SVI Media’s Dan Dockstader spoke with Tyler Schwab, founder of Libertas International, following a presentation to members of the Wyoming Legislature in Cheyenne regarding the work Libertas International does in the state and around the world.

(0:00) SBI Media, State Capitol today, Tyler Schwab just finished a presentation on Lieberthal. (0:05) So with the members of the Wyoming State Legislature, members of the House, members of the Senate (0:11) here listening to your work, Tyler, kind of give us a summary of what you told them tonight. (0:16) Yeah, you know, I was brought here by the amazing people that represent our state.

(0:22) One of them heard me on a podcast a few years ago and we’ve been coordinating and just, (0:26) I mean, honestly, it’s an honor of mine to share what we do. (0:31) You know, I know a lot of our listeners will be familiar with Lieberthal International (0:34) of how we support survivors, how we hold abusers accountable, and what we’re doing (0:40) with different communities to help empower the people that we rescue. (0:45) But I think the most important part of my presentation was just sharing the story that (0:50) Wyoming plays in all this, and like, as a nonprofit, like a lot of our funding comes (0:55) from Wyoming.

(0:56) And then in the last couple years, like so many people from Wyoming have been able to (1:01) interact with survivors that we’ve helped rescue. (1:04) And just to encourage lawmakers of the hard work that I know they’re doing and encouraging (1:12) them to continue to make Wyoming such a special place where so many of our kids have found (1:15) hope and healing. (1:16) Okay.

(1:17) You had several senators, members of the House, come up and speak to you afterwards. (1:22) Any thoughts on some of their comments? (1:24) They were all impressed. (1:25) But follow up on your opportunity to visit with these members of the legislature tonight.

(1:31) Yeah. (1:31) You know, they complimented just the work that we’re doing. (1:35) They complimented the stories that we’ve heard.

(1:40) You know, I always try to give credit to the amazing people, you know, like the SVI Media. (1:44) It’s a… (1:45) Keep going. (1:46) It didn’t cut out.

(1:47) Sorry. (1:48) The people at SVI Media, the good teachers that we have, like Representative Erickson (1:53) that have helped make Wyoming such a special place. (1:56) I always give credit to the people that raised me and helped me.

(2:00) But honestly, a lot of them ask just ways to help, like ways to collaborate. (2:05) There’s different laws in place, a generative AI bill that we’ve been asked to speak on, (2:11) a grooming bill, human trafficking operations in the state. (2:15) And then a lot of it just, how do we help? (2:17) Like, how do we continue to make Wyoming a safe place for survivors of human trafficking (2:21) and stay ahead of the curb when it comes to this crime? (2:25) And for me, like, it’s such an honor, you know, like why would these amazing people (2:30) that help make Wyoming so special want input from me? (2:35) Just a kid that for the last 10 years has, you know, done what I’ve done.

(2:39) I just feel so honored that they would take the time, hear what I have to say, and ask (2:43) for help in helping make Wyoming a safe and better place for kids. (2:49) And I’m just excited. (2:50) I’m excited for the opportunity.

(2:51) I’m excited to collaborate with these important, powerful, and passionate people about our (2:57) state to continue to make Wyoming such a special place to live. (3:00) Summary on where you take Lieberthaus now. (3:02) You continue to be actively involved in traveling.

(3:05) Just kind of a, what do you see out as your next step after you’ve done so much? (3:09) Yeah, you know, it’s a good question. (3:11) Like I turned 35 last year, 35, yeah. (3:14) And it was an interesting time of year for me because I have spent a lot of time traveling (3:20) over the last 10 years.

(3:21) I’ve been to 50 countries, I’ve seen Machu Picchu, I’ve seen, you know, the border of (3:26) Ukraine and Russia. (3:28) I’ve visited the most beautiful places in the world, been to some of the darkest places (3:31) in the world. (3:32) And I gotta be honest, like it does wear on you.

(3:35) Like a lot of these stories, a lot of these cases do wear on you and it’s worn on me. (3:40) Like I’ll be honest, I’ve had to scale back of just the work that I’ve done because it’s (3:46) tough. (3:46) It’s a tough world out there and I want to, with Leverthaus International, take it more (3:54) local.

(3:56) I think this is a great opportunity to explore what that looks like of, I spent a long time (4:01) helping kids in places like Afghanistan or Columbia or wherever. (4:06) But what have we done for the people in Wyoming? (4:09) What have we done for the people in Utah or California or wherever? (4:12) Like how do we continue to make an impact? (4:14) Because someone that’s trafficked in Wyoming is going through the same type of trauma as (4:19) someone who’s being trafficked in Italy or wherever. (4:22) And so like this opportunity was, for me, just special because it gives me a way to figure (4:28) out the future of Leverthaus International when it comes to expanding our resources (4:32) and empowering survivors here in Wyoming.

(4:34) Because I know right now as a religious person that there’s someone in Wyoming that’s praying (4:39) for rescue, that’s praying for relief. (4:41) And I hope that the meeting that we just had today is the beginning of an answer to a prayer (4:45) to where, when a survivor is ready to ask for help or is rescued, that she finds a safe (4:50) place with resources where she can find hope, healing, and justice. (4:55) Tyler Schwamm, Leverthaus International, speaking to the Wyoming State Legislature tonight (4:59) in the Wyoming State Capitol, Dan Dockstead, RSVI Media.