KPBS Midday Edition

Trafficking Victims Reclaim Their Stories In Photo Exhibit

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Brooke Ruth / Senior Producer of Audio News

Published January 16, 2020 at 9:24 AM PST

This story was published more than 4 years ago.

One of the portraits that will be on display as part of the "Behold Her" exhibit.

A photo exhibit opening Friday in San Diego not only literally puts a human face to the issue of human trafficking but also shows how former victimization does not define lives.

A photo exhibit opening Friday in San Diego profiles survivors of human trafficking and exploitation.

The exhibit, "Behold Her," which coincides with National Human Trafficking Awareness month, not only literally puts a human face to the issue of human trafficking but also shows how former victimization does not define lives. "Behold Her" features the portraits and writings of eight victims, offering a glimpse into their experiences.

Monique Ana is pictured in this undated photo.

The opening night event for the photo exhibit will be held 6 p.m. Friday at You Belong Here, an event space on El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego. At the event, the women will share their stories of survival. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

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The photos and the women's stories will be on display at You Belong Here through Jan. 31.

The nonprofit Shyne San Diego organized the event. Its founder, Cynthia Luvlee, and Monique Ana, a trafficking survivor who’s portrait is part of the exhibit, joined Midday Edition on Thursday to discuss the significance behind the exhibit.

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Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Brooke Ruth

Brooke Ruth is the senior producer of Audio News. She previously served as a producer for "KPBS Midday Edition" and a web producer. Before joining KPBS, Brooke was a web editor for four newspapers and a local television station. She began her career in news at the Imperial Valley Press. She has also been part of the web teams at the Napa Valley Register, North County Times, and U-T San Diego. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at UCLA in psychology, she worked on the student newspaper, the Daily Bruin.

See stories by Brooke Ruth