OUR LEADERSHIP
Yvonne Williams – Founder and Executive Director of Trafficking In America Task Force, Inc. a non-profit charitable organization.
Yvonne is a professional artist and writer. She has written and had articles published in numerous publications; is a writer for Noomiza.com; and written books titled: Proponents of Peace; My Father’s Garden – A Tribute to Step-Fathers; My Daily Garden Journal; There’s a Flower in the Garbage; And the Angels Danced; and A Dance For Bethany which is also a 4-time award winning Feature Film about a 12-year-old runaway rescued out of a life of sex slavery and into her dream of becoming a dancer. This is the story that changed her life. Since learning in2004 of the sex trafficking problem that plagues not only America but the entire globe, Yvonne and Marion have worked to educate people and make them aware of the tragedy. The story of A Dance For Bethany proves one person really can make a difference and is now seen in the Czech-Republic; Middle East; and South Africa where it was launched to combat sex trafficking in South Africa.
Yvonne is the founder and Executive Director of Trafficking In America Task Force, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization formed to educate and mobilize people across the country to work towards eradicating human trafficking in America. Projects and programs include: The annual Trafficking In America Conference held in Nashville, TN each May. With citizens attending from all across America, Canada, and even Brazil, the national conference is gaining the reputation of being the conference to go to for education on human trafficking. Yvonne submitted a proclamation to TN Governor Bill Haslam in August 2011 who signed it declaring the second week in November 2011 as Human Trafficking Awareness Week in TN which was used as a kick-off to the Task Forces National Program, I Promise To Do My Part Campaign that engages youth in educating youth about human trafficking and to serve as a means of prevention and demand reduction. The program was formed as a collaborative effort with A Bridge of Hope in Memphis, TN. Soon to be followed by a Press Conference about how TN is addressing the issue of human trafficking, Yvonne has helped 14 other states launch awareness proclamations and awareness programs. Since then, the organization facilitated the introduction of a Resolution approved by the TN General Assembly declaring the month of May as the annual Human Trafficking Awareness Month for TN, beginning in 2012. As another means of continuing education, the TIA Now weekly television program is filmed in Nashville and seen on Comcast Network 19 - 3 times a week. Another program launched by the Task Force is the “Empower Me” Creative Arts Program to help survivors of human trafficking in the healing process. Training Educators and Law Enforcement is a part of the Organizations slate of programming.
Under Yvonne’s leadership, her goal of having all 50 States duplicate TIATF’s programming is underway with TIATF Wisconsin and TIATF Florida in place, with several other states to follow. The Task Force’s vision is to bring education and awareness to America about human trafficking and to mobilize citizens in their areas to use their gifts and talents to stop it. Our mission is to get to the root, cut it out, and affect our culture so we don’t want to harm one another in this manner.
Yvonne is the recipient of the Middle TN and the State of Tennessee’s Professional Advocate of the Year Award of 2011 by the Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare. She has been nominated as an Ambassador of Peace by Antonio Betnacourt, Director of the Universal Peace Federation’s Office of Peace and Security Affairs, and nominated for a 2012 Norma Hotaling Award for her work in fighting the demand side of human trafficking.
Yvonne has spoken at numerous venues such as churches, schools, police departments, other NGO and Civic meetings and events, both locally and nationally. Some include: TN Conference for School Social Workers; TN Conference on Social Welfare; Washington Times forum, “The Face of Human Trafficking in America”; Kay spiritual Life Center at American University; and Women’s Federation for World Peace 20th Anniversary Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
Since 1992 Tomas J. Lares has participated in the National Day of Prayer annual prayer day, the first Thursday in May. In 2008 Lares became the Florida state coordinator for the National Day of Prayer Task Force and was the first Hispanic to hold a state position in its history. In 2010 he was appointed as the National Hispanic Advisor for the Task Force.
In 2004 Lares became aware of the crime of human trafficking and began to educate himself and volunteered with the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking. In 2005 he was instrumental in facilitating the first human trafficking seminar in Brevard County, FL. where over 100+ individuals and organizations attended. An outcome of this seminar was the formation of the Space Coast Rescue & Restore Coalition (Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force).
