After receiving several invitations, Stephanie Graef finally said yes to joining the Chassell Lions Club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. At first, she simply wanted to get more involved in her community. What she didn’t expect was how naturally her work as an anti-human trafficking engagement specialist would connect with her experience as a Lion.How’d you get involved with your Lions club?I was invited by a couple of my neighbors — one of them a 90-year-old longtime Lion. I knew Lions from growing up here, especially through our annual strawberry festival, but I hadn’t thought much about it beyond that. I said yes because I love my community.How’s your Lion experience been so far?It’s been incredibly rewarding. I’ve come to see just how much impact Lions have, both locally and beyond. It’s also been a great balance for me. The work I do in human trafficking is important, but it can be heavy. Being a Lion gives me a way to focus on something positive while building local relationships.At what point did your Lion life start to intersect with your professional life?When I first joined, I honestly didn’t connect it to my work to combat human trafficking at all. But as club members became aware of the work I was doing, they were interested in learning more. That led to conversations and opportunities to raise awareness locally — and eventually on a larger stage. In March, I had the honor of serving as a panelist at Lions Day at the United Nations in New York City.You’ve been working in the anti-human trafficking space for years. How did that begin?About 12 years ago, I met a survivor. That conversation changed everything for me. It opened my eyes to how prevalent human trafficking really is — and how much of it is hidden in plain sight. I realized I couldn’t go back to life as usual after that.Many assume human trafficking is only a problem in big cities or certain parts of the world. Is that accurate?No, not at all. Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world today, with cases reported in at least 188 countries. It’s often cited as the second-largest criminal industry after drug trafficking. Millions of people are being exploited for forced labor and commercial sex acts. And about 40% of them are children.Why is it so hard to recognize?Human trafficking doesn’t always look like what people expect. It operates under the surface. It can involve manipulation, coercion and control — sometimes without obvious signs. That’s why education is so important. As I always say, knowledge is power.What are some warning signs we should be aware of?Signs to look for in both minors and adults include tattoos depicting symbols like crowns, barcodes or the word “Daddy.” They may appear nervous, malnourished or sleep-deprived. They may lack control over their own ID or documents, be unable to speak for themselves or be accompanied by a controlling person. In children, signs can include frequent school absences, dropping friends for older ones, new expensive clothing, multiple phones, inappropriate dress for weather conditions and references to traveling to other cities.What can we do to recognize and respond to potential human trafficking in our communities?I strongly encourage Lions worldwide to join this fight. There are many resources and trainings available to learn about this abhorrent practice, what it looks like and how to respond. You may also consider getting involved with an organization in your area that’s dedicated to this cause. United, we can win this fight.Human Trafficking Resources United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime unodc.orgNational Human Trafficking Hotline humantraffickinghotline.org