Rachel Monaco-Wilcox became aware of the level of sexual abuse and exploitation in the Milwaukee area while teaching young women at Mount Mary University. It inspired Rachel, a lawyer who specializes in mediation, elder law, and families with members with special needs, to take on work that was unfamiliar to her, at least at first. She recognized a gap in the community’s care for individuals who had been victims of sexual abuse and trafficking and became convinced that the justice system was not serving those individuals adequately. The first time she witnessed a victim of trafficking testify courageously in court only to be called a whore by a defense attorney, she left the courtroom “on fire with a passion to make a difference,” and to fill that gap. She didn’t have the skills, knowledge or the tools, at first, but threw herself into the work. She launched “Untold Stories,” an annual workshop that helps victims heal by telling their stories. A survivor of child sexual abuse herself, she understood the power of putting experiences into words and words to paper. She went on to found the LOTUS Legal Clinic, which offers free assistance for victims of all gender-based violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse and sex trafficking, covering people of all genders, sexual orientations and nationalities. That nonprofit has grown and added staff, including a bilingual advocate. To hear her talk about her work is to understand how rooted it is in faith, though she doesn’t speak about it overtly. She studied English and theology at Marquette University and received the “Woman of Faith” award from the Sisters of the Divine Savior last fall. This year, she put Milwaukee County on alert for a possible uptick in trafficking tied to the throngs of visitors to Milwaukee for the DNC.