Long before modern technology, enslaved people in the U.S. looked to a distant star to guide them toward liberty: Polaris, the North Star. That powerful symbol is at the heart of the Polaris Project, a nonprofit founded in 2002 by Brown University seniors Derek Ellerman and Katherine Chon. Named after this beacon of hope, Polaris was created to dismantle human trafficking and champion survivors. (YouTube, Wikipedia) Origins Rooted in Hope The name Polaris draws from a legacy of freedom. Today’s Polaris Project aims to illuminate the path toward justice with data, advocacy, and direct services. Since its inception, Polaris has catalyzed grassroots activism and shaped national strategy. (Polaris)
Mission: Survivor-Centered, Systemic Change
Polaris operates with a survivor-first ethos—crafting solutions rooted in lived experiences. Their work spans:
• The U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline—a lifeline police, advocates, or survivors can call, text, or chat with. (Polaris)
• Data collection—Polaris maintains the largest-known trafficking dataset in North America, compiled through hotline interactions and proactive investigations. (Polaris)
• Policy and training—Based on data and survivor voices, Polaris influences federal and state policy, shapes law enforcement training, and partners with businesses to stem trafficking. (Polaris)
A Rich Tapestry of Insight
Polaris’s National Survivor Study exemplifies its pioneering spirit. Developed alongside survivors, this initiative audits how trafficking truly operates—beyond assumptions and hearsay. The insights are guiding policies and programs grounded in reality. (Polaris)
Their Typology of Modern Slavery, based on more than 32,000 cases, breaks human trafficking into 25 distinct models in North America—each requiring unique responses. (Polaris)
Measurable Impact & Community Reach
Since launching the Hotline in 2007, Polaris has handled over 82,000 trafficking-related situations—compiling a database foundational to national understanding. (Polaris)
In 2021 alone, the Hotline managed 10,359 reported situations, involving 16,554 victims—a testament to both awareness and urgency. (Polaris)
Strategic Innovation: Attacking the Problem at Its Roots
Polaris sees trafficking as a low-risk, high-profit enterprise thriving on systemic gaps. Their Financial Intelligence Unit, launched with PayPal, targets the financial systems traffickers exploit—making abuse less lucrative and riskier. (Polaris)
Systems Change Through Shared Data and Partnerships
In 2013, Polaris expanded its reach by co-launching the Global Human Trafficking Network, enabling data-sharing with international partners like La Strada International and Liberty Asia. The effort enables coordinated research and responses to trafficker tactics. (WIRED)
Why It Matters — And Why You Should Care
• Scale of the Crisis — Trafficking impacts millions globally. Polaris’s data proves it’s not a distant issue—it’s local, urgent, and often hidden in plain sight. (Polaris)
• Survivor Voices Inform Action — Traditional methods fall short. Hearing directly from survivors ensures policies and programs really work. (Polaris)
• Data Power — In a domain as covert as trafficking, comprehensive data transforms policy, enforcement, and prevention. (Polaris)
• Broad Reach — From hotline calls to legislative change and private-sector disruption, Polaris addresses trafficking at every level. (Polaris)
• Accessible Action — You don’t need to be a policymaker. Donations, partnerships, training, and awareness amplify Polaris’s impact.
Get Involved — Be Part of the Change
• Donate or Give Monthly — Help sustain the Hotline, research, and innovation. (Polaris)
• Partner with Polaris — Businesses, faith groups, schools, media outlets—everyone can help amplify prevention and intervention strategies.
• Advocate for Policy — Push for laws that protect survivors and penalize traffickers.
• Educate Your Community — Share Hotline resources, disrupt myths, and spotlight survivors with dignity and respect.
From Darkness to Direction
From its transformative founding to its unwavering commitment to survivors, the Polaris Project is a model of what compassion, data, and action can achieve. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to help combat the fastest-growing global crime, Polaris offers a beacon of hope—and a roadmap for real change