Sarah Chau grew up in a small town in Western New York, where she spent her childhood playing in their backyard with her sister, riding bikes, drawing on the driveway with chalk and playing in feet of snow building huge snowmen. She earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminology at Niagara University, a campus she remembers fondly; “Yes! you could see Niagara Falls from our campus.” Her parents still live in New York, and this year she’s heading home for the holidays, with a secret! “My sister and I are going to surprise my mom for Christmas,” she said, laughing. “Good thing this won’t be published until after.”
In 2022, Sarah made a bold decision to leave New York behind and move west. What started as a visit to see a friend in Utah quickly became something more. After exploring the state’s national parks, she found herself falling in love with Utah’s natural beauty and slower pace. At the same time, she was looking for a way to connect her education to meaningful work in victim advocacy. When she came across a job posting at the Asian Association of Utah, she took a deeper look at the agency’s mission and history and felt an immediate connection. “My dad is Vietnamese, and his family came to the U.S. as refugees,” she shared. “I could see how my family history and this work could be connected.” On her very last day in New York, she received the job offer. She remembers thinking, “this must be it”.
Sarah’s journey into social services wasn’t something she had always planned. “When I first started college, I was going for STEM.”. But things changed as she took courses that introduced her to social justice and services fields. A class on human trafficking stood out in particular. “It was really interesting and insightful, and it changed my whole path.” One professor, Dr. Russell, had a lasting impact. “She influenced my intellectual and academic growth more than anyone else.”
A Day in Her Work
Sarah joined AAU as a case manager in the Human Trafficking Support program and later stepped into the role of Outreach and Education Coordinator. “My day-to-day work changes a lot,” she explained. Her work is mostly outward facing, connecting with community partners, developing and presenting human trafficking education, and representing the agency in public spaces. “I have a lot of freedom and flexibility in my role. Some days I’m doing presentations, and other days I might be helping at the front desk. Every day really is different.”
A big part of her work involves educating others and addressing misconceptions about human trafficking. It’s also where she’s grown the most. Sarah used to be very shy, and public speaking once terrified her. Support from her team made a difference and over time, practice helped; “It was uncomfortable for a while, but it got better.” She’s learned that conversations around human trafficking are rarely simple.
Staying Grounded and Motivated
When the work feels heavy, Sarah gives herself permission to name that reality. “The first thing is acknowledging that the work gets hard,” she said. “I remind myself that not many people do this work.” She leans on her team, finding support in shared understanding. Together, they work to create a safe space for one another, balancing the emotional weight of the job with intentional care and connection.
Sarah brings a love of structure and organization to her role, “It’s something I take pride in.” She also values showing up authentically. “This is my first job out of college, and I’m learning as I go. But I try to be my true self in every part of my work.”
Outside of work, Sarah recharges in simple, meaningful ways, “I have a little checklist that helps me wind down.” That might include yoga, walking her dog Bailey, crocheting, and reaching out to friends; “Sometimes it’s just watching a comfort movie and having a takeout.”
Speaking of her ideal workday, Sarah said “I love days where I’m busy and presenting to community partners with attentive participants. But I also appreciate having admin time where I can slow down.” Small moments make a big difference, too, like stopping by a coworker’s office to check in and talking about life beyond work.
Reflections and Wisdom
If Sarah could offer advice to someone new to this field, it would be simple and honest: “Acknowledge the weight of this work,” she said. “Denying it or glamorizing it doesn’t help.”
Looking ahead, Sarah’s hope for AAU is that it continues to prioritize consistent support, for both staff and clients; “The way we treat our staff directly reflects how we treat our clients.”
Beyond Work
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys learning new skills and picking up new hobbies. After being gifted a crochet kit last year, she spent hours practicing; “Now I can say I’m pretty good at it.” She’s also taught herself how to tattoo! “I’ve given myself eight or nine tattoos. And done some for friends, too!” she laughed. “I think I have an artistic side.”
One piece of advice from her parents has stayed with her over the years: “Try your best.” She admits she can be hard on herself, but education has always been deeply valued in her family. “My dad didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he always encouraged us to seek education and knowledge.”
In Salt Lake City, one of Sarah’s favorite places is “Cactus & Tropicals”, a plant store she visits with her partner. Their small apartment is full of plants, “probably 40 or 50”, with several more in her office. “I wouldn’t say I have a green thumb,” she laughed. “Some thrive; some don’t. Not all survive but we’re learning as we go.”
If she could trade jobs for a day, it would be with her tattoo artist, who works in an all-women studio that feels “creative and supportive”. Sarah loves the idea of exploring her creative side more.
Music helps Sarah through busy days. She enjoys discovering new music through Spotify’s Discover Weekly. And on her days off? “Sleeping in,” she said without hesitation. “A slow morning, coffee, crocheting, running errands and maybe a walk with my dog.”
One book recommendation she offers enthusiastically is “Throne of Glass” series by Sarah J. Maas. For anyone who loves fantasy, Sarah calls it the best book series she’s ever read.
Through it all, Sarah continues to learn, grow, and show up, organized, authentic, and deeply committed to work that matters.
January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a nationally designated observance that raises awareness about human trafficking and empowers communities to prevent and respond to it. AAU has been a leader in human trafficking support services since 2010 and we are Utah's largest and most comprehensive human trafficking victim service provider. We envision a future where survivors thrive in dignity, safety, and self-sufficiency, supported by well-informed and united communities actively combatting human trafficking.
You can be part of the solution by staying educated and spreading awareness. Learn more by following AAU on social media, signing up for our monthly newsletter, donating to fund services for survivors and talking about trafficking prevention with your networks.
