News

_{SAFE Center survivor leader speaks with SAFE Center Founder and CEO Susan Esserman.}

Published on the SAFE Center website, Adapted for the MPower website | November 10, 2025

This Fall, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), in partnership with the Universities at Shady Grove, featured the University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment Center for Human Trafficking Survivors (SAFE Center) as a model for innovative university-community collaboration. The program showcased the community impact of the SAFE Center’s work and marked the launch of expanded collaborations with UMB’s schools of Dentistry, Nursing, and Social Work. The event featured a fireside chat with UMB President Dr. Bruce Jarrell and SAFE Center Founder and CEO Susan Esserman, Abbe Horswill, Director of Human Rights and Impact at Marriott International, and a survivor leader who works with the SAFE Center.

The discussion highlighted the challenges survivors of human trafficking face and how the SAFE Center has scaled its impact through corporate and university partnerships. Abbe Horswill spoke to the unique work opportunities within the hospitality sector for entry-level roles that may not require formal education, and Kevin Carey, President & CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Foundation, shared how AHLA is working with the SAFE Center to continue expanding our nationwide hospitality job training initiative for human trafficking survivors. Our client highlighted the essential workplace skills, including problem-solving and communication skills, that she gained through our program which have enabled her to succeed in her current job. She shared with the audience, “I am the proved example that you can overcome everything in life. And I will say that I’m so thankful and that the SAFE Center saved my life.”

Read the full story here.