February 21, 2026
Dear Friends,
We recently hosted an Elluminating Conversation with Lori Cohen, CEO of PACT (Protect All Children from Trafficking) and a member of Cohort 6 of The Collective. For those who missed it — or would like a quick summary — here are three key takeaways:
- Trafficking is local — and often misunderstood.
Child sex trafficking is not primarily dramatic kidnapping scenarios. It is the exploitation of vulnerability and power for profit — often involving individuals known to the child. It happens in every type of community, including our own. - The online landscape has changed the risk dramatically.
Traffickers groom children through social media, and sexual extortion (“sextortion”) is rising rapidly — including the use of AI-generated images. Boys are increasingly targeted and may be less likely to seek help, creating serious mental health risks. - Prevention works — but it requires systems change.
PACT focuses on prevention through school education, policy advocacy, and private-sector partnerships (including training millions of hospitality workers). Legislative efforts like the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act help protect survivors — but sustained funding and accountability are essential.
Human trafficking was a focus of our November 2025 Convening, reflecting Elluminate’s commitment to investing in women leaders addressing urgent and complex challenges. Empowering leaders like Lori through The Collective strengthens their ability to advance prevention and systemic change.
You can watch the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGrrNsKNjJY
We encourage you to join us for our upcoming Elluminating conversations. Please visit https://elluminatewomen.org/webinars/ for more information.
We hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch — and share.
With appreciation,
Melanie Roth Gorelick
Elluminate CEO