If You Know is narrative practice with student survivors of sexual exploitation and an awareness project designed for college freshman.

Research led by Dr. Lianne Urada, professor at San Diego State University (SDSU) School of Social Work, shows coercion is more common than many assume. Nearly 1 in 5 students in one regional study report being coerced. The quieter truth: If a student is being exploited, they might not know. That’s because it all starts with the people they see every day.

Together with survivors and the guidance of Prof. Urada, and Prof. Marnie Salter at Dulwich Centre, survivor stories emerged through a trauma-informed narrative approach. Ebony, mystiika, Xio Loa, E., and Marie discussed how they first “met trafficking” and how they left, with no need to revisit dominant narratives.

Their stories and metaphors informed the design of the zines by Maja Blazejewska. Each folds out to a list of resources at their center. Available at freshman orientations around the world.