Our Project
The 4W-STREETS project is a local to global and research to action initiative to foster social transformations that contribute to ending human trafficking related to sexual exploitation. The initiative was designed as a platform for knowledge exchange between UW-Madison and civil society including service providers, survivors, advocates, and other stakeholders. Through STREETS we have taken an innovative approach to social transformation through education, engagement, and action research grounded in the perspectives and preferences of survivors. Though much of our work focuses on women and girls, we work to end trafficking for people of all genders.
Our Mission:
Contribute to the end of human trafficking through education, action research, and collaborative engagement that is grounded in the perspectives and preferences of survivors.
We work to achieve this mission through the following activities and impacts:
- We research to improve the well-being of people who trade sex by using participatory approaches to translate evidence into action.
- We educate by developing materials and curriculum based on the experiences of trafficking survivors to share with scholars and students in order to enhance leadership and grow changemakers.
- We engage diverse communities by cultivating strong relationships and convening survivors, practitioners, and researchers to identify best practices and policy recommendations for addressing sex trafficking.
Our Vision:
Creative collaboration in higher education driving social change toward wellbeing, hope, and an end to exploitation and human trafficking.
