At the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, we know the work to end sex and labor exploitation in Colorado doesn’t stop… and neither can we. Our Carry the Work campaign is all about recognizing the people who help shoulder this effort and inviting others to join the fight.
Each year, we present a Spirit of Service Award to an individual who goes above and beyond to support survivors and strengthen Colorado’s anti-trafficking response. They give their time, skills, and expertise to uplift their community. The honoree is nominated by staff and selected by our leadership team.
We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Spirit of Service Award recipient: Caleb Stewart! Caleb works at the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN), serves on Colorado’s Human Trafficking Council, and partners with LCHT. He is a trusted legal expert and a committed ally to survivors.
Executive Director Amanda Finger describes Caleb as someone whose service is “deeply rooted in advancing justice for survivors.” She says, “Caleb’s leadership, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to survivor rights truly embody ‘the spirit of service.’” He exemplifies what it means to carry the work to end human trafficking forward. Let us introduce you to him!
A trusted partner who always shows up for survivors
LCHT first connected with Caleb in 2013. He had started his first post-law school job with our partner, Colorado Legal Services. Today, Caleb is a Senior Staff Attorney for RMIAN’s anti-human trafficking project, where he represents survivors of human trafficking in their immigration cases.
Caleb co-leads anti-trafficking trainings with our team, helps onboard volunteer advocates to answer calls and texts to Colorado’s 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline, and advises on research. He has helped us grow the Hotline significantly over the past decade. Often, when we are helping a survivor navigate a challenging situation, Caleb is one of the first people we call.
Katlyn Pryshlak, Hotline and Advocacy Manager, sees Caleb as the person who always shows up. “He has been a leading voice to help teach our Hotline Advocates about immigration-related relief for trafficking survivors. He has also helped educate community members who attend our labor exploitation events in urban and rural areas across Colorado.”
One of these events in particular stands out to Katlyn. Caleb offered to be part of the pro bono attorney team. After the presentation on labor exploitation, he answered every question and held 20-minute consultations with participants about their own cases of potential exploitation.
Katlyn continues, “In victim services work, the hours aren’t always 9–5, and the work is rarely ‘all done.’ Caleb continues to show up for victims of human trafficking even when the hours are long and the projects are ongoing.”
The legal expert behind countless moments of compassion
Kara Napolitano, Education and Partnerships Director, has partnered with Caleb for nearly a decade. She remembers immediately recognizing his brilliance and passion for this work. Caleb invited Kara to support RMIAN’s Detention Program, which was conducting “Know Your Rights” trainings in Spanish at the GEO Immigration Detention Center. Sessions informed detainees that if they had been exploited for labor or sex in the United States, it was not acceptable, and they had the right to pursue justice and immigration status as a result.
Kara remembers, “I shadowed Caleb as he provided legal consultations to dozens of individuals who had experienced trafficking. We were there for hours. He never lost his composure or showed frustration. He listened with patience, offered clear and realistic guidance on what victims would need to do to seek justice, and handled several harrowing stories with steady compassion.”
She continues, “He left that day with multiple new cases added to an already overwhelming caseload. That was it for me; he was a rockstar. His work is grounded in integrity, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility.”
In his own words: Q&A with Caleb
We asked Caleb a few questions about his journey, his values, and what keeps him going when the work is especially difficult. Hear from him, in his own words…
Why does anti-trafficking work matter to you?
“Anti-trafficking work matters to me because I want to live in a world where everyone can expect to receive the fair value of their labor and have their innate dignity respected.”
What have you learned through partnering with LCHT?
“One thing that I’ve learned through partnering with LCHT through my work at RMIAN and on the Colorado Human Trafficking Council is that change can happen. LCHT’s dedication and expertise in research have advanced the anti-human trafficking movement in ways that didn’t seem possible when we first started collaborating in 2013.”
What does the “Spirit of Service” mean to you?
“I have so many advantages granted to me for no reason other than birth. For me, the only life worth living is a life of service, a life spent trying to leave the world a better place. I also acknowledge that it is an immense privilege to be allowed to live that life.”
Who or what inspires you to keep showing up for this work and carry it forward, even when it’s hard?
“When I was in law school, I had the honor of representing a high schooler on a U-visa case. Her words of thanks express how these humanitarian visas should work and inspire me to continue doing this work:
‘My U-visa is one of the greatest gifts I could have ever received. I feel more relief every day knowing I don’t have to worry about immigration and the possibility of being taken away from my home, the United States… With Caleb [and another colleague], not only was I given my U-visa, but I received the therapy I refused to get from anyone else. I acknowledged my history and turned it into a gift. My past has given me my present.’”
What are some of the most urgent needs of Colorado’s anti-trafficking movement? How can people help?
“Evil actors perpetrate human trafficking, but it is the conditions that create vulnerabilities that cause it to proliferate. Colorado needs to address affordable housing, access to healthcare, and basic nutrition. Our nation needs to recognize the immense contributions of immigrants to our society and allow them to come out of the shadows where they are exploited and subjected to human trafficking.
People can combat human trafficking through advocating for just laws, supporting public officials that respect human rights, and working or volunteering to help those that are struggling to meet their basic needs.”
Why should others get involved with this cause?
“Others should get involved with the anti-human trafficking movement because human trafficking thrives in the shadows. The more people who can observe and identify the abuse, the safer and more humane our society will be.”
What do you hope to see in the future of Colorado’s anti-trafficking movement?
“In the next five years, I hope to see Colorado acknowledge the forced criminality of minors, particularly in the areas of drugs and theft, and prosecute their traffickers instead of them, much like Colorado has moved to prosecute traffickers in a situation of sex trafficking of minors instead of the minors involved.”
3 ways to join Caleb in carrying the work forward
Caleb reminds us that the fight to end human trafficking is heavy, but we do not carry it alone. For 20 years, people like Caleb have built a statewide effort to connect survivors to help, train thousands of professionals, and move Colorado closer to a future without exploitation.
Here are three ways you can get involved today:
- Make a gift to our Carry the Work campaign to protect the progress we’ve made together and power what comes next. Your contribution will keep Colorado’s 24/7 Hotline strong, expand training and education, launch new leaders, and turn research into action.
- Volunteer as a Hotline Advocate to answer calls and texts to our 24/7 Hotline. You’ll listen with care, connect survivors to safety and resources, and make sure no one has to navigate systems alone.
- Book a training with your professional team or community group to recognize the signs of human trafficking and respond safely. With the right knowledge, you can interrupt exploitation early and connect survivors to support.
The story of human trafficking in Colorado is not finished. With your partnership, we can carry the work forward so more survivors are heard and believed, more communities are prepared, and more leaders like Caleb stand up for human rights.