In 2007 Lares partnered with Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking and began an awareness campaign in the Greater Orlando area. Shortly after he cofounded the Orlando Rescue and Restore Coalition (Anti-human trafficking task force) to network law enforcement, civic groups, service providers, educational entities and community/faith based agencies to work together to create a safety net and make preparations as victims are identified, rescued and restored in the Greater Orlando region. The Coalition has grown to over 50+ individuals/agencies and has various sub-committees.
Lares was also involved in first Super Bowl 2009 Human Trafficking outreach in Tampa, FL., Super Bowl 2010 in Miami, FL. and Super Bowl 2011 in Dallas, TX. Lares facilitated a prayer shield for two of the outreaches. The Tampa outreach was documented my MSNBC and is a part of their series entitled, “Undercover, Sex Slaves in America”. Lares also facilitated prayer shields for other outreaches including the Florida Classic weekend in Orlando, FL. Victims were identified in most of the outreaches.
In 2009 Lares initiated a newly formed non-profit called, “Florida Abolitionist” whose purpose is to educate, equip and empower communities of faith concerning the crime of Modern Day Slavery. In January of 2012 Lares initiated the 1st Annual National Prayer Initiative to End Slavery and Trafficking and was joined by 20 organizations representing prayer and abolitionist movements and hundreds of intercessors nationwide.
In January of 2009 Lares led the first Human Trafficking Awareness march in the state of Florida in downtown Orlando and is preparing to celebrate the 5th Annual march this January 26, 2013 at the Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando, FL.
Tomas J. Lares, National Chair
Jeanne has an eclectic career history: from high school English teacher, to instructional designer for the Intelligence Communities, to technology director, to Internet consultant and entrepreneur. She is an international ublic speaker, having presented at over 60 trade conferences nationally and delivered keynote sessions for international conferences in Greece, France, Egypt, the United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden and workshops for dignitaries of the United Arab Emirates. She has provided on-camera hosting and speaker talent for a wide variety of distance learning productions and has served as adjunct faculty for five universities.
Jeanne holds a Bachelors in English, a Masters of Education and is pursuing a Doctor of Divinity degree, specializing in Urban Ministry and Ecumenical Relations.
With a heart broken for the issue of human exploitation and trafficking, Jeanne directs the Maryland Coalition, a gathering of committed organizations and individuals who are affecting change in the areas of awareness, prevention, intervention and after-care. Jeanne regularly participates in street outreach in Baltimore to minister to women enslaved in street prostitution and serves as a community organizer to impact change at the neighborhood level. She is a compelling speaker on the topic of domestic human trafficking and has delivered awareness presentations to over 3,000 Marylanders to date.
The Maryland Coalition works closely with the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and local law enforcement on proactive strategies, engaging the public sector and NGOs in anti-trafficking efforts.
Jeanne also founded The Samaritan Women in 2007 and today serves as Executive Director. The Samaritan Women includes a therapeutic residence program, culinary arts vocational program and operates Baltimore city’s largest urban farm. The Samaritan Women is the first therapeutic residence program for victims of human trafficking in Maryland. Future plans include establishing a residential program for rescued minors.
Jeanne Allert, National Vice-Chair
Michael Bartel has served as a pastor, educator, and anti-human trafficking activist and practitioner both in Southern Asia and in the United States. Michael and his wife Denise are ordained ministers with the Assemblies of God and began their work with victims of human trafficking as a part of Project Rescue a Eurasia based missions organization working to rescue and restore victims of human trafficking throughout the Eurasia region. Seeing the overwhelming need in the United States and sensing a growing desire of the Church and Christian faith based organizations and communities at large to do something about it, the Bartels' returned to the United States to start FREE International. As a missions organization, FREE International is facilitating, leading, and organizing a unique collaborative model for eradicating Human Trafficking. FREE International's vision is to pursue our four-tier strategy to (F)ind, (R)escue, (E)mbrace, (E)mpower in an effort to develop an exportable boots on the ground model focused on eradicating labor and sex slavery throughout our nation through prevention work in the schools, outreach and in developing long term, sustainable safe homes and residential programs for those who have been commercially exploited for sex. FREE has organized and led on numerous city wide human trafficking initiatives across the county and in Eastern Europe and is collaborating with organizations such as Sabre holdings, Travelocity, NFL host committees, Attorneys General and has presented to the National Association of Attorneys General.
