Maria Suarez
Maria Suarez is a counselor, public speaker, and advocate for victims of modern-day slavery. For over ten years, her work in the Greater Los Angeles area and Mexico has been an integral and invaluable part of the effort to end slavery. Maria courageously shares her personal story to prevent others from enduring the same trauma. She has spoken at numerous national conferences, legislative hearings, and media events in the U.S. and Mexico, and her testimony was instrumental in passing the 2005 California Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Maria has been recognized as an “unsung hero” and received awards for her ant-trafficking advocacy from La Opinion, CA Community Foundation, Eisner Foundation, Bank of America, National Association of Social Workers, and special recognition from the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Immigration Law Section.
