The ACE (Advocating, Collaborating, Educating) group met at the Oxford Senior Center in November to listen to Tiffany Stark, the program manager at Thistle Hills. ACE is an Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance that meets every third Saturday of the month at the Oxford Senior Center.

Thistle Hills is a residential program, located in Coatesville, where they help transform the lives of women who have been trafficked and addicted. It is not an easy job, but in today’s climate it is necessary. Believing human trafficking even exists is difficult for many people. However, statistics show that Chester County is a location for human trafficking, due in part to its proximity to the Interstate 95 corridor.

Stark worked for many years as a school social worker. When the Covid-19 pandemic came, everything changed.

Stark explained, “I was working at a temp agency, and my contract at the school was ending.  I really wanted a change from working at foster care and then an opening came up working in a drug and alcohol program. I was hired by Thistle Hills to work with women who have a history of addiction and prostitution.”

Thistle Hills has a two-year residential program. The home they are working out of now can handle up to four women. Stark also works at another job that deals with addiction.

She admits that listening to the stories from the trafficked victims is hard, however she knows that many people have gone through trauma.

“Anything could happen to anyone,” she explained. “No one is immune. Many people have suffered from child abuse or physical abuse. Not everyone comes from a perfect home.” 

She continued, “It can be a generational thing. One generation grows up with abuse and it gets passed on to another generation. Not everyone knows how to love. When dealing with any abuse, it is about breaking the curse and educating.”

Stark’s mission in life is to serve and she explained, “Dealing with victims of human trafficking isn’t easy. They need to learn they deserve a second chance. Just because you have a record doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a chance. Unfortunately, society doesn’t feel that way.”

Peggy Russell, the founding member of the local ACE Chapter, said, “It has taken much education for the public, police, and legal community to understand that being a prostitute is not a choice. No girl wakes up one day and says, “I want to be a prostitute.’”

Unfortunately, there is a lot of money in human trafficking. You can sell a drug once, but the harsh reality is that you can sell a person over and over and over.

Many people, women and men, are fooled into trusting traffickers. Often, the victims are looking to better themselves and are told they will get a good job, education, or citizenship. That doesn’t happen. Even worse, sometimes, the trafficker is a family member or a friend.

Stark knows it isn’t easy to reshape the life of a trafficked victim.

“It isn’t easy to convince victims their lives are valuable and they should be respected after years of abuse,” she said. “Dealing with trauma isn’t easy either. Many people try to suppress their trauma. Recovering takes time. Anything can trigger something from the past. It isn’t easy to trust, when you’ve been victimized over and over.”

Stark feels blessed to help victims. She started working with drug and alcohol victims at the age of 20. She wanted to work with the homeless population or with kids.

She admitted that it takes a special person to do what she does, although she doesn’t see herself as special.

“People that have been trafficked want to numb themselves,” she said. “At Thistle Hills, we offer love and support to transform their lives. They desperately want to become part of the fabric of the community. We teach them how to handle things when they are triggered. We provide therapy, house therapy and provide them with coping skills. We have a therapist on site to help and guide our clients.”

One of the most difficult decisions is choosing only four people, but that is all they have room for now.

“Saying no to anyone is often due to where they are in their recovery,” she said. “They have to want to do the hard work. They have to have 30 to 60 days of sobriety. It also requires a two-year commitment. Not everyone wants to commit to two years. It is about where you are in the world of addiction. You could be in and out of rehab multiple times in the world of addiction. Education and support are the key,” Stark said.

Dealing with human trafficking isn’t for the faint of heart. It is hard to deal with the subject on a daily basis. That is why attending the ACE meetings at the Oxford Senior Center is important.

“Hearing the stories isn’t easy,” Russell said. “But hearing the stories of changed lives, and surviving is certainly inspirational. Human trafficking happens everywhere, even in our small town.”

Many people are fighting their own demons, volunteering to help and support people does work. Volunteers are always needed and always welcome at ACE.

At 10 a.m. on Jan. 20, ACE will hold their meeting at the Oxford Senior Center. Carol Metzker will offer a “Singing Bowl Soundscape.” It is a therapeutic session that will allow you to let go, unwind or meditate to crystal singing bowls. All are welcome.