Marianne Thomas has been providing services to trafficked persons since 2014 and continues to do so as she leads a multiple anti-trafficking teams at One More Child. As Director of Anti-Trafficking, she enlists a trauma-competent approach to build teams throughout Florida that provide opportunities for healing and restoration for victims.
Read MoreMargaret was a participant in the F.R.E.E. program, received her certification in phlebotomy, and is aspiring to become a traveling phlebotomist.
Read MoreLuis C.deBaca is a former diplomat and prosecutor who served as ambassador at large to monitor and combat trafficking in persons for U.S. State Department. He served as director of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Sex Offender Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Luis has prosecuted many cases of labor/sex trafficking involving hundreds of victims.
Read MoreLisa Belton is a master level social worker, college instructor, and researcher with years of experience studying vulnerable populations and biracial identity development. She is skilled in biracial identity development and helps young people step into their identity as confident young people and helps adults effectively engage biracial youth.
Read MoreLauren Martin is an associate professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota. Since 2005, she has worked with partners on collaborative and action research rooted in strengths, meaning-making, and experience to explore transactional sex, trafficking, and community wellbeing. Lauren works with partners on policy, prevention, and programs.
Read MoreLaura Nagel is a Program Coordinator at the Center for Children & Youth Justice, overseeing support of regional CSEC task forces. Laura has both experiential and professional knowledge of CSEC, having provided wraparound services and case management to commercially sexually exploited youth since 2013.
Read MoreDr. Lara Gerassi is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Social Work. Her research focuses on enhancing the health and well-being of people at risk of sex trafficking. She is the first author of Sex Trafficking & Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Prevention, Intervention, and Trauma-Informed Practice.
Read MoreLaDonna Knabbs, an adjunct faculty in the Sociology Department at Owens Community College and the Founder of My Sister’s House for Girls (MSHFG). She is the F.R.E.E. Program Coordinator for the Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute which provides educational scholarships and employment services for local and non-local survivors of human trafficking.
Read MoreKirsten Havig is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Wyoming. After her years in practice as a clinician and advocate, she worked as an educator and researcher in Missouri and Oklahoma focused primarily on family violence, trauma, human trafficking, and social welfare policy.
Read MoreKeri Black is the Training Specialist for the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. Keri holds a Master of Liberal Studies Degree in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Toledo. Since 2011, Keri has worked for three different agencies and held several positions within the Victim Services field.
Read MoreKelsey Hood-Christenson is the Program Director of a community-based survivor advocacy serving survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking. She has served in the survivor advocacy field for eight years and is also a forensic social work adjunct. She holds a Master’s of Social Work with clinical emphasis.
Read MoreKatherine Yoder is the Executive Director of the Adult Advocacy Centers. She is a certified forensic interviewer and has 20-years of experience advocating for people with disabilities. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in social psychology from Park University and a Master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati.
Read MoreKari Oberlin is a Licensed Master Social Worker who graduated from The University of Toledo. Kari works with teens and adults with mental health issues. Her experience has been with AoD, severe and persistent mental illness, and research in the LGBTQ+ community. She currently works at Tomorrow Begins Today Consulting as a therapist. This is her second year on the art committee team.
Read MoreDr. Justin “Jay” Miller, Dean of the College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, is dedicated to shaping tomorrow’s social workers. He feels this is best accomplished wholly embracing self-care for helping professionals and ALL people. Jay maintains research on self-care and foster youth. Jay is a proud foster care alum!
Read MoreJovitta Xavier is the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at International Justice Mission Chennai, India. She is a public health professional having more than 20 years of experience in the fields of HIV, TB, nutrition, and more recently human trafficking.
Read MoreJohn Pulley is a writer, consultant, and public speaker. He speaks with boldness, authenticity, and without shame to the hearts of men and women who are dealing with sexual addictions. He works with Fierce Freedom in Demand Reduction and Donor Relations and is the co-founder of ManAlive Expedition.
Read MoreJessica Donohue-Dioh is committed to purposeful inclusion and partnering with survivors. She has worked in anti-human trafficking efforts for 15 years, currently focusing on survivor informed prevention research. Dr. D. believes in upholding human rights for all people, especially the vulnerable and exploited, to be seen, heard, and recognized as valuable.
Read MoreDr. Jesse Bach is a researcher exploring the systems and institutional agents associated with human trafficking as well as the role that education and economic opportunity holds within rectifying the situation. He has previously founded and directed a non-profit working with survivors of human trafficking and has published and presented nationally and internationally on the topic.
Read MoreJenny Almquist is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Fierce Freedom. She founded the organization for awareness and education about trafficking to continue to spread. Her main goal is to educate and move people to action. Jenny is a writer, speaker, and works to bring unity to the social justice community.
Read MoreSince 2007, Jeanne Allert has been advancing residential care for victims of domestic sex trafficking. She created The Samaritan Women, a long-term restorative care program that serves trafficking victims from across the country and the Institute for Shelter Care which seeks to grow the national landscape of shelter providers through national research and a mentorship program.
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