At the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, we believe that the long-term sustainability of the anti-trafficking movement requires people who are willing to learn, reflect, and lead. In 2026, our Leadership Development Program is growing in ways that reflect that belief: expanding who gets to participate, deepening how people engage, and building a stronger community of human rights leaders across Colorado.
More broadly, we’re exploring what leadership looks like, who gets to participate, and how we can create more opportunities for people to engage in this work.
That’s why this year, our flagship internship program, the Leadership Development Program (LDP), will continue to grow and evolve. We have also introduced two new initiatives, the LCHT Learning Collective and the Professional Leadership Pilot Project.
As Rose Inglis, Leadership Development Program Manager, shares, “Our goal is to train and inspire the next leaders of the anti-trafficking and parallel social justice movements… whichever stage of their career they may be at.” We do that by creating leadership opportunities where people feel safe, supported, and inspired to step into that role, even if they don’t initially see themselves as “leaders.”
Why strong leadership matters so much right now
Human trafficking is a complex social justice issue. It intersects with public health, education, housing, immigration, and more. It cannot be ended in isolation. Addressing it requires people who can bridge those sectors, ask hard questions, and work collaboratively.
At LCHT, we dispel the myth that leadership is tied to your title, where you work, or which career stage you’re in. “Leadership begins with a decision to show up. It is about how you engage with your community, how you respond to injustice, and how you use your voice, skills, and perspective to contribute to change,” says Rose.
Anti-trafficking work is not easy, which makes supportive spaces critical. “Engaging with human trafficking means confronting some of the most difficult realities of human experience,” Rose reflects. “This is emotionally and intellectually demanding. That’s why it’s so important to build learning spaces that are not only informative but also sustaining and inviting.”
An idea that resonates with Rose comes from Loretta J. Ross’ Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You’d Rather Cancel. “Ross reminds us that while this work is serious and often painful, it can also be joyful, surprising, and deeply meaningful,” Rose says. “And that balance is something I try to bring into our leadership program. We need people who will not only join this work, but stay in it, grow through it, and find purpose in it.”
How LCHT’s Leadership Development Program is growing in 2026
This year, we’re refining curriculum to more intentionally ground the Leadership Development Program in international human rights and public health frameworks. We’re also introducing a refined leadership framework that shapes how participants learn about and practice leadership.
This fall’s internship will be extended by three weeks, allowing for deeper learning and stronger connections within the cohort. We’re also launching two new pilot initiatives: the LCHT Learning Collective, a series of sessions on current topics in human rights and anti-trafficking that brings together staff, board members, Hotline Advocates, and program participants; and the Professional Leadership Pilot Project, which opens new pathways for experienced professionals to get involved in this work.
And we’re continuing to see growth reflected in the participants themselves. “What I’m most proud of is the caliber and commitment of our interns,” Rose shares. “They are thoughtful, curious, and deeply motivated to understand not just the issue of human trafficking, but their role within the broader movement.”
All of our 2025 interns have remained engaged with LCHT in some capacity beyond their initial internship timeframes. Some have become volunteer Hotline Advocates for our 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline. Others fundraised for and attended our Colorado Gives Day event. Others invited LCHT staff to speak at campus events, spreading awareness about human trafficking.
“Watching them wrestle with complex questions, support one another, and grow in confidence as emerging leaders is a powerful reminder of why this work matters,” continues Rose. That growth is best understood through the voices of participants themselves…
How Federica found her voice and stepped into leadership
Federica Manno was a volunteer Hotline Advocate when she decided to become a Leadership Development Program intern. “I made my own path by reaching out and asking for a seat at the table,” she recalls. She already had a strong theoretical foundation from her college experience and master’s degree. “LCHT gave me something my textbooks couldn’t: real, hands-on experience,” she says.
As an intern in our Research and Action team, Federica participated in focus groups, helped analyze research, and went on to facilitate a community workshop guided by the research she had helped code from the focus groups. “Talk about a full circle moment!” she says.
