"After I heard the presentation, I started seeing articles from cities such as LA and New York about trafficking here in the U.S.," she remembers. "I had a friend who came back from Cambodia and talked about the extent of trafficking. I also met a man through the coalition in Reading who had seen human trafficking's impact in Nepal.
"I am an accountant-I didn't have any experience with social service or law enforcement," she remembers. "But I knew I could help raise awareness in the community about the fact that human trafficking is happening right here."
In the intervening years, Lucianna's involvement in fighting human trafficking led her to join NOVA's Kathy Bennett in creating and co-chairing NOVA's Bucks Coalition Against Human Trafficking and helping to develop the strategies, structure and community relationships with other organizations that makes BCAT such a strong, vital group to this day. Lucianna spearheaded efforts to train staff and volunteers on speaking to the community about human trafficking and raising awareness that this issue is a very local one.
Lucianna worked hand-in-hand with Kathy and NOVA's Julie Dugery to develop the guidelines and protocols, and she headed up the community awareness subcommittee, which aided BCAT immensely in developing a presence among local groups who want to pitch in against trafficking. She also led development of training materials for staff and volunteers to use with local groups and professions.
"We had an advantage at the beginning over other coalitions, because unlike so many of them that began with just one person, or one faith-based group, BCAT could partner with NOVA, which was already here and had the staff to devote to the issue," Lucianna recalls. "It was through NOVA that we were able to get more quickly established." Lucianna has enjoyed her working partnerships with BCAT and NOVA staff.
"One thing I have loved about BCAT is working with Kathy; she's so humble and cool and a great leader," she says. "She knows what she knows and what she doesn't know, and she's the first to ask for ideas and input from everyone involved. She and Julie are so dedicated, and now having Deirdre (Blackburn) on the team has made a huge impact in terms of being able to follow through on all of the work in progress." Lucianna's ever-increasing travel schedule and her move to a home in Montgomery County have led her to step down from her BCAT role, but she says there's always an opportunity for her-and all of us-to help fight trafficking.
"There continues to be a perception that human trafficking is a factor in poor, Third-World areas, but it's not just poverty but also emotional vulnerability that can lead to trafficking," she says. "Traffickers know how to attract vulnerable people, particularly children, by befriending them." If we look around for children, teens and adults who need friendship and mentoring, Lucianna noted, we can potentially thwart traffickers who are looking to exploit the very same groups.
Lucianna also encourages everyone in BCAT to help fight trafficking by something as easy as spreading awareness.
"It's as simple ask talking to our friends and colleagues and saying, 'Did you know that this happens right here in Bucks County and there's a hotline you can call if you think you see someone or something suspicious?'" she said. "Also, pornography is a gateway to human trafficking. People think porn is victimless, but it creates a demand, and where there is demand, someone will create a supply (of victims)." Talking about the links between pornography and human trafficking is key.
Kathy Bennett responds: "Lucianna was, indeed, a strong driving force behind the creation of BCAT. It was my honor and pleasure to work with her on the development of our coalition. She brought many insights as well as her knowledge about human trafficking and how other coalitions were functioning. I cannot say enough about her influence in helping to create a coalition in Bucks County. Her energy and commitment to eradicating human trafficking is unparalleled! She has promised to stay in touch and come to a BCAT meeting from time to time...I'm holding her to that promise! Thank you, Lucianna, for all that you have done!"
