Human Trafficking Presentation at Villa Spotlights The Landing

February 24, 2025

Human Trafficking Presentation Spotlights The Landing

Cara Parker, the Congregation's Director of Charitable Giving and Community Investments, was the annual St. Josephine Bakhita speaker on human trafficking this year. She spoke to Sisters and employees on Feb. 6 in the Dubuis Conference Center. Before joining the staff of the Congregation, Cara worked as president and CEO of a Houston-based nonprofit called The Landing. She learned an immense amount about the issue while leading the organization which serves survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in Houston through a drop-in center, youth advocacy, and outreach. Cara explained the many complex facets that factor into trafficking, which involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act from a person. She also talked about factors that place certain persons at greater risk of exploitation. Cara shared that she transitioned to working in the field after international ministry experiences and a business career in strategy consulting. Each year, the Congregation observes the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, which is the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking in the Catholic Church, because human trafficking is one of its social concerns priorities. St. Josephine Bakhita was a Sudanese woman and religious sister who was a victim of trafficking and has become a universal symbol of the Church’s commitment against this assault on human dignity. - CCVI Communications