Pa. has a human trafficking problem. That’s why Because exists.

Earlier this year, a statewide task force arrested more than a dozen men in a Central Pennsylvania sting operation targeting human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of minors. The headlines came and went: another bust, another news release.

But for every trafficker caught, there are countless survivors unseen, still struggling to rebuild their lives in the shadows of our communities. These operations are heroic and necessary, yet they reveal something deeper: Human trafficking is not a distant problem. It is a Pennsylvania problem.

As the CEO of the Because Organization, based in Delaware County, I see how this crime takes root in unexpected places.

It hides in plain sight along transit routes in Philadelphia and the highways connecting our suburbs and rural towns. It lurks in hotels, nail salons, warehouses, and online chat rooms, amid the overlapping crises of poverty, addiction, mental illness, and homelessness.

Traffickers prey on vulnerability; they exploit housing instability, the lack of family support, and the constant need to survive. They do this right here in Delaware County, and in Berks, Dauphin, Philadelphia, and Allegheny Counties.

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This is a time for education, awareness, and action. But awareness alone is never enough. Pennsylvania has made significant legislative progress in recent years. Act 105 strengthened our laws and enabled law enforcement to respond more effectively to trafficking crimes.

Local task forces have increased collaboration between police, advocacy groups, and community agencies. The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General’s human trafficking section conducts proactive investigations, including a recent sting that uncovered networks of coercion and exploitation across the state. However, laws and arrests address only the supply side of a crime rooted in unmet human needs.

No one should be left invisible or unsupported after escaping exploitation.

That is why Because exists: Because no one should be left invisible or unsupported after escaping exploitation.

The Because Organization works to stop human trafficking through education, advocacy, and survivor empowerment. We teach young people how to spot red flags of grooming and coercion before they find themselves at risk.

We help survivors access housing, healthcare, therapy, and job training, not just for a few weeks, but for as long as they need to regain control of their lives. We teach communities to recognize the subtle warning signs that often go unnoticed: sudden changes in behavior, lack of personal identification, excessive isolation, or fearfulness.

Human trafficking is often misunderstood.

It is not limited to big cities or border crossings. It can occur anywhere there’s a profit to be made from another person’s body or labor.

In Pennsylvania’s agricultural centers, undocumented workers and refugees are being manipulated into servitude. In college towns, young women are coerced by online predators posing as friends or romantic partners. In suburban areas, minors are lured into sex trafficking via social media.

Combating these crimes requires active engagement from all parts of our communities.

Community awareness can change outcomes. When neighbors, teachers, coaches, or healthcare workers recognize warning signs, such as a young person struggling with identity, frequent absences, exhaustion, unexplained injuries, or being afraid to speak up, intervention becomes possible.

The call to action belongs to all of us. Local businesses can join the fight by offering training and safe ways to report concerns. Faith communities and civic groups can create judgment-free spaces. Additionally, journalists can continue shining a light into the corners where exploitation hides.

At Because, our message is clear but urgent. Because every person has worth. Because education prevents exploitation. Because our communities are stronger when compassion replaces indifference. Because survivors deserve more.

This Jan. 11, on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, we will wear blue to show our solidarity with victims and survivors.

But more importantly, we will continue doing this work every day of the year, engaging in the challenging, hopeful, human effort of prevention and recovery. You can join us by donating, volunteering, partnering with local organizations, or simply choosing to see what too many still overlook.

Human trafficking steals people’s freedom and dignity. Our collective duty is to restore both. Let us not wait for the next sting operation to remind us that this fight belongs to all of us.

Because awareness without action keeps people trapped, but awareness combined with compassion can transform everything.

Marcia Holt is CEO of the nonprofit Because Organization, based in Delaware County. Because is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for survivors of human trafficking, offering trauma-informed care, and advocating for their rights and well-being.