Michael Bartel, National Vice-Chair
Tomi Lee “T.L.” Grover serves as an educator and abolitionist with TraffickStop, an anti-trafficking initiative to educate, advocate, and engage people on the issues of human trafficking. She actively pursues educating others about the atrocities of exploitation and engages their response in a variety of avenues. Writing and speaking is a part of her calling to educate the church on human trafficking and the Christian community’s role, responsibility, and response.
Two prayer projects are underway through TraffickStop: "10at10forI-10" praying specifically for the trafficking along Interstate 10 from Los Angeles, California to Jacksonville, Florida (named #1 trafficking corridor by the FBI), and Interstate Intercession Initiative for our Interstate system across the entire United States. More information is available at:
TraffickStop was birthed during T.L.’s tenure with the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT). She served BGCT as a consultant and specialist in Community and Restorative Justice Ministries as well as Director of the Local Transformational Missions.
T.L. holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work and Ministry-Based Evangelism, and a Master of Arts in Christian Education, from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She serves as an adjunct professor for Dallas Baptist University and has as well for Howard Payne University. Historically, T.L. had a twelve-year career as a certified tele-communications operator, and was certified as a law enforcement officer, as well as a law enforcement instructor and holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Criminal Justice from the University of Florida.
Dr. Tomi Lee "TL" Grover PhD, National Vice-Chair
Yvonne Williams, National Vice-Chair
Beth B. Wright is Vice-President for Corporate Communications and Strategic Marketing for Capella Healthcare, based in Franklin, TN. Prior to joining Capella Healthcare in 2010, Beth was Director of Marketing Services for LifePoint Hospitals® in Brentwood, TN. and prior to that, worked in hospitals affiliated with HCA for 27 years.
She is currently serving on the Public Relations Task Force of the Federation of American Hospitals and on the Physician Strategies Task Force of the American Hospital Association’s Society for Healthcare Strategy and Marketing Development.
In 2009, Beth received the prestigious “Best in Show” Achievement in Marketing (AIM) Award from the Nashville American Marketing Association for a colorectal cancer education campaign that generated over 15,000 calls for free at-home test kits.
Active in the community, she serves on the Boards of Directors for “You Have the Power,” a victim advocacy organization founded by Tennessee’s former first lady Andrea Conte, and End Slavery Tennessee, which works to end human trafficking and to restore survivors.
A native of Rome, Georgia, Beth graduated from Shorter University with a bachelors’ degree in communications.
She and her husband David are active members of Long Hollow Baptist Church
Beth Wright, Communications Advisor
Presently, as the Central Oregon Regional Director for Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans (OATH), which is an extension of the Oregon Human Trafficking Task Force, Nita focuses on helping victims/survivors of human trafficking and raising awareness about modern-day slavery.
Nita has worked with victims/survivors of domestic violence for many years. She specialized in various womens issues, through teaching and counseling in churches and shelters.
Nita began studying about human trafficking/modern-day slavery in 2006. The more she studied, the more she knew she couldn’t sit on the sidelines while these atrocities were taking place all over the world, including in her own backyard. As she networks with other national and international abolitionist organizations, she brings to the table a deep understanding of a broad scope of women’s issues, as well as a compassion for victims and a determination to link arms with other abolitionists in order to end modern-day slavery.
Nita has worked for more than twenty years in business. Also, a former Associate Pastor, she holds a Master’s Degree in Theology with a concentration in Women’s Concerns.
In her leisure times, she loves being with her family. She is an avid Major League Baseball
fan and also enjoys fishing, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and enjoying all the beauty that Central Oregon has to offer.
She has an enthusiasm for life and is known as a powerful motivator who will impact any group. Nita is available to present to groups everywhere to heighten awareness, answer questions and help stop human trafficking/modern-day slavery.
