SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A giant mural of three women in downtown Sacramento provokes many thoughts and emotions for human trafficking survivor Kristi Merrill.
The mural on the back of the first-of-its-kind center in downtown Sacramento is a safe space for trafficking survivors and victims, which Merrill now works at.
“I've been fortunate enough to kind of turn my tragedy into triumph and turn it into light to support other people who have had similar experiences as myself,” Merrill said.
Merrill said she was trafficked for sexual exploitation in 2012 for five months and said the center, known as The Table, is a lifesaver for victims to become survivors.
“I don't think it's important, I think it's vital," Merrill said. "I think it's essential. I think that it's necessary. If I would have had something like this, it could have potentially changed my life. I could have got help sooner.”
The Table provides a raft of services from clothing to meals, and counselling to employment.
The center opened on Jan. 31 and already has seen, on average, Merrill said several people a week.
One of those people, 28-year-old Mario Daniel, said he heard about The Table through a friend and said he’s so thankful for the help.
“I am getting help with employment, getting a job," Daniel said. "And they can help you with getting to college too, as well. And they have services for everyone to interact with and to help with.”
Sacramento State University reports between 2015 and 2020, over 13,000 people were trafficked in Sacramento County.
With most coming from communities of color.
The 3Strands Global Foundation runs The Table and their CEO Ashlie Bryant said their data showed a need for a center in Sacramento and for the specific services they provide.
“This was a need specifically for this area to offer employment pathways and education pathways for our clients," Bryant said. "And so that is the need that we have filled with The table.”
Coinciding with those services, Merrill said they also educate the public on signs of human trafficking, an issue she said is in every zip code.
“This happens here domestically," Merrill said. "Here in our backyard and our towns and our communities and our schools and our group home settings with kids like it happens all over.”
Merrill said she knows the issue isn’t unfortunately going away anytime soon and why she’s so happy to be doing her part, and for The Table to be available.