She wasn’t looking for an anti-human trafficking organization to support.
In fact when Nat Pierre began her master’s in global leadership at New School of Biblical Theology two years ago, she wasn’t sure what she’d find within herself, let alone what she’d do with it.
“The courses uncover, What is leadership? What does leadership look like in today’s world? What good are we if we only engage with one another in the church?” Nat says of the online program.
“That is not what Jesus modeled for us. Jesus ventured out and he engaged with individuals that most people would not interact with. We can engage with culture and still maintain our beliefs, ” she says.
After delving into leadership principles, Nat and her peers in the global leadership program were next tasked with finding ways to execute. This led Nat to consider how her existing and new-found talents and skills could serve a purpose.
Revelations
Nat encountered LifeWay Network while researching a paper for her master’s degree and found that much of what she read on the website matched her values and outlook. Nat was also struck by the fact that LifeWay’s founder, Sister Joan Dawber, was a fellow graduate of St. John’s University in Queens, where Nat completed her undergraduate work in paralegal studies.
So a year later, when her cohort needed to conduct field studies, Nat reached out and took on a volunteer internship with LifeWay Network.
Amid her full-time job at a communications provider — from which she’ll retire soon after 30 years — and full-time parenting her daughter and son — who are a senior and freshman in college, respectively — and writing term papers for her degree, Nat has spent every Friday for three months comprehensively compiling the resources that exist for trafficking survivors in New York State; specifically, housing services.
The project was also an education in human trafficking for Nat. And it was full of surprises.
The first was how few organizations in the state exist to provide housing specific to human trafficking survivors. After combing databases, Nat discovered that while there are a number of shelters and safe houses for victims of domestic violence and other forms of abuse, only roughly 15 in New York State are designed for victims of the exploitation at the core of trafficking.
Her most earth-shaking revelations mirror those of others who learn about human trafficking without a personal experience.
“The one thing that I think stands out for me is just being exposed to what victims describe, things I just didn’t even think of. To think that I’m walking down the street or I’m driving my car, and there could be someone right next to me … we really don’t know,” Nat says. “So I definitely believe that as a community, there’s a lot of education that needs to be done.
“With this human trafficking research, there have been times that I’ve had to turn the computer off. There are times when I’m reading it, and it just becomes too much, and I find myself always wondering and praying for individuals who do this work. It’s a lot.”
Nat speaks of the thoughts that people have about trafficking, the predispositions that we have toward survivors, and how we sometimes think we’re offering help, only to discover that it’s not the help that someone needs.
“Learning how to meet people where they’re at is one of the biggest lessons that I found, which is something that I probably learned maybe in my first three semesters,” she says. “When you read the Old Testament, in a number of stories, whatever went on, what ended up happening is people will be met where they’re at. So applying that to the situation of human trafficking, I think that we all have a lot to learn.”
“I believe that might be one of the most difficult things I’ve learned, is that the outcome that we think would be the best, or society or objectively might look like the best, is not the best one for that individual, or one that she may not choose, or one that she doesn’t want or is not ready for. It really takes hoping and knowing that you’re doing your best in that role and trusting.”
Her philosophy again aligns with LifeWay’s: Meeting people where they’re at is the foundation of the trauma-informed care in LifeWay Network’s safe housing program. We invest in ongoing training for residential staff and benefit from the diligent efforts of social workers to connect women survivors with organizations and outlets that can meet their needs for education, medical care, justice, job training, independent housing, financial literacy, language skills and more.
This survivor-centered care looks different for every woman. It’s further informed by the growing number of lived-experience consultants whom LifeWay Network hires to share their stories of trafficking and recovery. The outcomes aren’t always typical fairy tale endings, but that doesn’t stop us from doing the work.
“I believe that might be one of the most difficult things I’ve learned, is that the outcome that we think would be the best, or society or objectively might look like the best, is not the best one for that individual, or one that she may not choose, or one that she doesn’t want or is not ready for,” Nat says. “It really takes hoping and knowing that you’re doing your best in that role and trusting, right? Then God will get it right on the other side.”
Forging a Future
As Nat wraps up her capstone, she’s determining how to execute on what she discovered in the master’s program as well as in her work for LifeWay Network. She hopes to position herself within that crux between grantor and grantee, to aid corporations and organizations in determining how and how much to give to whom while helping position recipients to maximize these gifts.
“It’s always been advocating for others. I wanted to go to law school — What are you doing? You’re advocating for others,” Nat says. “Fast forward to a master’s in leadership, looking to build that bridge between resources and individuals — that’s advocacy. So I guess maybe that is somewhere in the DNA for me.”
Nat’s work is a step toward advancing LifeWay’s role in providing safe housing for survivors of trafficking throughout New York State, as well as developing and solidifying partnerships with synergistic organizations. It’s part of intentionally cultivating the “network” through which LifeWay Network can better serve our mission.
Already her weeks of research have brought to light the need for more education and services. And as she’s learned about LifeWay and human trafficking, she’s seeking to bring more advocates committed to change.
“I’m encouraging other students coming behind me to reach out when their time comes for an internship, to explore it and see what it looks like,” Nat says.
We could hardly be more grateful that amid her rigorous program and busy life, Nat decided to explore this work. We’re fortunate to have learned from her as well, and we wish her unfettered, abundant success as she sets out to change the world.