Testimonials

In the dozen years I have spent as a college student, graduate student, and professor, I have attended thousands of class sessions. Jill’s presentation in a Women’s Studies discussion session that I directed at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2009 was one of the two classes that I am confident I will remember for decades. I had expressed frustration to a friend about students’ unawareness of key issues in debates about how to best regulate sex trafficking, and he suggested I invite Jill to speak with my class. Her presentation was horrifying, gripping, and ultimately enlightening to students. Several commented that it was the best class of the semester, and I am certain that all present left the classroom with a much more nuanced understanding of critiques of criminalization, as well as with far greater emotional engagement with the issue. If you have the chance to bring Jill to your class, you should certainly take it.

-Raj Ghoshal
Assistant Professor of Sociology, Appalachian State University

Jill Brenneman has given a number of presentations over the years for two ethics classes I teach at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, one for undergraduate public policy majors and the other for Masters of Public Policy Students. In both classes, Jill was a guest speaker when the class was covering so-called “victimless crimes,” and the morality of prostitution in particular, including the question as to whether or not prostitution should be decriminalized.

Jill spoke both about her own experiences being sexually trafficked as a young adult, and her work for SWOP East. Her personal story of being trafficked was as riveting as it was disturbing, and gave a human face to what in a classroom setting can sometimes seem like an academic debate. It is also a story of extraordinary personal courage. Her account of her work for SWOP East, and her own views concerning the legalization of prostitution, served to highlight the moral complexity of this issue, and the need to confront it with an open mind. Many students have told me that Jill’s presentation was one of the highlights of the class, and I am determined to have her come speak every year.

Evan Charney
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Political Science Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University

“Jill Brenneman is an engaging and dynamic speaker. She draws from her life experiences to illuminate exactly what is at stake in how we discuss sex work in the public sphere. Jill challenges widespread misconceptions about sex work to forge a more nuanced understanding of the everyday struggles faced by women of all stripes.”
–Kinohi Nishikawa, Northwestern University

Jill spoke to our class at the College of St. Catherine. Their stories were incredibly moving and powerful. Both of these woman have a tremendous amount of courage and conviction. Thanks for taking the time to speak to us. There are no words capable of describing how this presentation effected me. In one way I feel incredibly sad and depressed about the state of our society, and I also feel incredibly hopeful that we will be able to change the world one dedicated person at a time. Thank you for the truth that you tell and the work in harm reduction that you do.

Sincerely,
Debra J. Hanson
College of St. Catherine

Thank you to Jill for speaking to our course on Spirituality and Sexuality at the College of St. Catherine. We were all moved, touched and inspired by your presentation. You are role models for integrating spirituality and sexuality given the courage it took to get out and share your stories with us.

Linda Hutchinson
Instructor
Spirituality and Sexuality
College of St. Catherine

I saw Jill speak at a Human Services Conference. She was part of a panel of speakers on the topic of Exploitation of Youth on the Streets. Jill told her story in a very professional and honest manner. She was not trying to shock us, nor was she looking for pity. She was making us realize that these horrible things can and do happen.

I was shocked, angry, horrified, stunned and saddened all at once. I wanted to run up and hug Jill, I wanted to go home and hold my daughter and never let her go. I found myself on the verge of tears, as you could tell that many of these memories were still very fresh for Jill. I began to realize that if that had been me, I probably wouldn’t have survived, let alone be able to talk in front of a large audience about it. Jill is very courageous I greatly admire her for telling her story and for helping others who have walked a similar path.
Karin Polzin, St. Louis County Social Services

I first brought Jill to speak to the University of Minnesota in March of 2001. Since most of our previous speaking events had not drawn a large crowd, I reserved a room that held only thirty people. Little did I know that Jill’s presentation would intrigue over twice as many people . The personal story she told was both horrifying and eye-opening. It was helpful that she was able to break up her presentation with wit. After she was done, the audience sat in stunned silence before breaking into applause. Slowly people got up the courage to start asking questions. After Jill left, members of the audience gathered back in one of their offices and discussed her presentation for another hour. Jill’s presentation not only exposed people to the “non-Hollywood” side of prostitution, but left a lasting impression on people who had never considered the detrimental affects of it. Jill’s presentation was incredibly powerful and I plan to bring her back the University of Minnesota each year.

-Kelly Coughlan, The Aurora Center for Advocacy & Education