TOSHIA HOGAN

At the age of 16, Toshia ran away from home and found a home with some neighbors. What Toshia thought was the loving support of neighbors turned into a life of sex trafficking. Toshia was coerced and sold into trafficking while she was in high school and into her young adult years. To bring in more money, the trafficker pressured her into having breast implants. Toshia finally was able to break free from her traffickers by moving out of her home state and seeking help. Since then, she has been on the road to recovery.
 
After receiving reconstructive surgery with Face Forward, Toshia felt more determined than ever to help survivors on their path to recovery and healing. Toshia is actively involved with Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution (SOAP). The SOAP Project’s mission is to end human trafficking by mobilizing communities, providing prevention education and advocacy, and facilitating restorative experiences for survivors. She hopes her story will inspire survivors and motivate individuals to take action in their communities. Toshia is serving as a member of the Mississippi Human Trafficking Council. Recognizing there is an ever-growing need to reach out to victims of trafficking and bring awareness to this issue, Toshia is continuing her education at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Master of Social Work program.