Trainers include: Angie Conn, Rachel Thomas, Carissa Phelps, or Dr. Debbie Lassiter
Angie Conn is an independent consultant for SheWhoDares, LLC, which she founded in 2018 to empower others to dare to face and overcome their trauma. She is a survivor of domestic sex-trafficking, abuse, and addiction; her joyful and resilient spirit inspires and engages listeners. Angie sits on both the Survivor Alliance Network and the West Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force. In 2018, she was awarded the ‘Special Courage Award’ by the United States Attorney Southern District of West Virginia for being a champion for victims and survivors of human trafficking in her home state.
Rachel Thomas, M. Ed is the director of Sowers Education Group, lead author of Ending The Game Curriculum, and a personal survivor of domestic sex trafficking. She is a graduate of the UCLA School of Education and has over 12 years’ experience teaching, training, mentoring and curriculum writing. Since its inception in 2012, Sowers has created employment opportunities for 24 survivors, reached over 100,000 live audience members and millions more through media. Rachel and others from the Ending The Game Team have been featured on numerous media outlets including CNN, HLN, The T.D. Jakes Show and The New York Times Upfront Magazine. She was recently appointed to the United States Council on Human Trafficking.
Carissa Phelps, PhD, is the founder of Runaway Girl. She is a licensed attorney, author, trainer, consultant and small business owner. Carissa’s fearless leadership in the survivor community has led to an increased level of awareness among communities, as well as improved legislation and responses to human trafficking victims, especially children. Carissa’s inspiring memoir Runaway Girl: Escaping Life on the Streets, One Helping Hand at a Time, has been instrumental in changing countless hearts and minds. In 2008, she co-produced the award winning short documentary that took her back to the streets where she was trafficked at 12 years old. Her memoir and film are used as tools to train and teach by organizations worldwide. In 2007, Carissa earned both a Juris Doctorate and MBA from UCLA. In 2010, she was named one of the top 100 inspirational graduates by UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Dr. Debbie Lassiter is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Convergence Resource Center. Dr. Lassiter has provided support and mentorship to men and women rebuilding their lives after trauma for over 40 years. In 2012 Dr. Lassiter launched the Human and Sex Trafficking Support Initiative and began hosting community awareness events. Dr. Debbie is a sought after panelist, presenter, and trainer raising awareness to human trafficking and launched the HEMAD (Human trafficking Educators working with Men and boys Against the Demand) project to address the demand side of the commercial sex trade reaching over 45,000 men that now take a stand against human trafficking. In 2014 Dr. Lassiter was honored by the Department Of Justice with the National Crime Victims Award for her work with Human Trafficking Survivors and again in 2016 by the Department of Corrections. A few months later Dr. Lassiter was named one of the 50 heroes of Fortune 500. In 2016 she received the Citizens Distinguished Service Award from the Sheboygan Police Department. Dr. Lassiter delivers the hard truths with humor and humanitarianism making her unique and highly effective.