Kelly Diane Galloway, the founding director of Project Mona’s House, has been appointed to the New York State Task Force on Missing Women and Girls Who Are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Her appointment comes at the recommendation of Majority Leader Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes and with the approval of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. This task force, established in 2023 under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, aims to address the disproportionate rates at which women and girls from these communities go missing.
A Crisis That Demands Action
Black, Indigenous, and other women of color experience alarmingly high rates of disappearance, yet their cases often receive inadequate attention and resources. Consider the following statistics:
• Black girls make up only 7% of the U.S. population but account for nearly 40% of missing women and girls cases.
• Indigenous women are murdered at a rate 10 times higher than the national average, with many cases going unsolved.
• Many missing women and girls are later found to be victims of human trafficking, exploitation, or violence.
Galloway, a longtime advocate against human trafficking, has emphasized that these disappearances are rarely random. Instead, they often stem from systemic issues such as poverty, housing instability, family breakdowns, and lack of access to basic resources—factors known as the social determinants of health.
Fighting for Prevention, Not Just Reaction
For nearly two decades, Galloway has been working to combat human trafficking at its root. Through Project Mona’s House, The Overcomer Academy, and the Young Women’s Empowerment Academy, she has been providing direct intervention and long-term solutions for vulnerable women and children.
Her approach goes beyond simply reacting to cases of missing women—she pushes for proactive measures to prevent them from going missing in the first place. “Our girls don’t just go missing,” Galloway has stated. “Are our children hungry? When was the last time they ate? Are their parents or caregivers present? What challenges are they facing? There is a way to stop these disappearances before they happen.”
The Work Already Underway
Through her leadership at Mona’s House, Galloway has created programs that address the very vulnerabilities that make women and children susceptible to trafficking and exploitation:
• The Overcomer Academy provides survivors with education, financial literacy, and mental health support to help them rebuild their lives.
• The Young Women’s Empowerment Academy mentors and equips young women with leadership skills, career guidance, and life training to prevent future exploitation.
• She advocates for systemic policy changes that address human trafficking at its source.
A Commitment to Change
Galloway’s appointment to the task force signals a serious commitment to addressing the crisis of missing BIPOC women and girls at the state level. She has been engaged in this work since 2005 and has no plans to slow down. “If you know me, you’ll know that change will come,” she has stated.
With her track record of advocacy, intervention, and policy change, her role on the task force is expected to bring impactful solutions to a crisis that has been overlooked for far too long.
What Comes Next?
As part of the task force, Galloway will work alongside policymakers, law enforcement, and community leaders to develop strategies for prevention, intervention, and justice for missing BIPOC women and girls. Her appointment marks a crucial step in ensuring that these cases receive the attention, resources, and urgency they deserve.
How to Support the Effort
• Stay informed about the crisis of missing BIPOC women and girls.
• Support organizations like Project Mona’s House that provide prevention and recovery programs.
• Advocate for policy changes that address the root causes of trafficking and exploitation.
Galloway’s advocacy has already changed countless lives, and with this new appointment, her impact is set to grow even further.
Kommentare