Team
Meet the people making a positive impact on communities everywhere
Law degree from UCLA? Check.
Entrepreneur? Check.
MBA from there too? Check.
Author or RUNAWAY GIRL? Check.
Survivor of human trafficking who is on our board so she can spread the world and help more survivors sooner?
Check. Extraordinary.
CARISSA PHELPS
EHN Ambassador, CEO Runaway Girl
Nicole leapt at the chance to co-chair EHN’s board to focus on expanding career programming to the growing EHN Alumni Network. Grateful.
Nicole Williams
Board Chair, Career Expert and Bestselling Author
At a time when democracy, justice, and basic dignity are under attack, Puja seeks to put her personal and professional energies toward women of color's leaders, governance, and civic power at all levels of society.
Puja Dhawan
Board Member, Leader in Social Justice Philanthropy & Women’s Rights Work
Members of Empower Her Network will astound you with what is possible once societal barriers are removed. Abby has seen this first hand, and is a believer in economic solutions to cultural problems.
Abby Fabiaschi
Co-Founder, Lifetime Board Member
With her parents being born in India, and with trafficking epidemic in India, Chet appreciated the correlation between education and opportunity. EHN Foundation is built around this core.
Chetana Gowda
Secretary of the Board
She leads the way as the Treasurer of EHN and understands the power of funding and sustainability. More excel spreadsheets please.
Kerri McKeever
Treasurer of the Board, CFA
Living in a world of finance and not having a ton of female role models, Maureen is changing that. Fiscal independence is something Maureen is extremely passionate about, and leads the way in making her mark with EHN.
Maureen O’Toole
Board Member, Head of Investor Development at Wealth Management company
Accomplished lawyer - check, civic leader- check, former television journalist - check, emeritus chair of the board of the Los Angeles Music Center - check and now drumroll please, EHN board member - check!
Lisa Specht
Board Member, Lawyer, Civic Leader and Former Television Journalist
Leading the marketing effort for Empower Her Network is a perfect fit, as Summer cares deeply about this human rights violation happening in her own backyard. Summer brings an expertise in all things branding and marketing and is proud to be part of the anti-trafficking movement.
Summer Taylor
Board Member, Founder + Creative Director of Local Revival, Inc.
Former music video model and sex trafficking survivor Rachel Thomas is a dynamic educator who speaks from the heart and aims at the head. EHN is so much stronger with her leadership.
Rachel Thomas
Board Member, Director of Sowers Education Group, Author
It’s a network for a reason. As Vice President of Communications at Aetna, she is a guiding light for board strategy, growth, corporate giving contacts, and helps us get the word out. Amazing.
Crystal Walker
VP, Communications at Aetna, a CVS Health Company
Working in the anti-trafficking field for a decade, THORN benefitted from her strategy and operations expertise, and now EHN has the good fortune to learn from Brooke!
Brooke Istook
Board Member, Social Impact Executive and Human Trafficking ExpertEmpower Her Network Team
Advocate Team
Committed to serving survivors across the US and creating opportunities for them to become their own change agents is what Kristy is all about – and having fun on the way!
Kristy Norbert - LCSW
Co-founder, Executive Director
Ten years of working with survivors of trafficking, Kate has seen the magic that happens when societal barriers are removed and survivors have a chance to prove themselves. And we have seen the positive explosion that happens when Kate works alongside this path!
Kate Okamoto - LCSW
New York Empowerment Advocate & Program Manager
As Camille works on her PhD in psychology while working in the anti-human trafficking for years, California survivors find her warmth and mindfulness exactly what they need as they pursue Destination: Her Choice.
Camille Mica - PhD, ABD
Texas Empowerment Advocate
No one does it better than Katherine when fighting against discrimination and structural oppression. Her fortitude in her advocacy is felt by all.
Katherine Williams - LCSW
New York Empowerment Advocate
Hazell is a fierce supporter of LGBTQ+ survivors of ipv, trauma, and resilience. Hailing from Boston, the world will benefit from all of her anti-oppression work.
Hazell Imbert - LMHC
New England Empowerment Advocate
Virginia believes in the power of genuine human connection, compassion, and the absolute necessity of creating individualized treatment plans specific to each client’s unique history, cultural background, socioeconomic status, and goals.
Virginia Jreisat - LCPC
Illinois Empowerment Advocate
``Empower Her Network exists as an innovator of opportunity and genuine support in the moments that are needed the most. It is great to be a part of an organization that represents a cause which bridges hope and builds new chances to success``
Jessica Hernandez - MANP
California Empowerment Advocate
The more Lauren learned about human trafficking, the more driven and passionate she became to help survivors and their families. Ask anyone who knows Lauren, she is dedicated to the movement and doing everything she can to walk with survivors to reach their potential.
Lauren N Benjamin - MSW, VASI
Mid-Atlantic Empowerment Advocate
Erica got involved in this work in part because her grandmother was a survivor. She brings her to every encounter she has. Erica believes that survivors can change their story, and that ending is good.
Erica Howard - LSW
Ohio Empowerment Advocate
Empower Her Network's partnerships and their approach to the fight against human trafficking, one survivor at a time is something that is needed in the movement. I am honored to be able to walk alongside this journey with women ready to change their lives.
Joshlyn Lawhorn - MWGS
Florida Empowerment Advocate
Talk about leadership. Tika shows us all what grace under fire looks and feels like, and survivors feel her unrelenting and unwavering support in walking alongside them in their journeys.
Tika Thornton - Lived Experience Expert
California Empowerment Advocate
You may catch Robin doing a TikTok with her daughter, or doing everything she can to push the voices and agenda of survivors forward with her advocacy. She is a force, and a great dancer!
Robin Miller - Lived Experience Expert
Pacific Northwest Empowerment Advocate
ROLL TIDE.... Marlie is rock solid as EHN's Alabama Advocate. Marlie enjoys time with her daughter, providing support to survivors, and being part of the anti-trafficking movement!!!
Marlie Hyde
Alabama Empowerment Advocate
Database updated. Check. Payments out. Check. Payroll complete. Check. Social media posted. Check. Financials done. Check. You name it, Samura can put a check behind it with kindness and love.
Samura Yoosuf
Empower Her Network Executive AssistantMelba Robinson
The Ultimate Advocate, passed away May 2nd, 2023. Melba was the first Advocate to join EHN, and will forever remain the soul of our network. We will carry Melba’s passion, work ethic, grace, and “purpose” in everything we do. She will continue to be the thread to weave us all together, and will continue to be our Angel “Ultimate” Advocate.
Advisory Network
With a passion for social justice, and racial and gender equality, Katisha works with the Program Committee to help ensure we are always aligned with our practices and policies. Her voice is valuable to our program and the future of EHN.
Katisha Andrew
Coordinator for CILEC (Citiwide Immigrant Legal Empowerment Collaborative)
An expert researcher on human trafficking, Kimberly guides us on our metrics and helps with the foundation of what to measure. We started off with a research/ business model because of her support and work.
Kimberly Mehlman- Orozco
Accomplished Survey Methodologist, Research Scientist, and Quantitative and Qualitative Consultant on issues related to human trafficking
Lisa, founder of Lulu Frost, created the Empowerment Bracelet alongside survivors of human trafficking to help launch Empower Her Network. She has donated all of the proceeds back to EHN, and has impacted so many survivors because of this impact.
Lisa Salzer-Wiles
Designer and Founder of Lulu Frost Jewelery
Empowered Women Empower Women. Julie, an expert in developing executives and corporate positioning strategy works with EHN Board and Executives on the power of our voices and moving forward with power and sustainability. Because Empowered Women Empower Women/
Julie Zuraw
Founder and CEO of Julie Zuraw Group
“How can I help” was Laura’s call to us? She now focuses her fundraising experience and advocacy on marginalized populations. Thrilled she is on our team!
Laura Brodsky
Community Activist, Fundraiser Extradinaire
Her Ted Talk was inspiring. She built the highly regarded Center for Equity, Gender, and Inclusion (EGAL) at Berkeley and consulted the biggest brands in the world on social impact. Now she’s using her talent and voice to change the trajectory for survivors of human trafficking in the United States. Once you know, you can’t unknow.
Kellie McElhaney
Founding Director, Center for Equity, Gender, and Leadership at Berkeley Haas Business School
Going from teaching 1 course on human trafficking a year at University of Maryland, Christine now impacts 240 students a year who take her classes on human trafficking. They now know what’s up because of Christine, and Christine’s on a mission to educate more through EHN!
Christine White
Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
When she’s not being a boss in the boardroom, speaking on stage or trying to use a dry erase board to plan her next entrepreneurial idea, Rebecca can be found at home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest – in sweats with a messy bun and a cold foam cold brew.
Rebecca Bender
CEO & Founder, RBI, Survivor Leader and Author of In Pursuit of Love
Valerie is looking forward to using her creative ideas, skills, and knowledge to help EHN's marketing jump to the next level and help as many survivors as possible.
Valerie Bonner
Senior Producer, FCB Chicago
Jennifer believes we are here to do much more and bigger things outside of ourselves. So when the opportunity presented itself to work with EHN, she quickly agreed. With her branding and design experience, she's the perfect person to help take EHN's brand to the next level.
Jennifer Medina-McCormick
Owner/Creative Director, Medina Creative Design
Tonya believes that survivors should be given the option for a new destination - ``Destination; Her Choice.``
Tonya Cornileus
VP of Development, Inclusion and Wellness, ESPN
Part time dog walker and full-time dog mom - McKenna's life was changed forever when she realized human trafficking is happening in her back yard. She is now part of the movement and part of EHN!