Courage is Contagious: Voices Uniting Against Human Trafficking

Synopsis: Teresa Velardi sits down with author Andi Buerger and contributing authors Lisa Babbage, Chris Meek, and Eric Caron to discuss the powerful new book, Voices Against Trafficking: Courage is Contagious – Uniting Voices and Nations in the War Against Human Slavery.

At a time when true heroes can seem scarce, Voices Against Trafficking brings together extraordinary accounts from ordinary people who refused to look away in the face of injustice. These first-hand narratives spotlight individuals who saw something, said something, and took action—changing the course of lives forever. The stories remind us that the courage of a single person can create ripples of hope that reach across communities and even nations.

Andi Buerger, a survivor of brutal child sex trafficking, shares her journey from victim to internationally recognized advocate who has rescued hundreds of at-risk teens through her nonprofit work. Lisa Babbage brings her expertise as an educator, nonprofit leader, and survivor of abuse, working to restore dignity to women and children. Chris Meek, co-founder of SoldierStrong, combines lessons on leadership, resilience, and humanitarian service from decades of working with U.S. veterans and global causes. Eric Caron, a decorated former U.S. Special Agent, offers a law enforcement and national security perspective on dismantling trafficking networks and rescuing victims.

Together, they discuss the harsh realities of human trafficking, the systemic challenges in combating it, and the urgent need to unite voices from all walks of life in this fight. This compelling conversation will challenge listeners to confront the uncomfortable truth about modern-day slavery—and inspire them to believe that courage truly is contagious.

Guests

Andi Burger: Andi Buerger, JD is an international speaker, author, and advocate for victims of human trafficking & exploitation. Andi herself was a victim of child sex trafficking and unspeakable abuses by family members for 17 years.She founded Beulah’s Place, which provided temporary shelter services to at-risk unsheltered teens for 14 years. 300+ youth were successfully rescued and assisted earning national recognition. Andi later founded Voices Against Trafficking(VAT) to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves — the voiceless victims of human trafficking and exploitation. VAT advocates for the protection of every human’s rights regardless of race, gender, culture, or socio-economic status. Voices Against Trafficking-The Strength of Many Voices Speaking As One, gives a portion of proceeds from each sale to survivors of child abuse and trafficking, as does Andi’s first book, A Fragile Thread of Hope - One Survivor’s Quest to Rescue. Andi launched Voices Of Courage magazine in 2023. It is distributed internationally and accepted into the U.S. Library of Congress. It honors everyday heroes who selflessly fight to protect human rights. These champions come from all walks of life to change communities and the world for the better. A television series by the same title debuts in 2025.

Chris Meek: Dr. Chris Meek is co-founder, chairman, and CEO of SoldierStrong, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that focuses on helping America’s servicemen, women, and veterans take their next steps forward. He has been recognized for his work in philanthropy with the President’s Call to Service Award (2011), March of Dimes Franklin Delano Roosevelt Outstanding Corporate Citizen Award (2012), Syracuse University’s Orange Circle Award (2014), the ACT-IAC “Game Changer” Award (2020), and was named a “Face of Philanthropy” by the Chronicle of Philanthropy (2021). In addition to Meek’s work as a philanthropist, he has been a financial services executive for over 25 years working at S&P Global, State Street Global Advisors, and Goldman Sachs. He holds a BA in economics and political science from Syracuse University, an MBA in financial management from Pace University in New York City, and an MPA from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He is a doctoral candidate in organizational change and leadership at the University of Southern California. Meek serves as adjunct professor at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on nonprofit management and board governance. He shares his experiences and discusses resiliency, empowerment, and leadership through adversity on his weekly podcast, “Next Steps Forward with Chris Meek,” via the VoiceAmerica network’s Empowerment Channel. Next Steps Forward is his first book.

Lisa Babbage: For the past decade, Lisa Babbage has been involved with a variety of causes all aimed at restoring women and children through education & needs-based support, and workforce development. This passion emerged from her own need, recovering from childhood sexual abuse and homelessness. Since working through her personal trauma, Lisa went on to receive a doctorate in Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership and is recently received her second Masters, this time in STEM Education. After twenty years of educating Georgia’s children as a K-12 educator and TEACH Gwinnett Supervisor, and over ten years in the mission field of Atlanta, Lisa says her work has only just begun. She is a Charter member of Voices Against Trafficking and works to provide temporary housing for at-risk women in her city through her own nonprofit Maranatha House. As the current Vice President of the Christian Institute of Public Theology, her focus is on enforcing Georgia’s Character Education Laws. She has partnered with countless other organizations to provide food, resources, tutoring, Ndestructible 7 Life Coaching, and encouragement to hundreds. She is the author of over twenty books, most of which are focused on restoration, and is a documentary filmmaker. In 2020, she became an Emancipation Brand Ambassador for COL1972 and spokesperson for GAE Coalition. Previously, Lisa served in an Executive Board capacity for state affiliates of No Left Turn in Education, Women for Trump, and Rotary International. Rev. Dr. Babbage is the current First Vice Chair of the Georgia Black Republican Council.

Eric Caron: Eric J. Caron is a distinguished former U.S. Special Agent and diplomat known for spearheading impactful covert operations on a global scale, focusing on transnational crime and national security. Eric has been instrumental in bringing dangerous criminals to justice and rescuing dozens of children from the horrors of human trafficking. Currently, as the Special Liaison for law enforcement at Voices Against Trafficking and co-founder of the Stop Child Soldiers Foundation, Eric's passion for public safety is matched only by his expertise as an international security consultant preventing human & wildlife trafficking in the U.S. & Africa. His unwavering commitment has earned him prestigious accolades, including the U.S. Attorney General's Award for National Security and a Citation from the Secretary General of INTERPOL. A highly sought-after authority in national security, Eric's perspectives resonate in major publications like the Washington Times, Epoch Times and Voices of Courage. He has also made guest appearances on Newsmax, One America News Network (OAN), Christian Broadcast Network (CBN), and numerous podcasts. In his compelling book, Switched On: The Heart and Mind of a Special Agent, Eric invites readers into a world of intrigue and courage, sharing gripping stories and invaluable life lessons from his extraordinary career. From investigating the CIA and countering the ambitions of nations like Russia and China regarding weapons of mass destruction, to navigating the complexities of Dubai and Afghanistan, his narrative not only captivates but also inspires audiences to live a life that is truly "Switched On."

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Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/LhxsKDNYUuE?si=v3n5MxPf5UHTppsu

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