Last week at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, we took a significant step toward changing this reality. 75 leaders from across the anti-trafficking movement came together around a shared vision: building a unified data ecosystem that will transform how we fight trafficking.

Building Momentum for Change

The mandate for change was clear. Our pre-event survey revealed that 84% of participants believe we can create an ecosystem where data flows freely but safely between those who need it most. This isn't just about sharing information, it's about building tools that identify patterns, assess risks, and inform strategies that will help stakeholders make better decisions.

Federal law enforcement officials, survivor advocates, researchers, and policy experts engaged in deep discussions about how we can break down the silos that have historically limited our impact. 

In addition, Senator Marsha Blackburn's participation at our policy meet and greet, along with engagement from key Senate offices, demonstrated growing momentum for data-driven solutions at the federal level.

Partners in Progress

The day opened with powerful insights from Janet Jensen and Pam Wood, who shared their perspective on how funders can help build a transformative data ecosystem. Allies CEO John Nehme framed our discussions with a call for humility, honesty, and hope.

Our morning featured a series of impactful panels that showcased both innovation and collaboration. First, our Data Exemplars panel brought together four leaders who have created successful data-driven solutions: Dr. Brook Bello, Elizabeth Fay, Kristen Boorse, and Martina Vandenberg. Their presentations demonstrated what's possible when organizations fully embrace data-informed approaches.

The conversation then shifted to scaling solutions through government partnership, with valuable insights from Dr. Joan Reid, Katherine Chon, Mary Kate Andrepont, and Rhonda Kuykendall. Following these presentations, participants engaged in table discussions to explore what is right, wrong, confused, and missing in today's antitrafficking data landscape.

After lunch, our afternoon focused on turning data into action through policy and research. Notable speakers included Dr. Amy Farrell, Eleanor Gaetan, Jay Benke, Kristen Abrams, Megan Lundstrom, and Dr. Nick Freeman, who shared strategies for creating meaningful change through data-driven approaches.

This groundwork led to the formation of focused working groups, which are now developing concrete solutions for data standards, privacy protocols, and coordination frameworks.

Through focused working groups, we're now developing concrete solutions around data standards, privacy protocols, and coordination frameworks.

Key takeaways from these groups include:

• The need better data standards and sharing protocols.

• Agreement that we can and should build the solution we know we need.

• Survivor voices must be central to data governance.

• Trust, transparency, humility, and collaboration are foundational to moving forward.

• Quick wins can maintain momentum while we build for the long-term with a shared vision.

These are technical challenges, yes, but they're also opportunities to build trust and demonstrate how shared data can lead to better outcomes for survivors and communities at risk.

As one participant noted, the energy in the room reflected a growing recognition that we're at a turning point. The expertise is assembled. The technology exists. The commitment to collaboration is stronger than ever. What's needed now is a sustained effort to build an ecosystem that brings together the best data sources with values-driven partnerships.

We're grateful to our visionary partners—Dropbox, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, The Living Waters Foundation, The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and The Jensen Project—who share our belief in the power of data to illuminate and eradicate human trafficking.

While we know sharing ideas is necessary for the continued growth of this movement, our gathering was about more than that. It was an effort to catalyze a movement toward a future where every community has the data they need to identify and prevent trafficking effectively. The path forward is clear: by building better tools for collecting and analyzing data, establishing trusted partnerships, and maintaining unwavering focus on our shared mission, we can transform how we fight trafficking.

A Future Driven by Data

We believe this transformation is not only possible but essential. Without better data, we'll continue to fight trafficking in the dark. But with a unified ecosystem that brings together the best data sources, tools, and partnerships, we can shine a light on exploitation and empower communities to prevent it.

The work ahead is significant, but the foundation has been laid. Together, we're building a future where data drives action, and every community has the insights they need to protect their most vulnerable members.

Until all are free,

The Allies Team