Jessica Kitson, VLJ's Director of Legal Advocacy, Appointed to New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking Board
Jessica Kitson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2025
CONTACT
Eric W. Hughes
Director of Communications
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
(973) 233-5724
ehughes@vljnj.org
NEWARK, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is proud to announce that Jessica Kitson, VLJ's Director of Legal Advocacy, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT). This appointment underscores Jessica’s commitment to justice and her compassionate expertise in advocating for survivors.
NJCAHT is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking in New Jersey, and Jessica’s appointment to their board will further strengthen NJCAHT's efforts, provide invaluable legal perspective, and grow the partnership NJCAHT has with VLJ.
Jessica shared, “I am honored to join the Board of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking and support the incredible work they are doing to end human trafficking and ensure that survivors have access to the necessary resources to support their recovery. The Coalition is the leading voice in New Jersey on anti-trafficking matters, and I am eager to work with the incredibly talented Board to continue that work in the years to come.”
As Director of Legal Advocacy, Jessica leads the legal and policy work for the VLJ. She is a national expert on legal advocacy for human trafficking survivors, representing survivors through VLJ’s New Jersey Survivors Justice Project on a variety of legal matters. Jessica has also served as a consultant with the Survivor Reentry Project, a national training and technical assistance project of Freedom Network USA.
NJCAHT Board President, Dr. Danny Papa, offered, "We are thrilled to welcome Jessica Kitson to our Board of Trustees. Her extensive legal expertise and experience will be a valuable asset in advancing our mission to unite New Jersey communities in the fight to end human trafficking.”
VLJ congratulates Jessica on this well-deserved appointment and looks forward to her leadership of a key community partner.
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About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ)
VLJ is an award-winning, comprehensive nonprofit legal services program based in Newark, NJ, with a statewide reach. VLJ's mission is to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. The Newark-based organization ensures fair access to the legal system through partnerships with corporations and hundreds of volunteer attorneys. In 2024, VLJ’s work impacted nearly 4,500 people—including 1,661 children—and its volunteer attorneys donated $2.2 million in free legal services. Connect with VLJ on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
About New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT)
The New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking is a fully volunteer-run organization that coordinates statewide community efforts to end sex and labor trafficking in New Jersey. Comprising 200 volunteers and more than 180 affiliates—including nonprofits, faith-based organizations, academics, law enforcement, and direct service providers—NJCAHT empowers communities with the knowledge of what human trafficking is, how to prevent it, and how to support those affected by it. To learn more, please visit www.safernj.org.