When Amanda Finger began what is now the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking in 2005, she had two major goals. One was to strengthen Colorado’s response to human trafficking. The other was to grow a strong community of leaders to carry this work forward.
That second goal led to the creation of LCHT’s Leadership Development Program. This internship is for people of all ages and at all places in their careers. It allows them to deepen their understanding of human trafficking, build skills, and shape the future of human rights work.
Since the first intern joined us in 2005, more than 200 have followed suit! Keep reading to hear more about the past, present, and future of this program.
Looking Back: Interns Were Always Part of the Plan
When Amanda first connected with Polaris Project, she had considered applying for an internship. She ended up volunteering due to having a full-time job. So when she agreed to launch a volunteer chapter of Polaris in Colorado in early 2005 (which eventually became the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking), Amanda already had a few plans. “I knew I’d need to build momentum and grow our capacity quickly. I also knew this was an ideal opportunity for interns to jump into a human rights-focused effort in their own communities,” she reflects.
Amanda experienced the value of internships herself during and after college. She saw how valuable they could be—not just for the organization, but for the individuals themselves. “After working in D.C., where interns are an essential part of work culture, I knew their potential to support meaningful efforts while gaining real experience,” Amanda says.
So by June of our first year, we had two interns earning college credit. From the very beginning, interns have helped move anti-trafficking work forward in Colorado.
How It’s Grown: Internships Not Just for College Students
Over the past 20 years, the Leadership Development Program has welcomed participants from all walks of life. That includes career changers, community leaders, graduate students, recently retired professionals, and more. With scholarships available, LCHT internships are available to a wider range of individuals.
“Let’s move past the myth that interns are always early-twenty-somethings in college,” Amanda encourages. The common thread between all interns is a commitment to learning and contributing to human rights and anti-trafficking efforts.
Interns have taken on meaningful projects across every part of LCHT’s work, based on their interest areas and strengths. They’ve supported research interviews and focus groups and contributed to reports and academic articles. They’ve expanded our Human Trafficking Hotline’s Online Resource Directory and adapted anti-trafficking training for diverse audiences. Others have supported fundraising, grant research and writing, and event planning.
Along with these hands-on projects, interns process what they’re learning through weekly seminars. They connect with other professionals in the field and start to see their own role in this movement. By the end of this 10-week program, they have a deeper understanding of human trafficking. They’re also equipped with leadership tools to take action.
“We’ve always believed that in order to sustain progress, we have to bring others up behind us,” Amanda says. “Whether someone enters nonprofit work, returns to school, shifts into policy or advocacy, or brings this learning into a new or existing career, we want them to feel confident advancing human rights and anti-trafficking efforts in their own lives and communities.”
The Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking has been one stop along more than 200 interns’ paths. These emerging leaders have gone on to fulfilling careers in human rights and social justice. Others have pursued public policy, direct services, academia, education, and more. Many work in human trafficking or intersecting human rights issues. Some even return to LCHT as staff, board members, or volunteer Hotline Advocates. All carry our mission forward.
Looking Ahead: Meet Rose, the New Leader Guiding Interns
This year, the Leadership Development Program entered an exciting new phase with Rose Inglis stepping into a leadership role. Originally from Australia and now based in Colorado, Rose blends a global perspective with local action in her approach to leadership development.
Rose started her career as a lawyer, working on international class actions representing individuals who had been harmed by corporate negligence. Over time, she realized that her true passion lay in teaching, mentoring, and supporting others in their professional journeys. She pivoted her career towards mentoring early-career legal professionals.
Now, she’s taking her experience of helping people grow in confidence, clarify their values, and take purposeful steps toward fulfilling and sustainable careers to LCHT! “I’m proud to bring this experience into a human rights and anti-trafficking context—supporting emerging leaders as they step into complex, values-driven work,” Rose says.
Rose welcomed a cohort of summer interns in early June, and she’s most excited about supporting and guiding them through pivotal points in their careers. “Many come to us at the tail end of their studies, when they are beginning to think seriously about what their future career might look like. Others join later in their careers, seeking a meaningful pivot,” she says. Rose will be there for them through these transformative moments, helping them reach their potential in a way that’s authentic to them.
For Rose, mentorship is at the heart of leadership. “Human trafficking work can be emotionally demanding and complex, so having someone to offer guidance, encouragement, and perspective can make all the difference,” Rose shares. “Mentorship plays a critical role in preparing the next generation of human rights leaders for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
Say Hello to Our 2025 Interns!
The 2025 summer intern cohort started in early June and is already bringing passion, insight, and heart into their work. Each intern brings a unique perspective. Meet a few of them and find out what they’re most excited about:
“I’m passionate about anti-human trafficking work because it unites people to fight the exploitation of fellow human beings. Contributing to a cause this important is incredibly rewarding. I am excited to learn about how a nonprofit organization operates and what I can do to contribute to anti-human trafficking work in a meaningful way.” — Maya Earleywine
“As a Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies student, I aim to understand how abuses of power are addressed at both individual and systemic levels. I’m particularly interested in the psychological tactics traffickers use to exert coercive control and maintain undue influence, and how these methods overlap with those used in high-control groups such as cults.
Everyone deserves safety, autonomy, and respect, regardless of identity or background. I feel honored to contribute to efforts that uplift and protect the voices of vulnerable communities.” — Brooke Harmon
“My passion for anti-trafficking work originates from conducting field research in Cambodia on human trafficking, specifically on the sexual exploitation of children. This experience showcased to me how essential it is to prioritize ethnographic research that relies on empathy and understanding for those you are working with, as well as allowing me to see the beauty in resilience.
I am hoping to gain a deeper understanding of how to conduct research in a way that will create tangible, meaningful change to the communities and individuals that are impacted by trafficking. For me, this means both gaining more practical, qualitative research skills, but also building on the skills needed to communicate across difference and diversity while centering a trauma-informed approach that doesn’t assume a one-size-fits-all approach to disrupting trafficking in Colorado.” — Nat Turiczek
“There are so many paths in life where one can truly make a difference in someone’s life, and this work is certainly one of them. What draws me to make a difference in this specific field is the focus on what we all share rather than our differences. Every individual deserves the right to autonomy, dignity, and respect, and protecting and fighting for these values so that someone can smile easier and bask in the warmth of human compassion more often is what makes me passionate about this work.” — Cierra Walker
We can’t wait to see how the current Leadership Development Program interns go on to make a difference—in Colorado and beyond.
Thinking about a future in human rights or anti-trafficking work? Our Leadership Development Program could be your next step. This 10-week internship offers hands-on experience, mentorship, and the chance to contribute to meaningful change in Colorado and beyond. There are Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts, and scholarships are available. Learn more and submit an interest form today.