My research project was entitled, "Identifying Underlying Push/Pull factors which Reinforce Human Traffic." I have gathered ethnographic data and conducted thorough analysis while compiling the data into a coherent thesis. The blured lines which separate victims of human traffic into sexual exploitation and voluntary sex work are often crossed numerous times by the same people. For this reason my research project sought access to former traffic victims through the Guatemalan sex worker… Show more My research project was entitled, "Identifying Underlying Push/Pull factors which Reinforce Human Traffic." I have gathered ethnographic data and conducted thorough analysis while compiling the data into a coherent thesis. The blured lines which separate victims of human traffic into sexual exploitation and voluntary sex work are often crossed numerous times by the same people. For this reason my research project sought access to former traffic victims through the Guatemalan sex worker community by volunteering for a local empowerment organization. As a result of this research, expert testimony has been provided for a human trafficking case in the United States. This research has produced a number of published works including an action paper on human traffic advising the Scottish Government in 2013. This research has been presented at numerous international conferences throughout Europe. Show less

I worked as a Teaching Assistant and Guest Lecturer for the Social Differentiation, Social Problems, and Sociological Research Methods courses. As Teaching Assistant, I led a number of classroom workshop groups consisting of twenty to thirty students each during the semesters. I facilitated discussions allowing for students to engage with the course material and relate it to their personal lives. Additionally, I was responsible for grading homework assignments as well as individual essays… Show more I worked as a Teaching Assistant and Guest Lecturer for the Social Differentiation, Social Problems, and Sociological Research Methods courses. As Teaching Assistant, I led a number of classroom workshop groups consisting of twenty to thirty students each during the semesters. I facilitated discussions allowing for students to engage with the course material and relate it to their personal lives. Additionally, I was responsible for grading homework assignments as well as individual essays and/or end of the semester projects. As a Guest Lecturer, I often presented my own ethnographic research in addition to wider subjects such as globalization and global divisions. Show less

MuJER, is an empowerment organization, unique in that it is the only NGO to work exclusively with female sex workers in Guatemala, allowing for a profound understanding of the sex worker experience. MuJER provided rare access to red-light districts which are frequent sites of murder, violent crime, in addition to constant gang supervision and exploitation. The qualitative ethnographic field data was gathered around the social structures which influence human traffic and the effects of recent… Show more MuJER, is an empowerment organization, unique in that it is the only NGO to work exclusively with female sex workers in Guatemala, allowing for a profound understanding of the sex worker experience. MuJER provided rare access to red-light districts which are frequent sites of murder, violent crime, in addition to constant gang supervision and exploitation. The qualitative ethnographic field data was gathered around the social structures which influence human traffic and the effects of recent Guatemalan legislation, Decree 2009-9 Against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Human Traffic. I conducted 113 intense interviews primarily with sex workers and human traffic vicitms, from Guatemala as well as from Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua who were practicing sex work in Guatemala. Interviews ocurred in red-light districts, in six cities along human traffic routes, thereby generating a contextual understanding of the blurred lines between comercial sexual exploitation and human traffic as well as real-time networks of human traffic. Given the dangerous and elusive nature of human traffic, research participants were selected through non-random, convenience, snow ball sampling.I also organized and participated in numerous actives including field visits, workshops, fund raising events, demonstrations and marches. I also participated in night visits into the red-light districts to deliver condoms and lubricant to sex workers. As voluntary staff with the MuJER, I aided them with computer problems. I regularly taught of English and tutored in literacy, primary school and computers class tutor. Later, upon the request of the constituents, I developed and delivered a dance aerobics class. Ethnographic research is a constant give and take of time and resources involving a constant web of observation and understanding, negotiating the ever changing relationships and roles while observing ethical codes and uncovering relevant data. Show less

At this non-profit organization I helped fulfill its mission is to identify vulnerable groups within society and organize them, thereby empowering them with leadership and accounting skills, networking them with donors and technical support.By working closely with these groups, I gained extensive experience with the HIMS Agape group, of people living with HIV/AIDS. I worked with them as a mediator during times of conflict, I attended the weekly meetings and documented their progress… Show more At this non-profit organization I helped fulfill its mission is to identify vulnerable groups within society and organize them, thereby empowering them with leadership and accounting skills, networking them with donors and technical support.By working closely with these groups, I gained extensive experience with the HIMS Agape group, of people living with HIV/AIDS. I worked with them as a mediator during times of conflict, I attended the weekly meetings and documented their progress, and I conducted weekly home-based care visits in order to better network their individual problems and facilitate specific support.Using an East African NGO’s AIDS library, a colleague and I created a culturally sensitive curriculum on Life Skills and taught 30 students in a 2 week course at Kimondolu Secondary School, in which students learned the realities of HIV/AIDS, the harmful effects of stigmatization, the right to say “No”, the dangers of rape and early pregnancy, the challenge of child abuse alongside gender roles and sensitization in a patriarchal society. After which HIMS was asked to return to teach the entire school.Due to my degree in Cultural Anthropology, I became the HIMS Maasai representative (the Maasai are an agro-pastoralist tribe in East Africa). I was responsible for representing the concerns of five villages living outside of Arusha to donors from abroad.I also worked part-time at two different orphanages: Faraja (with 14 children of all ages) and Malaika (housing 12 infants). I worked on their newsletters and assisted with the children’s feeding, cleaning, and playing.As an activist, I was a primary facilitator in three major demonstrations. On March 24th, we organized about 3,000 people to march in the streets in honor of White Ribbon Alliance Tanzania Day. On June 2nd, we held a rural demonstration at the HIMS Dispensary for Environment Day. On June 16th, we again marched in the streets of Arusha for the Day of African Child. Show less

On the rural coast of Ecuador, I conducted ethnographic field work focusing on, “How the people of the village conceptualize the ocean, not only in economic terms, but also in terms of gender.” Data was gathered throughout the village by surveying local perceptions and folklore surrounding ocean. The data was later applied to the question, “How such conceptualizations translate into the use and accessibility of the ocean between the different oceanic professions and between the… Show more On the rural coast of Ecuador, I conducted ethnographic field work focusing on, “How the people of the village conceptualize the ocean, not only in economic terms, but also in terms of gender.” Data was gathered throughout the village by surveying local perceptions and folklore surrounding ocean. The data was later applied to the question, “How such conceptualizations translate into the use and accessibility of the ocean between the different oceanic professions and between the sexes?”The results were compiled into a paper which created a better understanding of how the economic dynamics affected the personal perceptions for men; and how despite the strong identity of the village with the ocean, women had become socially and culturally isolated from the ocean and its uses. Show less