's what
is called the Romeo effect. So of course the trafficker
goes in as a friend, a lover, or a savior,
(04:23):
and you know that relationship disintegrates into the individual being trafficked.
And also online basically, whether it's in personal or online,
it's basically the same thing. There's a vulnerability, someone sees it,
takes advantage and exploits.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
I know the answer to this, but why is it
so difficult for someone to get away from their online
or in person predator that traffics them.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Because, contrary to what a lot of people believe, most
traffic victims or are not physically tied, but they're mentally tied.
They're so connected to their their t so dependent, so
afraid whether it's fair, whether it's guilt, whether it's loyal
there's some kind of loyalty, and it's really difficult for
(05:07):
them to break free. We've had situations where our clients
will come and after a few weeks they you know,
our mentors are working over time to try to encourage
them not to return.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
To their trafficker, and unfortunately, with mental health issues or
with addiction, they do return because they go back to
the familiar because it's the devil they know and they're
not healed yet. So thank God that you're here and
that you can do this to help heal all of
these people.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Thank you so much. And we've had a really great
success with our programmers. So excited about the success we're seeing.
So we just you know, we just want to continue
that work and help more and more people in that realm.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
You have events coming up.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
We do tomorrow night if you're not busy. We have
an amazing pig roast that's taking place at Raymond Family
Farm in New Hartford. Fabulous music, top notch entertainment, pig roast, appetizers,
great silent auction. So we'd love to have you join
us and you can get tickets on our website.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
What about donations, volunteers or sponsors?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
What can people do?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Absolutely, there's always we can always use donations. Sometimes we
get indkind donations. Again, that can be done on our website.
For the first two years of a program, one of
the clients we serve, it takes about twenty five thousand
dollars per client to just get them through the first
two years, so it's an expensive endeavor, but a worthwhile
endeavor and if you help, you're helping someone on their
(06:35):
journey to freedom.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Wonderful. Excuse me, wonderful. I'm speaking with Lori Blackburn. She
is community outreach and development coordinator over at The Underground,
New England and named Nadine Thomas executive director. It's the
undergroundne dot org. Thank you so much for being here.
And by the way, I forgot to say, you need
to go to Travelers Championship their website because again thank
(07:00):
her for Bertiees for Charity. For every dollar raised, Webster
Bank is going to give fifteen cents, so please support
this worthwhile cause. Thank you so much, Thank you so much.
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