We recently connected with Megan Berger and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Megan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

I worked as a Security Guard / EMT in a casino for 5 years. I came to this job after years of being isolated to being around thousands of people everyday. I saw every walk of life come in the door. I saw every type of person with a gambling addiction. I saw every type of person using the slot floor to sell drugs or I would find them in their vehicle or the bathroom using drugs. I saw every type of mental state and had to descalate insane situations Seeing the different types of people who come to the casino and observing the effects of addiction was eye-opening. It taught me importance of providing support to those who may be struggling with addiction, and how to approach difficult situations with empathy and compassion. Witnessing the negative effects of drugs, alcohol, and addiction taught me about the importance of the impact that addiction can have on people’s lives.

Megan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

At 19 years old, in 2009, I was just a naive college girl during a recession. On December 22nd, 2009 I met my trafficker, who had come into my job, tipped a lot of money, and taken me to dinner after. He talked a smooth game. He stated that he was a caregiver for his grandparents who had their medical marijuana card, and he sold their excess marijuana to a cannabis club and it was legal. After 9 months he convinced me to move out of my apartment to his families property in Lake County Ca. He said I could make more money doing side jobs nad helping him with the marijuana than I would down in Sacramento and rent would be free because he owned his house. I could stack away money and just save it for school. The money sounded nice with how bad the economy was. What he really wanted was a servant. I was trapped there by force and fear.

I was assaulted, threatened, and forced to do manual labor in the black market marijuana industry. I was a servant to his mother, grandmother, friends and business partners. He started to become very violent and abusive. My trafficker sat in on my phone calls, I saw my parents a few times a year, I was given a time limit, and was never unsupervised.

I was allowed to eat once a day and I was 110 pounds standing at 5’6″ and the abuse got worse and worse. He was starting to leave bruises and permanent damage to my body. I never contacted law enforcement because he had me convinced that I would go to jail as well for being involved with marijuana cultivation.

July 24th, 2015, I needed to run an errand in town, and he let me use his car. I went to my old boss’s house. He wasn’t home. I was about halfway home when he called. He knew something wasn’t right. I think he could hear it in my voice. And he made the offer. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I can get you out.”

July 25th, 2015 I made the absolute scariest decision in my life, and for many in this life, the most dangerous. I remember sweating all day. I couldn’t eat anything because I knew what I was about to do. My ex-boss told me to go to the little store by my house. He said there would be a woman in a red truck. I never met this woman before, but sure enough, she was there and she said, “Let’s do this.” I left with whatever fit in the bed of her truck. I had no money. He knew my bank account password and the passwords to all my social media. He had threatened to kill my family and my friends if they tried to help me. But I did it and got away. The time after is the most dangerous. Stalking, harassing texts, and manipulation and scare tactics to win me back, so I stood firm, and got an advocate to help me get a restraining order and counseling.

One sign came to me in the summer of 2016. I was doing community service at the hospice thrift store and behind the counter I saw a necklace my aunt gave me at 8 years old that I had sold to pay the PG&E bill in 2013, and I bought it back. I went home and cried my eyes out and that’s when I realized I needed to do more than just be the girl that survived I needed to be the girl that THRIVED.

I became a non-emergency dispatcher, went back to school, and graduated from the EMT program at the College of Marin. I work now as a first responder on a mobile crisis unit in Sonoma County, I am now studying administrative justice at Santa Rosa Junior College, studying evidence law, case law, and community relations.

I am also on the board of directors as the public relations manager for “Redemption House of the Bay Area” a non-profit that helps victims on the street and helps survivors to assimilate back into society.

Additionally, I own an online news site that provides information to the community about crime, safety, and social issues like addiction and homelessness and I also have a four-hour class I teach law enforcement on identification, prevention, and prosecutionof human trafficking.

My hope is that one day my trafficker will have to answer for what he’s done. No matter what happens, the biggest victory has been my success and the fact that I did not let this ruin my life, and I am doing positive, good things, and helping others. I am living my life as an example of what survivors can do when given the tools to succeed.

My goal is to be a full time educator to agencies and orginizations about human trafficking.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

When I am not educating, I am crisis worker and EMT for a mobile crisis unit. We are tied into the 911 system, to provide crisis assessment, intervention, and support services to individuals in the community who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. The primary goal of an MCU is to provide crisis stabilization services and link individuals to appropriate follow-up care and support. As a jail diversion program, we can work with law enforcement agencies or in lieu of, to respond to situations where someone may be experiencing crisis, and help to de-escalate the situation without the need for arrest.

By providing appropriate crisis intervention services, we help to connect individuals to the support and care they need to achieve long-term recovery and wellness. Some calls we go to can be emotionally charged, and it’s important to be able to empathize with individuals in distress and demonstrate compassion for their experiences. We need to be able to listen actively. Every crisis situation is unique, and we need to be able to think critically and creatively to develop appropriate interventions and solutions. People from diverse backgrounds may experience crises in different ways, and it’s important to have an understanding of cultural factors that may impact crisis situations and to provide culturally responsive interventions.

Working in crisis situations can be emotionally taxing, and it’s important to take care of your own well-being to avoid burnout and maintain the ability to be present and helpful for those in crisis. Crisis situations often require collaboration and teamwork with other professionals, such as law enforcement, healthcare providers, and social service agencies. Being able to work collaboratively with others can help ensure that individuals in crisis receive the most appropriate and effective care.

My job can be challenging, but also rewarding, and I am passionate about helping others in their time of need.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I gained a diverse range of experience and knowledge in the lega system, and I turned an adverse life experience into an opportunity to educate. These experiences have been valuable in developing expertise in areas related to human trafficking, such as identifying and responding to trafficking situations, providing support to survivors, and educating others on the issue. By leveraging my experience, I spoke up and reached out to my community memebers to establish myself as a human trafficking expert and educator.

I have written articles and blog posts on human trafficking-related topics, sharing my knowledge and insights with a wider audience.

I have participated in podcasts and media interviews to discuss human trafficking and related issues.

I networked with other experts and professionals in the field, attending conferences and events and participating in working groups and other initiatives.

I volunteer with Redemption House of the Bay Area to provide support and services to survivors of human trafficking, gaining hands-on experience and contributing to the important work of addressing this issue.

I also participated in a Documentary “SURVIVORS: LIVING BEYOND SEXUAL ASSAULT” which first aired in 2022.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.linktr.ee/EMTFRA
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/349Control
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbcalifornia/