Backpage Remission Outreach

Title: “The BackPage & CityXGuide Remission Program – Promoting Survivor Access to Compensation”
Host/Organizer: Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service + Human Trafficking Prevention Project
Format: Online CLE / volunteer training webinar
Date: Nov 20, 2025
Summary: This webinar provided Maryland attorneys and volunteers an overview of the remission process and instruction on how best to support survivors applying for the Backpage and CityXGuide Remission Program. As an attorney and survivor, Carissa explained eligibility, documentation, and how nonprofit and pro bono counsel can strengthen claims so survivors can submit successful petitions.

Tech Against Trafficking | Collaborations | Sustainable Business Network and Advisory Services | BSR

Date: Nov 4-5, 2025
Host/Organizer: Tech Against Trafficking and BSR
Summary: Attendees participated in workshops throughout the conference to establish and build upon networks with technology experts creating solutions to end human trafficking in all of its forms. On Day 1 Felicia made connections with Parasol Cooperative and explained the mission of Survivors First to get the word out about the backpage and cityxguide remission fund. On Day 2 Carissa was honored to meet Nasreen Sheikh who extended an invitation to meet former Prime Minister Theresa May in a “one-on-one” with a small cohort of survivors. Carissa and Felicia continue international and domestic outreach stemming from the TAT conference.

Host/Organizer: Archdiocese of San Francisco, Office of Human Rights and Dignity Restorative Justice Ministry and Wisdom International
Title: “$215M Backpage/CityXGuide federal remission fund”
Date: Nov 3, 2025
Format: Breakout panel along with distinguished co-panelists
Summary: The Reentry Conference and Expo is a dynamic gathering that unites community leaders, service providers, advocates, and those with lived experience to advance justice, equity, and opportunity through meaningful dialogue and collaboration. Carissa participated in an afternoon panel alongside Mikayla Simeral, Hediana Utarti, Vanessa Russell, and Elizabeth Quiroz, emphasizing the critical need for legal access, trauma-informed support, and community partnerships to dismantle the cycles and industries that criminalize and retraumatize survivors.

Listen here

The Majority Report with Sam Seder - Wikipedia

Host/Organizer: The Majority Report with Sam Seder (Mass Torts Conference coverage)
Format: Political talk show / podcast episode recorded at MTMP conference
Date: Oct 23, 2025
Summary: Recorded at the Mass Torts conference in Las Vegas, this episode featured Carissa from Survivors First discussing her work supporting survivors who were injured when trafficked on Backpage and CityXGuide. She explained the remission process, barriers survivors face, and how SurvivorsFirst.Community is organizing outreach so survivors are not left behind when the fund petition closes on 2/2/2026. The episode situated her work within broader conversations about government accountability for “legal” brothels where fear, fraud, coercion, abuse and manipulation are used to exploit those being sold in the sex industry.

MTMP – Mass Torts Made Perfect – Where plaintiff lawyers come to unite

Title: Update on Sex Assault Cases Nationwide
Host/Organizer: Mass Torts Made Perfect (MTMP)
Format: Live session at MTMP
Date: Oct 23, 2025
Summary: This session trained plaintiffs’ attorneys on representing Claimants who are filing petitions for lost wages, the costs of past and future medical needs, as well as past and future behavioral health treatment.
Access: Access limited to attendees only.

JuST Conference 2025 - JuST Conference Press Releases Archives - Shared Hope International

Host/Organizer: Shared Hope International
Date: Oct 14-16, 2025
Summary: Carissa joined attorneys and medical providers in assisting attendees with remission petition questions in a “pop up” legal clinic designed to support JuST Conference panelists and attendees who had questions about remission claims. Carissa networked with legal professionals, extended outreach to nurse practitioners and provided information to both legal and non-legal providers on the remission process.

Host/Organizer: Expressions of Leadership podcast
Format: Interview episode
Date: Oct 8, 2025
Summary: In this episode, Carissa described her journey from child trafficking survivor to attorney and founder of Runaway Girl, and discusses how she now works on systemic change.
Access: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube

Ending Human Trafficking Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

Title: “Unlocking $215 Million for Trafficking Survivors: A Call to Action”
Host/Organizer: Ending Human Trafficking Podcast, Global Center for Women & Justice
Format: Podcast + YouTube video + audio platforms
Date: Sept 29, 2025
Summary: Carissa joined Dr. Sandie Morgan to explain the DOJ Backpage and CityXGuide Remission Program eligibility (survivors advertised on Backpage 2004–2018 and CityXGuide 2018–2020), the historic $215M fund, and why remission is different from restitution (no need to face traffickers in court, third-party administrator, written claims). They highlighted the February 2, 2026 deadline, how losses are calculated, and how Survivors First is getting the word out, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and attorneys and providers partnering to connect survivors to assistance.

Title: “Special Event: Backpage Compensation for Survivors”
Host/Organizer: Atlas Free – promoted by Ambassador-at-Large (ret.) John Richmond
Format: Virtual event / briefing
Date: Sept 2025
Summary: Carissa Phelps was featured alongside Melissa Snow of NCMEC to share practical information on eligibility and strategies for survivor-serving organizations and attorneys supporting those who are filing petitions for remission.

Session: “Gaps and Responses in Services for Trafficking Survivors”
Host/Organizer: Institute on Violence Abuse & Trauma (IVAT)
Format: Summit panel presentation
Date: Aug 19, 2025
Details: Carissa raised awareness about the DOJ’s $215million remission process and Epiq’s (the Backpage fund administrator’s) website in two breakout sessions.
Summary: The panels addressed legal services for trafficking survivors and strategies to improve access. Attendees included healthcare, behavioral wellness, social services, law enforcement and legal professionals.

Host/Organizer: ALIGHTnet.org
Format: 2025 collaboration – nonprofit law firms (NGO’s) and pro bono (private firms doing work for free) assisting on sharing information and best practices re backpageremission.com
Date: Ongoing until remission deadline closes
Summary: Carissa was invited to join nonprofit and pro bono attorneys who are providing trauma-informed legal assistance for the Backpage/CityXGuide remission process. While not a stand-alone speaking event, this collaboration is part of the ecosystem of trainings and coordination with nonprofit and pro bono consortia. The regular meetings and information sharing is coordinated by ALIGHT.