We are excited to share with you some of the achievements of one of the CSE Institute’s strongest allies in the fight against sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in our Commonwealth – Heather Evans, co-Founder of the VAST.
Heather is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently working in her own private practice, specializing in sexual trauma. Heather began working on anti-human trafficking efforts after realizing that her hometown area, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, needed increased understanding and awareness of this issue. After taking three years to study the issue, Heather knew it was time to leave the learning phase and take action.
Inspired by her faith and background in social work, Heather established a local anti-trafficking coalition in Lehigh County together with her colleague Beck Sullivan. They used that platform to network with other individuals and organizations in the Lehigh Valley who shared their concerns and passions. In 2011, they formally established the VAST (Valley Against Sex Trafficking), a non-profit organization with the mission to eliminate sex trafficking.
The coalition and the VAST were designed to equip and mobilize individuals to take action according to their specific gifts, skills, passions, profession and spheres of influence. Heather remarked that a great joy she experienced while cultivating these organizations was the “ripple effect”: you cannot see how far the ripples spread or their original source, but you know that their impact is widespread. One such impact took place in the survivor community within the VAST. During this past year, the survivors affiliated with the VAST initiated and formed a group called WINGS (Women Initiating Networks of Growth and survival), and the VAST hosted their first annual survivor retreat. Heather described observing the interaction and community among survivors -as they share, and speak, and partner together, casting vision and strategically planning for the future- as “beyond thrilling”.
Heather holds a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Science in Bible degrees from Cairn University, as well as a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University. We would like to congratulate Heather for her latest academic endeavor: the Doctor of Social Work program at the University of Pennsylvania. As she continues to narrow her dissertation topic, Heather highlighted the profound dearth of reliable research on this issue. Presently, she believes her dissertation will explore the effects of complex trauma on victims of sex trafficking during their recovery processes. Despite whatever topic she chooses, Heather hopes her work will address some of the misconceptions and highlight the voices of survivors. We encourage her to continue working hard as she finalizes the focus of her dissertation.
The VAST’s next major event is A Night of Freedom, a charitable gala held on National Anti-Human Trafficking Day January 11, 2017, where CSE Institute Director Shea Rhodes will be honored for her pioneering efforts in this field. Please visit their website to learn more.
Heather, we thank you for all that you do in our shared fight to end sex trafficking.