CHARLOTTE — Lala Appleberry, a survivor of sex trafficking, founded Survivor Network NC to empower others who have endured similar experiences.
Appleberry’s journey from victim to advocate began when she ran away from home at 16. Her boyfriend at the time offered her a place to stay, but soon coerced her into trafficking under the guise of helping with rent.
“Our mission is to empower survivors of labor and sex trafficking,” Appleberry said, highlighting the purpose of her nonprofit.
She explained about her motivation to start the organization.
“It was to give back to victims and survivors what I didn’t receive,” she said.
Appleberry recounted her past.
“Very early on I learned that abuse was normal, drug use was normal... violence was normal,” she said.
The exploitation progressed.
“It started with hugging, touching, kissing things like that... and it grew,” she said.
Appleberry illustrated the manipulation she faced.
“I didn’t realize it was boyfriend to trafficker. It was this is my boyfriend and I’m going to help him,” Appleberry said.
Brittany Dunn, co-founder of Safe House Project, explained, “It’s called ‘boyfriending,’ it doesn’t necessarily have to be a boyfriend. And then over time, it often becomes, say, well in order to afford our future, or in order for you to show me that you love me, they ask that individual to engage in commercial sex.”
Kristi Wells, also a co-founder of Safe House Project, noted, “And it will come across as this one-time thing, but by this time, the girl’s in hook, line and sinker and doesn’t know that everything is about to shift.”
Appleberry’s mother intervened by obtaining a court order to rescue her from the situation. This pivotal moment allowed Appleberry to graduate from high school, pursue higher education, and eventually earn a master’s degree in social work.
Appleberry emphasized the importance of lived experience in her advocacy work, stating, “Find one person, one adult that you can trust and share with them.”
Through Survivor Network NC, Lala Appleberry continues to support and uplift survivors, using her own experiences to guide others toward safety and empowerment.
Lala Appleberry’s focus is on developing “survivor leaders” who go on to do teaching, training and keynote speaking.
She works with those who have been out of their trafficking situation for at least 18 months.
She says their “lived experience” is like an education and they should not have to share their knowledge and expertise for free.
She says, “We would not ask a doctor or any other expert to work for free.”
“My organization advocates for compensation for you to talk about what you experienced, but you’re going to receive compensation because your story is the equivalent of a degree,” says Appleberry.
VIDEO: Local survivor of labor trafficking speaks out
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