I was first introduced to Pedal the Pacific by watching the incredible journey of a few girls from my hometown – shout out to the sister duo Emma & Madilyn Warner, and also Hannah Smith! From the moment I saw it, I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I was in awe of these girls who poured their heart, mind, and soul into a cause so much bigger than themselves. On the other hand, I was fearful that I would never know enough about sex trafficking—or anything, really—to advocate and fight for change in the same way they did.
Years would pass before I mustered up the courage to follow in their footsteps. Before I would realize that you do not have to know everything. That simply wanting to learn and having the humility to admit you do not know is enough.
In those years, I would attend a local university and study psychology and criminal justice. Find myself in a super incredible youth and community violence prevention lab – focused on improving the safety and well-being of youth from minoritized groups in overburdened, under resourced communities. In this lab, I would learn the importance of amplifying the voices of these communities. All of this would lead me to where I am currently, pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology focusing on the same research. However, even with all the information I have been exposed to while doing this research and the passion I have for doing this work, I had never stopped twice to think about sex trafficking.
In her book Girls Like Us, Rachel Lloyd said “when you grow up three blocks away from the track, go to school in overcrowded, under-resourced classrooms and see violence in your community, it’s hard to feel as though you have other options” – this quote really hit home as those are the communities I want to serve. How can I promote well-being of people living in these communities when I am missing a piece of the puzzle? As I learn more, I am continuously gut-wrenched by the idea that for most individuals in “the Life,” they so strongly believe that is their best option. The manipulation and coercion by adults who are meant to protect and care for youth is unfathomable.The book mentioned a story of a survivor recalling the pros and cons about being in “the Life” – one of her pros was that her pimp would get her Cheetos and a chocolate Yoo-Hoo when she was upset. Geez. I had to sit with that for a while. The fact that something so simple can outweigh so much hurt and pain is a testament to a few things:
(1) How hard an individual’s life must be to require them to enter “the Life” to begin with – whether it be a desire for a meal, shelter, safety, belongingness, etc.
(2) How manipulative people can be, especially when it comes to an already vulnerable child trying to find their way in an unforgiving world. And
(3) The colossal power of a little bit of hope and a simple act of kindness.
A multitude of things come to mind when I think about why I am choosing to put my body through 1,700 long exhausting miles, but to put it simply, I ride because I want to fight back. Fight back against the exploitation and suffering that so many endure in silence. Fight back against the manipulation that traps vulnerable individuals in cycles of abuse. Fight back against the apathy that allows this issue to persist without enough of a collective response. Fight back against a world that often turns a blind eye to the pain of others. In a world where it is so easy to turn on the TV and sit on the couch mad about the world, I am choosing to do the opposite. To play a role, however minuscule it may seem, in the fight. To use my voice to raise awareness, to educate, and to inspire others to act.
