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in 2014, the online school is available in
the U.S. and 16 other nations. Students
attend a three-month program focused
on professional development, with
courses like budgeting and entrepreneur-
ship part of the curriculum. "I wanted
to help survivors figure out how to navi-
gate the rest of their lives," says Bender
of Elevate, which to date has graduated
1,200 students, "and I wanted to offer it
to anyone, anywhere."
Training in such life-management
essentials is often a vital part of what
she terms a survivor's Now What—
the design of a new life fortified by a
strong personal vision, and the means
to carry it out. As for Bender, her work
continues on an upward trajectory of
empowering survivors, aiding those who
shut traffickers down, and thoughtfully
increasing awareness of the crime, in
all its complexities, among people from
all walks of life who, by being properly
informed, are now better armed. Or, as
the activist plainly and powerfully puts
it: "You need the right diagnosis in order
to get the right treatment."
Bender gets fou ndat iona l when
discussing the dynamics of the crime.
"Human trafficking is a crime against
a person that involves using force, fraud
or coercion for commercial gain," she
describes. As a primary gateway, she
points out, a trafficker will typically
target a vulnerable person with the intent
to exploit their needs. To do this, they
look to erode an individual's personal
boundaries, and gain their trust.
Important, Bender notes, is that this
behavior may not always lead to traf-
ficking, but is an important red f lag
that should always spark wary. To the
oft-asked question posed to Bender
about tips for keeping loved ones safe
from victimization, her work related
to recognizing and defending against
mental tactics and strongholds used by
traffickers—from recruitment and brain-
washing to compliance and control—is
pivotal foundational armour.
Bender knows of what she speaks. She
herself is a survivor of the crime, escaping
a trafficker more than 15 years ago. "I
started speaking and sharing my story,"
she recalls. Over time she created a
training for law enforcement that utilized
her experience—and it caught fire. Her
approach was that of an interpreter who
could translate the culture and dynamics
of human trafficking, with the goal of
enabling those on the front lines to be
more trauma-informed, and thus more
effective when interacting with victims.
Bender's work expanded to helping
victims of trafficking. "I was finishing my
master's degree and I wanted to mentor
other survivors," she recalls. Elevate
Academy was born. Started by Bender
Elevate
Academy
team
members.
