Tharros Place meeting spotlights survivor’s story and call for lasting support

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Brandi Little says it took years to recognize she was a victim. Now she hopes sharing her experience will help others.

At a community meeting hosted by Tharros Place in Savannah on Wednesday, human trafficking survivor and advocate Brandi Little urged people to learn what trafficking can look like and to talk about it.

The Macon resident said she was beginning to pursue acting when she thought she was auditioning for a Starz show about prostitution. The producer became her trafficker, she said, and later became her boyfriend and the father of her child.

“I was able to educate myself and realize that, ‘Hey, you’re not just a person who accidentally met the wrong guy. You’re a person who’s a victim of human trafficking,’” Little said.

Little said she did not recognize herself as a trafficking victim until years after the exploitation. She was indicted in a federal case, served eight months in prison and then spent time in a halfway house. She said she is working with advocates to seek relief for her record and that it remains difficult to find employment. She currently works as a bartender.

A federal law signed Jan. 23, 2026, allows eligible survivors to ask a court for vacatur or expungement of certain nonviolent federal offenses directly connected to their trafficking.

Georgia’s Survivors First Act provides a separate process for survivors to seek vacatur of qualifying state convictions tied to trafficking. Little’s case is federal, so the Georgia law does not apply to her case.

Julie Wade, executive director of Tharros Place, said the organization serves girls through age 18. She said many young people are not ready to live independently at that age, and the organization hopes to expand support for young adults ages 18 to 21.

Little’s story echoes concerns about criminal records and the barriers survivors can face when seeking jobs, housing and education and advocate for legal relief.

Tharros Place brought community partners together for the stakeholder meeting, where attendees could learn about the organization’s work and connect with local service providers. Julie said community members can help by sharing what they learn, including in conversations at home.

Little said she hopes speaking publicly will help others recognize trafficking and understand that people experiencing it may not see themselves as victims right away.