Joy Friedman is an internationally recognized subject matter expert, author, trainer, speaker, consultant, and changemaker who has 25+ years’ experience working with survivors, law makers, professionals, and leaders in the anti-trafficking and homelessness movements. Through her consulting business, “The Missing Peace,” Joy trains and advises stakeholders nationwide.
Read MoreDominique Buffett is a Minneapolis-based community advocate, parent leader, and survivor of sexual exploitation and substance use. Grounded in lived experience, she works at the intersection of housing, education, and mental health, using storytelling, relationship-building, and advocacy to ensure families impacted by inequities are centered as leaders in systems change.
Read MoreLateesha Coleman, Founder of Survivors for System’s Change, is nationally recognized in survivor engagement and leadership. With 9 years working in the Research and Evaluation field, she provides facilitation for Communities of Practice, survivor leadership initiatives, training, and consulting services to government agencies, funders, non-profits, and stakeholders across Minnesota and nationwide.
Read MoreSophia Maceda works for the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Human Trafficking Prevention and Response Program. Sophia has over 10 years of experience as an advocate for youth and adults impacted by sexual violence, exploitation ,and sex trafficking. At MDH, Sophia works alongside survivors to inform training, programming and research.
Read MorePearl Evans is a person in long term recovery whose lived experience guides her public health leadership at the Minnesota Department of Health. She builds trust through authentic community engagement, centers the voices of those most impacted by substance use, and advances community driven approaches that strengthen healing, equity, and meaningful participation.
Read MoreAriel Alexander, Formation Facilitator for Project Suma and Regional Coordinator for Word Made Flesh, is a researcher and educator holding Master's degrees in Global Leadership and Theology. She brings over 16 years of faith-based community experience to driving cultural change and supporting survivors of sexual exploitation and gender-based violence.
Read MoreDr. Angela Robinson is a full-time researcher at the University of California, Irvine. Her research interests include the fight against human trafficking, asset-based interventions, and participatory co-creation of knowledge to maximize the impact of community-based work.
Read MoreDr. Marta Furlan is the Senior Program Manager for Research at Free the Slaves. Her research interests include armed conflicts, violence against women and children, and human trafficking. She is passionate about participatory research and the inclusion of local knowledge in formulating sustainable solutions.
Read MoreLaura Parker is the CEO and Co-founder of The Exodus Road. With over 14 years of experience in global anti-trafficking work, she has led programs internationally, with recent focus on prevention education initiatives in the United States and Latin America that emphasize data-driven digital safety, youth resilience, and survivor-informed approaches.
Read MoreClàudia Torres is an Assistant Professor of Procedural Law at the University of Lleida (Spain). Her research specializes in criminal and procedural law, with a particular focus on human trafficking and its intersections with economic crime.
Read MoreMarc Salat is an Associate Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Lleida (Spain). His research focuses on victimization and de-victimization processes, particularly regarding gender-based violence and human trafficking, as well as alternatives to the criminal justice process.
Read MoreCarolina Villacampa is a Full Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Lleida (Spain). Recipient of the 2022 ICREA Academia Award for research excellence, she has specialized in human trafficking for over a decade, establishing herself as a leading expert in the field.
Read MoreAngela Navarro is a social work student at The University of Toledo and founder of Sweet Sisterhood. Her work focuses on emotional intelligence, survivor empowerment, and system navigation. She challenges traditional responses to trauma and exploitation by integrating lived experience with practice to create spaces where women rebuild, lead, and thrive.
Read MoreDr. Amanda Knapp holds a PhD in Public Affairs focused on trafficking prosecutions. She is a member of the GAHTS Board of Directors, former Miami Beach Human Rights Chair, and contributing author to major publications, with research centered on human trafficking policy.
Read MoreDr. Wendy Stickle is a 2023 OVC Human Trafficking Fellow studying diversion courts serving minors. She is a Principal Lecturer and Director at the University of Maryland, chairs Montgomery County’s HT Prevention Committee, and is the lead author of Human Trafficking: A Comprehensive Exploration of Modern-Day Slavery.
Read MoreDr. Elena Gallitto is a researcher and evaluator specializing in program evaluation and social policy. She conducts qualitative and quantitative studies examining victim experiences, prevention strategies, and systemic responses, contributing evidence to improve policy, program design, and cross-sector collaboration for human trafficking prevention and survivor support.
Read MoreDeniz Cansin Rodoplu is a Data Scientist at Allies Against Slavery, where she manages the Lighthouse Screening platform and serves as a data subject matter expert on multiple human trafficking datasets. She brings over three years of experience in the anti–human trafficking field, conducting research and translating complex data into actionable insights.
Read MoreSarah Sowell Van Dyk is a doctoral student at Vanderbilt University. Her research focuses on the intersection of public health and sex trafficking using community-engaged methods. She brings four years of experience in anti-human trafficking and is a former Allies Against Slavery intern, where she supported the organization’s research operations.
Read MoreMaya Tamang is a Nepal-based practitioner and trafficking survivor working as a reintegration officer at Shakti Samuha, a survivor-led organization. Her work focuses on survivor reintegration and empowerment. Since 2013, she has collaborated with Dr. Dhungel on participatory research and co-presented nationally and internationally on trafficking and survivor-led advocacy.
Read MoreRita Dhungel is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work and Human Services at the University of the Fraser Valley. Her research focuses on human trafficking among Nepali survivors, using anti-oppressive and participatory approaches to inform policy, practice, and advocacy.
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