But the transformation wasn’t just professional; it was personal. “I was always shy and introverted when it came to engaging with people I didn’t know,” Federica reflects. “This program gave me the space to turn that into one of my greatest strengths.”
Not only did Federica become even more fired up about a cause she deeply believes in, but she also found a deeper sense of clarity about herself. “Through conversations with my peers and my supervisor Rose, I got to reconnect with myself: who I am, what I value, and the kind of professional I want to become.”
Federica’s story reflects what we see time and time again: when people are given the space, support, and opportunity to grow, they step into leadership in ways they may not have previously imagined.
Spring 2022 Leadership Development Program interns, pictured with staff members Lauren (second from left) and Craig (far right)
What’s ahead: A new path for experienced leaders
We’ve long observed a gap in traditional internships—one that you may have noticed, too. There are excellent opportunities to support college students and early-career leaders. But when it comes to engaging professionals who are further along in their careers, opportunities are few and far between.
This year, we are excited to launch our Professional Leadership Pilot Project. It will welcome professionals at different stages of their careers who want to apply their expertise in new ways.
It is designed for individuals working across sectors such as nonprofit, government, healthcare, and legal or social services. Rose shares, “These are people with deep professional experience who are often already encountering human trafficking in their work or who are motivated to shift their focus toward addressing it more directly.”
With one-on-one service delivery experience, these professionals see the gaps that exist when it comes to identifying survivors and responding to or preventing cases of human trafficking. They have ideas for systemic change. But they often lack the structure and support to turn those ideas into action.
That’s where the LCHT Professional Leadership Pilot Project comes in. It’s designed to help participants translate their expertise and insight into systems-level impact to end human exploitation. It will equip established professionals with the tools and networks they need to drive meaningful change within their workplaces and across sectors.
And just as importantly, they’ll gain something in return. “What I hope they take away from this project is both practical and personal,” Rose says. “A clear, actionable plan and a stronger sense of connection to the issue, to the movement, and to a community of peers who are committed to the same work.”
Summer 2022 Leadership Development Program interns, pictured with team member Lauren (left)
A “choose your own adventure” experience
At its core, LCHT Leadership Development Program is designed to meet people where they are and help them grow from there. “I often describe internships at LCHT as a ‘choose your own adventure,’” Rose says. “Participants are offered a wide range of professional development opportunities and projects to get involved in, but it’s up to them to take initiative”.
Take Sydney, an intern who joined us in Fall 2025 as part of her first-year internship for her Master of Social Work. Rose reflects, “Within six months, Sydney seized every opportunity at LCHT.” As well as completing the Leadership Development Program as an intern in our Training and Education team, Sydney also signed up as a volunteer Hotline Advocate for our 24/7 Hotline.
Then, she stepped up to complete a law enforcement outreach project for the Hotline, expanding the network of professionals receiving tips. Through strategic recruitment of detectives, prosecutors, victim advocates, and others working with victims of crime, she has already brought in 51 additional contacts. The project is still ongoing.
“It has been especially meaningful to witness her evolution from a quiet intern into a confident emerging human rights leader,” Rose shares. With the right support, each Leadership Development Program participant can make a real impact and lead in their own way.
Your next step in standing up for human rights
If you’ve ever wondered how you can be a part of human rights movements, LCHT’s Leadership Development Program could be your next step. Whether you’re a student, a recent graduate, or a professional looking to apply your experience in a new way, there’s a place for you at LCHT.
As Federica puts it, “If you’re on the fence about applying, don’t be. Carpe Diem. Seize the day, take the risk, take the opportunity, because nobody will hand it to you but yourself.”
We are currently accepting applications for both the Summer and Fall 2026 LDP internship cohorts. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Learn more about the program and apply today. Interested in the Professional Leadership Pilot Project? Email Rose Inglis at [email protected].