ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Victims of sex trafficking endure unimaginable trauma, leaving deep emotional and physical scars that can haunt them for the rest of their lives.
While some may never fully recover, others choose to view their past experiences through a different lens — one that empowers them to take control of their lives and move forward with hope and optimism.
Rethink Laser Tattoo Removal is a business that has found a way to make a positive impact on the lives of human trafficking victims. Founded by Matthew Trenkler and Jordan Curran, the company’s original purpose was to remove unwanted tattoos that people had grown tired of over time. However, their mission took on a whole new meaning when they learned about the work of Safe Court, an organization dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking.
“When we heard about these women who have been sex trafficked and branded, we just knew that was horrific. And these women did not ask for that. And that’s the way that we could get back in a powerful way,” said Jordan Curran.
The team at Rethink Laser Tattoo Removal understood the importance of removing the physical reminders of a survivor’s past trauma. By providing free tattoo removal services to human trafficking survivors, they offer them the opportunity to start anew and reclaim their bodies.
“It’s life-changing. They no longer have to be reminded of that kind of scar. A brand that sits on them, they never look in the mirror anymore and see the facial tattoo they had at one point. They love it, it’s an emotional time,” said Matthew Trenkler.
For survivors of human trafficking, the removal of these tattoos is not just a physical change, but a psychological one as well. By removing the visual reminder of their past experiences, survivors can take control of their narrative and find a sense of closure that may have eluded them for years.
“It’s a new beginning for them. We are hoping to enforce that by removing those visual reminders,” said Jordan Curran.
Since partnering with Safe Court, Rethink Laser Tattoo Removal has provided free tattoo removal services to over a dozen human trafficking survivors. The work gives both Matthew and Jordan a sense of purpose and fulfillment, knowing that they are helping to make a real difference in the lives of survivors.
“It’s just really great to be able to give back to people who didn’t ask for these things to happen to them,” said Jordan Curran.
While survivors of human trafficking may never fully erase the horrors of their past, the work of Rethink Laser Tattoo Removal serves as a powerful reminder that there is hope for a brighter future. Matthew and Jordan have found a way to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those who need it most.
