Support a working partnership between victim service groups, other non-governmental organizations, and law enforcement to end human trafficking in Southwest Louisiana.

The Alliance to Fight Human Trafficking in Southwest Louisiana is dedicated to putting an end to human trafficking through education, advocacy, and action.

• Run area-wide media campaigns to raise awareness of human trafficking and the Alliance.
• Continue to train law enforcement on victim identification, victim response, and resources for victims.
• Provide training resources to those in the workforce who are most likely to come in contact with victims of human trafficking.

• Connect victims with the resources they need as well as enhancing their education and job opportunities.
• Work to identify short-term housing solutions for victims while working toward a local long-term housing and rehabilitation facility for victims.
• Work with local, state, and national legislative leadership to craft bills that enhance survivors’ rights.

• Build a community-coordinated response to human trafficking.
• Increase general awareness of human trafficking among grade school and higher education students and staff.
• Develop and disseminate to the public an agency response plan that utilizes the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) approach.

To the Citizens of Southwest Louisiana.

It is both an honor and a solemn responsibility to serve as the Board Chair for the Alliance to Fight Human Trafficking in SWLA. Our Board represents a diverse and dedicated coalition of local leaders—judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, juvenile justice professionals, clergy, counselors, advocates, and business leaders—united in our mission to dismantle the heinous crime of human trafficking in our region.

This Alliance is yet another testament to what it means to be “Calcasieu Strong”—a community that rises together with resilience and determination to confront threats to the safety and well-being of our people, especially our children.
Human trafficking, in all its forms, is modern-day slavery. It strips individuals of their God-given rights through force, fraud, or coercion—enslaving them in unimaginable conditions against their will. It is not only a violation of human dignity, but an assault on the moral fabric of our community.

Having served Calcasieu Parish in juvenile justice for nearly three decades, I can say without hesitation: this issue is the most heartbreaking I have ever encountered. What began in 2014 as a local inquiry into child well-being quickly revealed a troubling truth-our community was vulnerable to trafficking, and we needed to act.

What started as a small coalition of committed individuals has now grown into a region-wide effort to detect, respond to, and ultimately eliminate human trafficking in Southwest Louisiana. We have developed screening tools, provided training, and built statewide and national partnerships to advocate for better reporting, services, and justice for survivors.
But we cannot do this work alone.

Protecting our most vulnerable—our children—requires the full strength of our entire community. This fight demands more than awareness; it demands action. That means:

• Educating ourselves and others about the signs of trafficking,
• Supporting stronger laws and policies that hold traffickers accountable
• Standing up for survivors. ensuring they are seen, heard, and supported.

Today, I call on you—the citizens of Calcasieu Parish-to stand with us. Let us remain Calcasieu Strong in the face of this evil. Get involved. Share the message. Report suspicious activity. Support the organizations doing the work. Advocate for change. Together, we can create a safer, freer future for every child in Southwest Louisiana.

With your support, we will not only fight human trafficking—we will end it.

Sincerely,
Anthony W. Celestine
Anthony W. Celestine