Eastern Shore Human Trafficking Task Force

A number of years ago a group of concerned citizens started gathering in the back room of Scossa, across from the courthouse, in Easton MD. The gatherings were meant to highlight and illustrate the cancer of Human Trafficking that exists in EVERY COMMUNITY in America.

When the Eastern Shore Human Trafficking Task Force was launched in 2013, few people understood human trafficking or believed it existed on the Eastern Shore. The Task Force, initially a small group of volunteers, focused on promoting public awareness, prevention, and education throughout the region.

With an eye toward doing something the Eastern Shore Human Trafficking Task Force (ESHTTF) was launched. The dream behind ESHTTF was to stand for justice and against the oppression known as human trafficking. The people organized into groups to harden our communities in different areas including: public awareness, legislation, law enforcement, etc. The committees went to work and awareness increased. Holding hands with organizations such as Araminta Freedom Initiative, Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention, the work proceeded.

In 2016 the Task Force took on new life starting by reaching out to Eastern Shore leaders, holding a conference attended by over 100 people at Salisbury University, and resuming regular meetings. Based on what we learned through these actions we have reshaped our Mission, Goals, focus areas, and actions. You can learn more about these topics throughout this website.

As 2026 has arrived, the situation has changed dramatically, the Shore now has full time workers, agencies and organizations dedicated to catching traffickers, assisting victims, and caring for survivors of human trafficking. With the help of a Workgroup of local leaders the Task Force is also evolving. We are now focused on helping individuals, agencies, and groups committed to Anti-Human Trafficking to work as a unified team to end human trafficking.