January marks National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and in Tucson, Arizona, survivor Monica Perkins is harnessing the power of poetry to raise awareness about this critical issue. Perkins, now 39, endured eight harrowing years of human trafficking that began when she was just 17. Her journey is being showcased in an art exhibit downtown titled “Every Step Has a Story – How We Got In, How We Got Out, Who We Are Now,” where her poem “Against All the Odds” conveys her experiences and resilience.
Perkins reflects on her tumultuous past, which began with a desperate escape from an abusive relationship while pregnant. She encountered her first predator in San Francisco, California, while residing in a group home. At the time, she was unaware of the danger that awaited her. “The day that I met him, he took me around and showed me some of his houses. He had a nice car, he told me he was a rap producer. He had a studio and just all the good things, shiny things that a girl that’s pretty naive and especially, you know, not being from a big city. I just was instantly, you know, enthralled by the whole situation,” Perkins explained.
After the birth of her son, Dondre Cannon, Perkins’s life took a devastating turn. When her son was only four months old, he was taken from her, and she was coerced into prostitution. “I was handed a purse by one of his women and full of rubber gloves, condoms, and lube, and told what I was going to be doing for how much, and I was dropped off at the strip club,” she recalled.
Throughout her ordeal, Perkins faced severe isolation, control, and both physical and psychological abuse. Her ability to see her son was drastically limited. “My cell phone was taken away and I was told I was being monitored. That family didn’t exist anymore. That was no more. This is my new life. This is how we go forward. My family didn’t love me,” Perkins stated.
Escaping from her traffickers was a formidable challenge, but her desire to reunite with her son propelled her forward. At the age of 25, Perkins broke free and has since dedicated herself to confronting her past. In her poetry, she expresses a powerful message: “As survivors it’s up to us to unite and fight for what’s right. Stand tall and turn our pain into power. It’s a grueling dedication to heal while trying to properly function minute by minute, day by day, hour by hour.”
Perkins aims to share her story to inspire and assist other survivors, emphasizing that there is hope for a brighter future. “Because I never felt like I would get here. And so I feel like everybody comes with a different story, a different approach, and I just know that like I did not, there’s no reason I had to have gone through all that if I can’t use it to help somebody else,” she said. Her mission extends beyond personal healing; she hopes to encourage others to speak out against injustice.
She identifies a troubling pattern: many people witness wrongdoing but choose to remain silent. “And that’s where this all is a problem, is that there are so many people that could have stepped in and saved my life. And even if they weren’t able to save my life, at least they could have tried because there is going to be somebody that they could have made a difference in their life,” Perkins added.
The exhibit’s curator, Angela Marie, who is also a survivor, highlights the importance of providing a platform for victims to reclaim their voices. “Being able to walk with other survivors and see them begin to own their own lives again when so much agency had been taken before. To see them stepping out confidently and sharing who they are, not what they are, not what they’ve been through … To remind them they have a voice,” Marie explained.
In collaboration with her son Dondre, now 21, and her 15-year-old daughter Arianna Perkins, Perkins is actively working with organizations like Southern Arizona Against Slavery (SAAS) to help heal the wounds inflicted by trafficking. Norma Darnell, SAAS President, emphasizes the organization’s mission to empower survivors of sexual exploitation. “I would really want to extend the invitation that I know that you’ve learned how to build walls and not to trust, but all I can say is just to give us an opportunity that we are a safe place and that we will love you wherever you’re at in your journey,” Darnell stated.
The art exhibit is hosted at the 7 Legged Spider Gallery inside the Steinfeld Warehouse, located at 101 W. 6th St. in Downtown Tucson. It will be open throughout January on Saturdays from 13:00 to 16:00 and by special appointment. For more information, individuals can reach out to Angela Marie on Instagram at @angela_marie_arts.
Additionally, a Human Trafficking Awareness Walk is scheduled for January 19, 2024, at 09:00, commencing from the northwest corner of Reid Park. Through these efforts, Perkins and her allies aim to shed light on the issue of human trafficking and inspire action in their community.