On November 1, 2025, Katie Herbers, Victim Services Supervisor with the Austin Police Department (APD) Human Trafficking Unit, received the 2025 Lotus Award at the annual Silk Road Gala. The event was hosted by Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA).
Herbers was recognized for her work in fostering a partnership between the APD Human Trafficking Unit and AFSSA. She led efforts to establish a pilot program that brought together two teams to share knowledge and collaborate. This initiative resulted in a trauma-informed response for adult survivors of sex trafficking.
According to the announcement, “It is because of Katie’s innovation and leadership that a partnership between the APD Human Trafficking Unit and AFSSA were formed. Katie helped stand up a pilot program where she passionately led and coordinated two teams to share knowledge, collaborate and share feedback with one another. This led to the creation of a safe, survivor-led, trauma-informed response to adult survivors of sex trafficking and ultimately made our community safer.”
The release also stated: “Katie’s leadership exemplifies the values of AFSSA: Prevent, Advocate, Respond, and Transform. AFSSA creates a world without violence for all survivors of abuse, including Asian survivors, and their communities at risk of abuse. For 33 years, AFSSA has worked alongside their partners to Educate, Advocate, and Empower their communities – in their home languages and centering their heritage—to break the cycle of violence.”
The APD Human Trafficking Unit investigates cases related to organized gambling, prostitution, smuggling laws as well as labor or sexual exploitation trafficking. The unit participates in regional coalitions such as the Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking and works with federal law enforcement task forces.
