User:Mlund0624/sandbox
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Comment: You have shown (?)yourself(?) to be interesting, but not to be notable in a Wikipedia sense, 🇺🇦 FiddleTimtrent FaddleTalk to me 🇺🇦 12:33, 2 March 2025 (UTC)
 | This article is an autobiography or has been extensively edited by the subject or by someone connected to the subject. |
Megan Lundstrom (born June 24, 1985) is an American social scientist, subject matter expert, and author known for her work in anti-human trafficking research, evidence based program design, and survivor advocacy. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Polaris, a leading organization in combatting human trafficking, and was the co-founder of The Avery Center for Research & Services, a nonprofit dedicated to research and services for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking in America.
Early Life and Education
[edit]Lundstrom was born and raised in Greeley, Colorado. As a young single mother, she experienced sex trafficking firsthand, an experience that came to inform her research and advocacy.[1] She pursued higher education at the University of Northern Colorado, earning a Bachelors degree in Finance in 2016[2] and a Master's degree in Sociology in 2020. She has specialized in financial abuse and trafficking-related economic coercion,[3] developed an intervention framework utilizing cultic theory,[4] and exposed sex trafficking on online platforms such as Seeking Arrangements[5] and OnlyFans.[6]
Career
[edit]The Avery Center
[edit]In 2015, Lundstrom co-founded The Avery Center with Dr. Angie Henderson-Schultz, formerly known as Free Our Girls, to provide research-driven solutions and direct services to survivors of trafficking. Her work at the Center focused on economic empowerment, data collection, and financial policy reforms to address vulnerabilities that contribute to exploitation.[7]
Polaris
[edit]In 2025, Lundstrom was appointed CEO[8] of Polaris, where she leads efforts to expand the National Human Trafficking Hotline[9] and advocate for systemic change in trafficking prevention and survivor support.
Research and Advocacy
[edit]Lundstrom has contributed to numerous research publications on trafficking economics, financial crimes linked to exploitation, and the impact of legislation such as FOSTA-SESTA.[10] She has worked with financial institutions, law enforcement, and policymakers to improve anti-money laundering measures related to human trafficking.
Her work has been featured in major media outlets, academic journals, and government reports, including publications by the U.S. Department of State[11] and the National Academies of Sciences,[12] Dignity journal, and the Journal of Urban Crime.[13] She is a recognized speaker at national and international conferences on trafficking and financial crimes. Megan is an alumni of the Human Trafficking Leadership Academy[14] through the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center and a Network Consultant through the Office to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking[15] at the U.S. Department of State.
Publications
[edit]Lundstrom has authored several books and manuals, including:
- Survivor's Guide to Money (2017)[16]
- Human Trafficking Awareness, Prevention and Response: A Comprehensive Trafficking Manual for Pimp-Controlled Trafficking (2019)[17]
- A Sample of Applied Research in Anti Trafficking Work Across Sectors (2019)[18]
Recognition and Influence
[edit]Lundstrom has been recognized as a leader in the anti-trafficking field, serving on advisory boards such as the Alliance to Lead Impact on Global Human Trafficking,[19] Polaris, MOSAICS[20] at American University, and the Colorado Human Trafficking Council. Her expertise has influenced financial sector policies on detecting and preventing human trafficking-related transactions, improving service delivery[21] to survivors of human trafficking, and reducing barriers[22] to economic stability for survivors of trafficking.
Personal Life
[edit]Lundstrom is an advocate for economic justice and financial independence for survivors. She has spoken publicly about her experiences navigating systemic barriers and works to develop trauma-informed solutions[23] for vulnerable populations.
References
[edit]- ^ Tucker, John (4 August 2021). "The Unlikely Story of a Sex Trafficking Survivor and the Instagram Account That Saved Her Life". Elle. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Appleton Grant, Elaine. "Degree in hand, UNC sex trafficking survivor will spend more time helping other victims also become survivors". Giving Hope. University of Northern Colorado. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Bringing Survivor Expertise to Anti-Money Laundering Professionals". Polaris. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "March HT-RADAR Quarterly Meeting recap on the Avery Center's Cultic Theory, presented by Megan Lundstrom". Point Loma Nazarene University. HT-Radar Research & Advocacy. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Sheppard, Meeghan. "Exposing the Exploitative Realities of Sugar Dating". Human Trafficking Search. Humanity United. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Lundstrom and Henderson, Megan and Angie. "An In-Depth Financial Analysis of Sex Trafficking on OnlyFans" (PDF). Social Research Lab. University of Northern Colorado. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Monterrosa-Yancey, Karla (28 April 2022). "Megan Lundstrom: Human Trafficking Survivor, Crusader and Game Changer". ACAMS Today. Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists.
- ^ "Polaris Appoints Megan Lundstrom as New CEO - Polaris". polarisproject.org. February 21, 2025.
- ^ "Home | National Human Trafficking Hotline". humantraffickinghotline.org.
- ^ Lundstrom, Megan (June 2021). "Reality Written for a Privileged Few. Erased: The Impact of FOSTA-SESTA by Danielle Blunt and Ariel Wolf". Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence. 6 (3). doi:10.23860/dignity.2021.06.03.05. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Trauma Informed Considerations for Anti-Trafficking Efforts in the COVID-19 Environment, its Aftermath, and in the Context of Possible Future Pandemics" (PDF). High Level Best Practices. US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Office. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ White, Jordyn, ed. (2020). Estimating the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in the United States: Considerations and Complexities: Proceedings of a Workshop National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Estimating the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in the United States: Considerations and Complexities: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25614. Washington D.C.: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. doi:10.17226/25614. ISBN 978-0-309-49959-0. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
{{cite book}}: External link in|title= - ^ Michaelis, Lundstrom, Henderson, Amanda, Megan, Angie (2022). "The Role of Addictive Substances in Different Types of Sex Trafficking in Urban Areas in the U.S.: A Study of Control". Urban Crime. 3 (1). doi:10.26250/heal.panteion.uc.v3i1.278. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Human Trafficking Leadership Academy | National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center T".
- ^ "Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons".
- ^ Lundstrom, Megan (2024). Survivor's Guide to Money: How to Start Using Money as a Tool After it was Used Against You as a Weapon (3 ed.). Kindle Direct Publishing. ISBN 979-8878894371.
- ^ Lundstrom, Megan. (1 ed.). Kindle Direct Publishing. ISBN 978-1097237708.
{{cite book}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Lundstrom, Megan (2019). A Sample of Applied Research in Anti Sex Trafficking Work Across Sectors. Kindle Direct Publishing. ISBN 978-1096346272.
- ^ "ALIGHT Team | Meet our Directors and Advisors".
- ^ "Board Members". American University.
- ^ "Survivor Engagement: Promising Practices for Governments".
- ^ https://polarisproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Resilience-Fund-Mid-Program-Evaluation.pdf
- ^ "Referral Pathways: A Collaborative Strategy for Financial Inclusion - Polaris". polarisproject.org. April 25, 2024.