The city of Austin shines a light on one of its own for outstanding work in combating human trafficking. Katie Herbers, Austin Police (APD) Victim Services Supervisor with the APD Human Trafficking Unit, has been recognized with the 2025 Lotus Award. The honor was presented to Herbers at the annual Silk Road Gala on November 1, according to an announcement by the City of Austin.
Herbers played a pivotal role in forging a partnership between the APD Human Trafficking Unit and Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA). Her efforts, as detailed in the announcement, have led to the initiation of a pilot program designed to espouse a survivor-led and trauma-informed response specifically aimed at adult survivors of sex trafficking, a mission that has evidently made a noticeable impact on the safety and well-being of the community.
The Lotus Award accorded to Herbers aligns with the core values that AFSSA upholds—Prevent, Advocate, Respond, and Transform. A long-standing entity in the fight against violence, AFSSA has been dedicated for the past 33 years to the empowerment of survivors of abuse, with a focus on Asian survivors and communities at high risk. Their work emphasizes education, advocacy, and empowerment, culminating in efforts to dismantle the cycle of violence while respecting the unique cultures and languages of those they support.
According to the City of Austin announcement, the APD Human Trafficking Unit's mandate also includes enforcement against organized gambling and prostitution, along with investigation into cases relating to the trafficking of persons for both sexual and labor exploitation. This unit stands as a member of the Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking as well as the Central Texas Federal Law Enforcement Task Force, both geared to actively combat the pervasive crime of human trafficking.
