SURVIVOR VOICES, ADVOCACY & LEGISLATION
Turning Lived Experience Into Legislative Change
What began with one survivor's determination to prevent exploitation has grown into a collective voice for change.
Founded by human trafficking survivor Sheri Lopez, Pearl at the Mailbox laid the foundation for the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition (AZHTCO), bringing survivors and supporters together to advocate for stronger laws, improved protections, and meaningful legislative change throughout Arizona.
Pearl at the Mailbox focuses on prevention. AZHTCO focuses on survivor voices, advocacy, and legislation.
Together, we are turning lived experience into prevention, protection, and action.
TWO NONPROFITS. ONE SHARED MISSION.
PEARL AT THE MAILBOX
Preventing Exploitation Before It Begins.
Pearl at the Mailbox is dedicated to recognizing and interrupting grooming through survivor-informed education, books, training, community outreach, and early intervention.
Our goal is to help individuals and communities recognize the warning signs before grooming becomes exploitation.
ARIZONA HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR COALITION
Turning Survivor Voices into Legislative Change.
Born from the mission of Pearl at the Mailbox, AZHTCO brings survivors and supporters together to identify gaps in protections, advocate for stronger laws, and help shape legislation informed by lived experience.
Our goal is to ensure survivors have a meaningful voice in the laws and policies affecting victims, survivors, and vulnerable individuals throughout Arizona.
Both founded and operated by Sheri Lopez with two different mission.
ADVOCACY THAT LEADS TO ACTION
Pearl at the Mailbox's founder, Sheri Lopez, has participated in legislative efforts that have contributed to laws being passed and signed in Arizona and at the federal level.
Building on that foundation, AZHTCO brings survivors together to contribute their lived experience to legislative conversations.
Our work includes collaborating with lawmakers, providing survivor-informed input, participating in policy discussions, testifying when appropriate, and helping decision-makers understand the realities of grooming, exploitation, and trafficking.
Every successful piece of legislation is the result of many people working together.
When survivors have a seat at the table, their experiences can help shape the laws intended to protect others.
WHAT AZHTCO ADVOCATES FOR
Our legislative and advocacy priorities include:
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Stronger protections for children and vulnerable adults
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Survivor-informed laws and policies
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Improved protections and legal remedies for victims and survivors
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Accountability for those responsible for exploitation
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Stronger responses when youth are missing or may have been lured
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Earlier intervention and prevention-focused legislation
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Identifying gaps in existing laws and systems
Our purpose is to bring survivor experience into conversations where meaningful change can happen.
SURVIVORS BELONG AT THE TABLE
Lived experience can reveal gaps that may not be visible in reports, statistics, or policy discussions.
Survivors should not simply be invited to share their stories after decisions have already been made.
They deserve opportunities to participate while policies are being developed, laws are being considered, and protections are being strengthened.
AZHTCO brings survivors and supporters together to help ensure those voices are represented in legislative conversations throughout Arizona.
Survivor voices are not just stories of what happened. They are voices that can help shape what happens next.
PREVENTION BELONGS IN POLICY
Education helps people recognize grooming.
Survivor advocacy brings lived experience into conversations about protection and accountability.
Legislation can help turn those conversations into lasting change.
Through Pearl at the Mailbox, we work to prevent exploitation before it begins.
Through AZHTCO, survivors and supporters work together to strengthen the laws that protect vulnerable individuals and support those who have experienced exploitation.
Prevention and legislation are two parts of one shared mission: protecting others and creating a safer Arizona.