Nita Belles, National Vice-Chair
JANUARY 11-13, 2013
Rev. Kevin Austin, a former missionary to Thailand, leads the Free Methodist denomination and the Set Free Movement in the abolition of modern-day slavery. Working in partnership with others, Kevin wants to empower faith communities and faith based organizations to create effective, sustainable, integrated, community based action addressing the slavery issue and the orbiting issues. His 12+ years of experience in cross cultural ministry and working with innovative organizations like Not For Sale, YWAM, etc., make him a valuable resource and leader.
Kevin Austin, National Vice-Chair
Kim A. Robinson serves as Executive Director of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. A 28-year veteran of P&G, Kim retired as Vice President of Customer Business Development in February, 2010. Determined to give back to a community in which he was so blessed, Kim then joined the Freedom Center in April, 2010 as Director of Advancement. Kim became Executive Director July 1, 2011. Kim also serves on the National Board of Focus on the Family. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Kansas, where he met Tamara, his wife of 32 years. Kim and Tamara reside in Liberty Township and attend North Fairfield Baptist Church where Kim teaches Sunday school to young married couples. The Robinsons are proud parents and grandparents. Their family includes daughter Talitha Housen and son-in-law Mike Housen and granddaughter Anaia Housen; Marcus Robinson and daughter-in-law Jayme Robinson; and Jairus Robinson. Kim enjoys Bible study and is an avid fan of Kansas University basketball and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kim Robinson, National Vice-Chair
CNN named Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, “The leader of the Hispanic Evangelical movement”. The Wall St. Journal identified him as one of America’s 7 most influential Hispanic Leaders, and the only religious leader on the list. Meanwhile the San Francisco Chronicle described Samuel as one of the 6 Leaders of the New Evangelical Leadership. Charisma Magazine Identifies Rev. Samuel Rodriguez as America’s most influential spirit-filled Christian Leader in the political sphere. By God’s Grace, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez stands as one of America’s Leading Christian Voices.
As one of Newsweek Magazine’s Top 12 People to Look For in 2008, and as the President of America’s Preeminent Latino Christian Organization, Samuel is regarded as one of the most prominent voices in the Kingdom of God and as the lead spokesperson for the 16 million strong Hispanic American Born Again Christian Community.
Featured, Profiled and quoted by the Washington Post, CNN, FOXNEWS, Bill Moyers, Chicago Tribune, Christianity Today, Newsweek, Univision, NY Times, The Wall St. Journal, Boston Globe, Atlanta Constitution, Ministries Today, and others as the Preeminent Leading Voice for Hispanic Born Again Believers in America, Sam lives to Build the Kingdom of God, reconciling a platform of righteousness and justice.
Rodriguez earned his Master’s degree in educational leadership from Lehigh University. Currently he pursues a doctoral degree in Organizational Management and Behavior.
As the leading spokesperson for Hispanic Evangelicals, Samuel has been a featured speaker in White House and Congressional meetings on Hispanic American issues and Justice concerns currently serving in President Obama’s White House Task Force on Fatherhood. His non partisan commitment enables Sam to meet with both sides of the aisle while above all contextualizing the nexus of both Kingdom and Society.
His speaking presentations include the White House, Congress, Princeton, Yale, Promise Keepers, NAE, Battle Cry, Liberty University, TBN, Univision, CNN, Fox news, ABC, NPR, Ebenezer Baptist Church, MLK Celebration, and many others.
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez is the Current President of The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (Hispanic Evangelical Association), America’s largest Hispanic Christian Organization with 40,118 member churches. Rodriguez leads an organization identified as the Hispanic faith leaders in support of Life, Family, Great Commission, Stewardship, Education, Justice and Youth.
As the leading Hispanic Christian on the issue or Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Rev. Rodriguez and the NHCLC were credited by Sydney Blumenthal and others as the primary reason why the plans for deportation were stymied. He frequently meets and consults members of both parties in Congress and participates in White House meetings on social justice, Latino and values issues.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of some of America’s leading Evangelical organizations such as: Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, National Association of Evangelicals, Empower 21 and Christianity Today. Rodriguez is also the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award presented by the Congress of Racial Equality.
Rev. Rodriguez also serves on the advisory Board of the National Campaign to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Pro Life initiatives with various coalitions. In addition, he serves on the steering committee of The Freedom Federation and the General Superintendents’ Cabinet in the Assemblies of God.
