Annual Conference Equips Hundreds of Students with Trafficking Prevention Tools

The 'Know More, Do Better' event teaches middle schoolers to recognize exploitation and seek help.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:07pm

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The fourth annual 'Know More, Do Better' prevention-focused education conference at Vanguard University in Orange County, California, taught over 600 middle school students from Anaheim, Fullerton and Santa Ana how to recognize the warning signs of human trafficking, navigate online risks, understand healthy relationships, and know how to seek help for themselves and their peers.

Why it matters

Human trafficking victims in Orange County are getting younger, with minors now accounting for 50% of all trafficking victims assisted locally, with an average age of 14 years old for a minor sex trafficking victim. This underscores the need for early education to equip students with the tools to protect themselves.

The details

The conference, presented by the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force in collaboration with over 30 government and nonprofit agencies, featured presentations by nonprofit Higher Ground and Vanguard's Live2Free student-led campus club. Speakers included human trafficking survivor Martha Trujillo, who was jumped into a gang at age 10, and Zoe Morales from Live2Free, who taught students about the dangers of online gaming platforms like Roblox. The event also included resource booths and interactive activities to reinforce the lessons.

  • The 'Know More, Do Better' conference was held on Monday, January 30, 2026.
  • January was National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

The players

Waymakers

The lead victim service provider of the O.C. Human Trafficking Task Force.

Anaheim Police Department

The lead law enforcement agency of the O.C. Human Trafficking Task Force.

Lita Mercado

The Waymakers' chief program officer for victim assistance programs.

Martha Trujillo

A human trafficking survivor who was jumped into a gang at age 10 and now holds a master's degree from UC Irvine and formed nonprofit Full Circle to help at-risk youth.

Zoe Morales

A member of Vanguard's Live2Free group who taught students about the dangers of online gaming platforms.

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What they’re saying

“You matter. Not later, not when you're older, not when you're better behaved. Right now. Every single one of you in this room has value that existed before anyone judged you, labeled you or decided who you were supposed to be.”

— Martha Trujillo, Human Trafficking Survivor

“These adults are going on these sites and creating a trusting environment for children, whether it's offering up money, emotional support or general friendship. They're trying to get something in the end, and that's usually something like a sexual image or explicit picture.”

— Zoe Morales, Member of Vanguard's Live2Free Group

What’s next

The conference organizers have invited any other school districts interested in attending the 'Know More, Do Better' event to email Lisa Delamater, the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) coordinator for the County of Orange Social Services Agency, at lisa.delama@ssa.ocgov.com.

The takeaway

This annual conference demonstrates the importance of providing early education and prevention tools to middle school students to help them recognize the signs of human trafficking and exploitation, especially as the average age of victims continues to decline. By empowering students with knowledge and resources, the conference aims to stop the cycle of trafficking before it starts.