SUN CITY CENTER, Fla. — A local woman credited with creating one of the first area task forces against human trafficking was honored as a “Woman of Valor” by Victims 2 Survivors-US for her service.

What You Need To Know

At 88 years old, June Wallace is not slowing down and continues to find new ways to advocate against this crime.

For decades, Wallace has been a voice for victims of violence. She is credited with launching one of the initial campaigns against human trafficking in Hillsborough County.

“I have another woman we are trying to help. She was sexually abused as a child,” said Wallace.

She works on cases nonstop, and her work has been widely recognized.

“It blew me away. I never expected it,” she said about being honored as a ‘Woman of Valor’ by Victims 2 Survivors-US.

With or without public accolades, Wallace finds her work extremely rewarding. She says her upbringing has given her deep empathy for victims.

“I was born during the Great Depression and we didn’t have a home. We were homeless. Homeless and hungry,” she said. “In both my mother's and father’s family, there was domestic violence.”

Those experiences led her toward a career advocating against all types of abuse.

“When a child is subject to sexual abuse or domestic violence or whatever that they're subject to, it's normal for them,” said Wallace.

These days, she is particularly focused on one of the fastest-growing crimes: human trafficking.

Statistics show that human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world, behind drug dealing. Wallace says victims come from all walks of life and age groups.

“If we are going to really attack human trafficking, it has to be done by local people getting together and collaborating,” said Wallace.

She is reaching out to faith-based organizations because she believes they are in a unique position to fight this crime by educating their congregations.

“Faith is the center of our lives in this retirement community, and what's happening now is more important than ever,” said Wallace.

She plans to stay busy fighting the crime problem.

"What should I be doing with my time, playing bingo? That’s not me," she said. 

Instead, she says she will continue working to stop human trafficking.