An award winning writer, Rodriguez writes and contributes to world recognized publications such as Ministries Today, Enrichment Journal, The Washington Post and Newsweek “On Faith” Panel, Outreach magazine, Vida Cristiana, Charisma, Christianity Today, Yale Reflections” and others.
Globally, via NHCLC and 3DBN a Global network of top tier Evangelical ministries, Rev. Rodriguez is committed to the presentation of the Gospel while simultaneously addressing issues such as poverty, AIDS, human trafficking, and social justice.
He is an Assemblies of God Ordained Minister since the age of 23. Rodriguez also serves as Senior Pastor of New Season Christian Worship Center in Sacramento, CA where he resides in California with his wife of 22 years, Eva and their three children.
Rev. Samuel Rodriquez, Honorary National Co-Chair
Prior to joining FAN, Patrick worked for the Diocese of Bridgeport as Manager of Advancement/Development for the Stamford Catholic Schools and at St. James Parish in Stratford, where he was involved in developing Faith Formation and Social Justice Programs. Previously he was president of a Connecticut State Employee Union, held senior/executive level positions in Medicaid Managed Care companies, and served on numerous boards and commissions both in Connecticut and nationally, dealing with public policy issues. He splits his time between Washington, D.C., and Stratford, Conn., where he resides with his wife and children.
Mr. Patrick J. Carolan, National Vice-Chair
Mark Gonzales is the Founder of the United States Hispanic Action Network and the United States Hispanic Prayer Network, two organizations that God is using in this hour to awaken, equip and engage the Hispanic church to establish His Kingdom agenda on the earth.
Mark travels the nation extensively, training, engaging and mobilizing the church—the Hispanic church in particular—in prayer and civic action from a biblical worldview.
Mark has been an effective leader in the movements of prayer and civic engagement for over 14 years. He has had the honor of working alongside many great men and women of God in both the church and governmental arenas.
Partnering with his spiritual mother, Cindy Jacobs of Generals International and with his great friend, Lou Engle of TheCall, Mark has played a key role in mobilizing prayer, especially among the Hispanic church, all over America.
Mark has also had the honor of speaking at the White House, in front of Congress, and has chaired numerous election campaigns, from the local to national level. In the 2008 Presidential Elections, Mark was appointed Chair to the National Hispanic Advisory Council for John McCain.
Mark has also been the visionary and pioneer for several prayer and civic action initiatives, including the Standing for Truth Foundation, which works to see American citizens, especially, people of faith, engaged in the civic arena and exercising their God given right to vote from a Biblical worldview, while taking a stand for Biblical principles though out American society.
Es Tiempo de Votar (Spanish for “It’s Time to Vote”) is a campaign Mark founded that is geared toward increasing voter turn-out among the 19.5 million Hispanic Americans who are eligible to vote in the United States, especially among the community of faith.
Mark has also serves as the President of the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, which represents a national coalition of Hispanic Evangelical organizations, churches, and leaders from across the theological and political spectrum, united in support of comprehensive immigration reform.
For many years, Mark is also a key leader within the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the sister organization to the National Association of Evangelicals, as a member of it’s National Board and as NHCLC’s Vice President of Governmental Affairs.
Currently, under the apostolic covering of Mike and Cindy Jacobs, Mark is a part of the Apostolic Council for the United States Reformation Prayer Network and is also a part of the Emerging Leaders Group for the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders.
Back in 2006, God gave Mark a specific word for the body of Christ: “I am looking for a people that speak two languages; the language that moves heaven and the language that moves the earth. The language that moves heaven is prayer; the language that moves the earth is the vote – civic action.”
Since then, Mark’s mandate has been very clear: to establish a people of faith that know how to operate in both arenas; prayer to shift nations and the vote (civic action) to shift legislation—all from a Kingdom perspective.
With that commission, a strong belief in the prophetic words that have been spoken over the Hispanic community in America, and a deep burden to see revival among his own people, the Hispanic Prayer Network and the Hispanic Action Network were launched to move Hispanics into their God given destiny and DNA of prayer, revival and family values to shift culture and turn America back to God.
