On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Mr. Dave Wilson ‘88 welcomed guest speakers from Sanctum House to his classroom for an annual presentation on human trafficking awareness. Sanctum House, a residential program for survivors of human trafficking, has been a long-standing partner in educating Catholic Central students about the realities of this growing issue and the importance of awareness among young people.

This year’s speakers included Karen Moore, Director of Sanctum House, and Irene, a survivor who has returned to Catholic Central for the second year to share her story. Irene began as a victim and later became a resident in the program. After completing her two-and-a-half-year journey of healing, she now works full-time at Sanctum House, helping other women reclaim their lives.

Since opening in 2018, Sanctum House has served more than 500 survivors of human trafficking. The program focuses on long-term recovery through mental health support, addiction treatment, physical health care, and life skills development. Each woman follows an individualized plan designed to help her heal and eventually live independently with a job, housing, and renewed self-worth.

Moore and Irene explained that human trafficking takes two primary forms, labor and sexual exploitation, and it can affect anyone, regardless of gender. While women make up most cases, men and boys can also fall victim. “It often begins in the teenage years,” Moore shared, emphasizing the importance of awareness for high school students.

The discussion highlighted how traffickers prey on vulnerability; low self-esteem, lack of support, or unstable home environments. Irene spoke candidly about her own experiences, describing how emotional manipulation and abuse led her into a dangerous cycle of exploitation and addiction. “It took me two-and-a-half years to heal,” she told students. “You don’t recover overnight. But Sanctum House gave me the tools to rebuild my life.”

Beyond survivor support, Sanctum House has also made a significant impact on legislation. Moore and Irene recently testified before the Michigan State Legislature and the U.S. Congress to strengthen laws protecting victims and increasing penalties for traffickers. Their testimony, alongside input from prosecutors and the attorney general’s office, helped pass 25 bills aimed at giving victims more rights and ensuring harsher punishment for offenders.

Their message to Catholic Central students was clear: awareness saves lives. Traffickers often build trust over time through grooming, offering gifts, or forming relationships before exploiting their victims. Moore urged students to “be aware of who you and your friends are spending time with” and to look out for signs of manipulation among peers.

Students also learned that human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal network in the world, making awareness and education more crucial than ever.

At the close of the visit, Moore expressed her gratitude to Catholic Central for its continued partnership and generosity. “Catholic Central’s Christmas at Sanctum House is legendary,” she said with a smile. “Everyone talks about it. Thank you to Mr. Wilson, Maureen, the Lacrosse Team, and everyone at Catholic Central for your support.”