From Silence to Action: Theresa Flores on The SOAP Project and Surviving Trafficking

She was 15, going to school during the day, and getting trafficked at night while still living at home. That reality is what drives Theresa Flores, a human trafficking survivor and the founder of The SOAP Project, to keep pushing for prevention that actually reaches people where trafficking hides in plain sight.We talk through Theresa’s personal journey, including why “typical” kids can be targeted and how low self-esteem, frequent moves, and the need to belong can become vulnerabilities traffickers exploit. Then we shift to what’s changed today: the internet, social media, and the rise of sextortion. Theresa explains how blackmail can start with a single message or photo and spiral into fear, isolation, and serious mental health pressure for teens who already feel like no one is listening.You’ll also hear how The SOAP Project turns awareness into action through community outreach that’s simple but powerful: volunteers label bars of soap with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number, deliver them to hotels and motels, and educate staff on trafficking signs. We dig into why hotels are a key intervention point, plus what survivor support can look like in real life, from retreats for male and female survivors to emergency help and major dental assistance.If you care about human trafficking prevention, protecting children, and building safer communities, listen through and share this with someone who works with teens or travelers. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what your community could do next to make exploitation harder and help survivors heal.To learn more about The SOAP Project visit:https://www.SOAPProject.orgThe SOAP Project 803-566-SOAP (7627)