From stadiums and pulpits across America to the White House and Congress, as well as his local church, City Hall and community events, Mark burns with this mandate of establishing prayer and civic action every where he goes.
A personal word to Hispanics: God has a dream for your life! A greater purpose for bringing you to America than the American Dream…God has a Dream and He wants you use you to fulfill it...Now is the time!
Mark Gonzales, National Vice-Chair
S. Jean Schafer SDS has been active in the anti-human trafficking effort since 2001. As a member of the international Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Savior (aka Salvatorian Sisters) S. Jean served as the congregation’s international leader for 12 years, overseeing 1300 members in 27 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, with its headquarters based in Rome, Italy. During her term (1989-2002) the Congregation included the plight of enslaved women and children as part of its global effort and committed to anti-human trafficking as one of its main ministry foci.
“Seeing what was happening to women in Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia as they struggled to find work abroad, our Sisters could not stand idly by. It was obvious that women were being duped and exploited. If and when they returned home, they were broken and scarred. We are actively educating women locally to be aware of false promises and enable them to develop alternatives to lessen their need to leave home.”
The North American Province, headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, was a founding member of the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking, under the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office of Migration and Refugee Services. The Salvatorian Sisters also have a representative on the UN NGO Unanima International, which focuses on the ‘demand’ side of human trafficking.
In 2003, after returning from Italy, S. Jean moved to California and began publishing the monthly electronic newsletter, Stop Trafficking, now beginning its 11th year. It has a mailing list of over 3000 readers, who pass the link and information on to their collaborators and networks.
“The feedback I get from readers tells me that ‘Stop Trafficking’ has become a ready reference for people to use in their efforts to educate others. Its themes offer a range of insights into the complex and interwoven network of trafficking in our country and globally. It is uncomfortable to learn how complicit we all are; but it is an invitation to get involved and do something.”
In addition to the newsletter, S. Jean and another Salvatorian, S. Sheila Novak SDS, raise awareness through presentations for parishes, schools, civic and religious organizations, hospital personnel and law enforcement. They prepared ‘Breaking the Snares’, educational materials adapted for the Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish faith traditions. They founded the California Central Coast Coalition to Stop Enslavement, which now collaborates with the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking. They are active members of the ‘Southern California Partners for Global Justice’ and the North San Diego County Human Trafficking Collaborative, both of which meet monthly and are involved in education, advocacy and legislative action around human trafficking. S. Sheila Novak also founded STOP SLAVERY: Northern California Coalition of Catholic Sisters, which collaborates with the Cross Bay Coalition, operating out of the San Francisco area.
S. Jean has actively advocated for California legislation. She testified before the CA State Legislature in 2004 to push for passage of AB 22, the California Victim’s Protection Act, which made human trafficking a felony in CA, gave survivors eligibility for victim services and created a statewide task force.
Since 2008 S. Jean and S. Sheila operate SDS Hope House, a confidential transitional house for adult women survivors of human trafficking, subsidized by the Sisters of the Divine Savior. Since relocating to northern San Diego County in March 2010 SDS Hope House has served 26 survivors of labor and sex trafficking. SDS Sisters in Austria, Germany and Jordan also work directly with victims of human trafficking in shelters.
S. Jean earned a PhD in Endocrinology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and taught physiology and other human sciences at Alverno College, Milwaukee, WI.
Sister Jean Schafer, National Honorary Co-Chair
Mary Ellen Dougherty is a School Sister of Notre Dame from the Atlantic – Midwest Province, with central offices in Baltimore, Maryland. For six years (2002 to 2008) she coordinated anti – trafficking educational efforts for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In this capacity she facilitated gatherings of women religious across the country, resulting in networks and coalitions that are still engaged in anti-trafficking work. She has published articles in journals and periodicals, including the Jesuit publication America, as well as publications of the Catholic Health Association and of Catholic Charities, USA. In 2008 she became part of the seven- person leadership council for her congregation which in the U.S. extends from New Hampshire to Florida, and west to Chicago. It also includes Canada. SSNDs in each of these regions are active in anti-trafficking work. Through the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Mary Ellen continues to work against this human rights issue.
Sister Mary Ellen Dougherty, National Honorary Co-Chair
