Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc. (CCLA) Attorney Victoria Sexton Awarded EmpowHER Humanitarian Award for her Work with Survivors of Human Trafficking
Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick hosted the first ever EmpowHER Awards Ceremony to celebrate exceptional women in the fields of leadership, humanitarian work, sports, arts, and STEM. Held in March, the award ceremony honored Women’s History Month. The day was filled with inspirational words from the Congresswoman, the awardees about their work, and a letter from Vice President Kamala Harris praised the recipients. The EmpowHER event highlighted the remarkable achievements and resilience of women, especially women of color, who have excelled despite challenges. The awards acknowledge women’s accomplishments and hope to inspire change, foster inclusivity, and drive progress.
In 2019, Victoria Sexton, Attorney for CCLA’s Human Trafficking Legal Program, began her work with survivors of human trafficking through an Equal Justice Works Fellowship. Currently, the Office for Victims of Crime funds CCLA’s Human Trafficking Legal Program. Through this grant, CCLA provides free, holistic, comprehensive legal services to survivors of sex and labor trafficking. Ms. Sexton assists survivors with expungements, education, name changes, housing issues, family law cases, immigration applications, and obtaining or changing identifying documents. She works closely with other local human trafficking providers to ensure survivors receive all wraparound services needed. Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick honored Ms. Sexton with the EmpowHer Humanitarian Award for her continuing work with survivors of human trafficking.
“Coast to Coast Legal Aid developed this program in 2019 after discovering a gap in free legal services for survivors in Broward County,” said Sexton. “Our program was specifically created with input from survivors to ensure our work reflects the legal assistance survivors need and, most importantly, want. Survivor autonomy comes first in our work.”
One of Sexton’s trafficking clients said, “Words could never describe how much I truly appreciate you and the work you are doing for victims of trafficking, I sincerely Thank You for taking my cases and fighting for my rights as a victim and also for communicating with me every step of the way throughout the process… You have no idea how hard it has been to get to this point. First of all the shame and embarrassment that come up each time I’ve had to tell my story over and over to different agencies to clear up my record is beyond immeasurable, but the lack of resources (nationwide) available to victims of trafficking is mind blowing. None of the agencies in other cities (where I was arrested under these same circumstances) have any sort of special division or departments that are dedicated to handling trafficking cases like you have done for me. I was really starting to get discouraged about dealing with any of it, until I was connected with you. Ever since our very first communication I started feeling hopeful again that I can do this and put the past to rest, which is all because of your overall positive attitude and also how you have treated me with respect and kindness every time we speak. Please keep it up because it is so important and means so much to people like me.”
“This program is life changing,” said Lisa Goldberg, CCLA’s Executive Director. “Survivors who have criminal records due to their victimization get their records expunged. With clean records, survivors can apply for jobs, housing and school programs. They are able to start a new chapter and truly move forward with their lives.”