Makoons, 
Thank you for expressing your interest in this matter. It is fantastic to hear that you're not only aware of the issue, but motivated to assist in the action steps being taken to eradicate this particular type of sexual violence. As an employee and advocate at PAVSA, I agree that those of us in the field are frequently reminded of this issue and the fact that there are quite a lot of events aimed at identifying and discussing sex trafficking, and at times  it can feel as though we're at a standstill. However, I can confirm that much of the action being taken to halt and prevent this issue is behind the scenes. 

PAVSA staff and advocates work to provide essential services and resources to victims of trafficking, educate the community about the topic, and partner with other agencies in order to ensure a comprehensive community response when serving victims of this crime. In addition to direct service and work within the community, we lobby for legislation that supports victims of trafficking rather than punishing them. 

While we have some funding to provide programming and leadership on this issue, the fact that it is a difficult crime to track or document makes it more difficult to receive funding. Unfortunately, many important issues need wide recognition and attention paid to them in order to gain enough momentum to make significant changes, and that is a main reason for creating so much awareness. While those of us working directly in this field may be quite involved and knowledgeable on the subject, the general public may not be as aware. 

While our highest priority is obviously assisting victims already being trafficked, and working to prevent others from the same, widespread awareness and education on the subject is necessary for our community to be able to gain the financial backing needed for housing, resources, and services needed by survivors of sex trafficking. On another level, awareness events can present an opportunity to reach victims of trafficking, linking them to services and information they may need.  

One of the most effective things you can do is talk about the issue, and hopefully this will contribute to a ripple effect of awareness in our community. In fact, by posting here, you've exemplified awareness-raising. Aside from creating a buzz around the issue, the fact that you are already an advocate is fantastic, as PAVSA can always utilize more volunteer advocates not only for direct service with trafficked individuals, but also to assist with events or fundraising that contribute to the cause. Your ideas and assistance are valuable and welcomed as we move forward in this fight to recognize and respond to sex trafficking.