On Hand

Leslie King is a Survivor, Now She’s Helping Other Women


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At the age of 15, Leslie King was sex trafficked in Grand Rapids. For 20 years, she endured sexual exploitation, violence, and drug addiction, until finally escaping in the summer of 2000. Today, King runs an outreach organization in Grand Rapids called Sacred Beginnings. Its mission is to connect with others who may be victims of sex trafficking, and provide them with supplies and support. 

After years spent rebuilding her life, filling out applications, working with lawyers, and receiving denial after denial for expungement petitions, Leslie received a phone call she'd been waiting so long to hear: the governor had pardoned King for crimes committed decades ago when she was a victim of human trafficking.

Hear Leslie King's story of survival, and of her legal battle for a new beginning. 

GUESTS:

  • Leslie King, author, speaker, sex trafficking survivor, and founder of Sacred Beginings
  • Madelaine Lane, attorney, Warner Norcross + Judd
  • _______

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    Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

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    On HandBy Michigan Public

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