Leaders say stay aware of trafficking during Derby time (Sat, May 3, 2025) BY Nikelle Delgado Kentucky PUBLISHED 6:25 AM ET May 02, 2025
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As thousands of people visit Louisville for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, city leaders said it's critical to look out for signs of human trafficking. What You Need To Know
- More than 10,000 situations of human trafficking were reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, involving more than 16,000 individual victims, according to a 2021 report - The Bakhita Empowerment Initiative at Catholic Charities of Louisville has been working since 2008 to bring awareness to the issue - Leaders said while there might be an influx of trafficking happening during big events such as the Kentucky Derby, it happens every day
According to a Polaris analysis of 2021 data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, more than 10,000 situations of human trafficking were reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline involving more than 16,000 individual victims. Amy Nace-DeGonda, director of the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative at Catholic Charities of Louisville, said those numbers only scratch the surface of the problem. “People tend to think, 'OK, it's happening at Derby while there might be some of an influx of trafficking happening during bigger events,' and then it all leaves," Nace-DeGonda said. "That's not the case. Trafficking is happening every day in our community." The Bakhita Empowerment Initiative at Catholic Charities of Louisville has been working since 2008 to bring awareness to trafficking. BEI has launched a new initiative, the Training Institute at Bakhita, offering high-level training to those in specific industries.
