Audrey has dedicated her life to shedding light on human trafficking and the injustices taking place in our world. After graduating from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science in Education, she moved to Belgium to work with international students and refugees throughout Western and Eastern Europe. While living in Europe, she learned of the horrors of human trafficking firsthand when a children’s home she had been volunteering at was exposed as a front for prostitution. At the time she was a charter board member for the organization, Make Way Partners, which helped to close down the home. In an effort to rescue vulnerable children before experiencing the trauma of trafficking, Audrey moved to Alabama in 2005 to support the foundation and expansion of LUV’s indigenously directed anti-trafficking network that today spans Sudan and South Sudan. In 2018, Audrey became CEO of Lift Up the Vulnerable and leads the mission of preventing trafficking and empowering changemakers. Contact: audrey@liftupthevulnerable.org

Eugenio has a business degree focusing on clearing, forwarding, warehousing, distribution, and shipping management. He worked for 17 years at Firestone Tire Company, gaining experience working and traveling in East and Central Africa. Since 2009, he has been serving the anti-trafficking network spanning Sudan and South Sudan and played a pivotal role early on in massive infrastructure development. Through his experience in the corporate world he negotiated for better terms of payment with suppliers and better tax relief methods on supplies and construction materials. He also devised a more efficient, secure, and reliable transport system which enabled the ministry to move materials across borders. In 2019, he became LUV’s Chief Program Officer and oversees operations, programs, and leadership development in Sudan, South Sudan, and Kenya. His entire family opens their hearts and home to care for those who require emergency medical care and rehabilitation at the Kenya Safe House. Contact: eugenio@liftupthevulnerable.org

James is the founder and executive director of New Life Ministry (NLM) located along the border of Darfur. During the Sudanese Civil War, James’ village was attacked and he began a three-month trek by foot to Ethiopia with other Lost Boys. Violence in Ethiopia caused them to flee again toward Kenya. It was during this period that he was conscripted as a child soldier, carrying an AK-47 and leading other armed children. When he was eventually released, James lived in the refugee camps in Kenya where he attended school, and eventually earned the opportunity for a visa to the USA. Just as he was about to travel, he had an epiphany, and decided to return home to protect and support other survivors of the warfare in his country. In 2005, NLM became the founding member of the anti-trafficking network that today spans Sudan and South Sudan. In 2018, James was awarded the Tanenbaum Peacemaker in Action award for his years of dedication to transforming lives in warzones. Read more about NLM: Where We Work

Peter serves as the Executive Director of Hope For South Sudan (HFSS) located near the South Sudan and Ugandan border in Eastern Equitoria. Growing up in a warzone, Peter became interested early on in pursuing something greater than himself. Because educational infrastructure in his region had collapsed, when Peter was about nine years old, he left his village and walked alone for days and without food to the refugee camps in Uganda in pursuit of educational opportunities. Living as a refugee, Peter was focused on completing elementary and high school so he could be a part of growing a solution back at home. Later, he received a scholarship for a teacher training course with Emmanuel Christian College in South Sudan which led to a missionary training opportunity in Zambia. In 2013, he joined HFSS as a teacher, then deputy director, and, in 2017, Peter was promoted to serve as the executive director. Read more about HFSS: Where We Work

Martin is the deputy director of New Life Ministry (NLM) located along the border of Darfur. Martin grew up near to NLM and in 2004 he had the opportunity to attend a teacher and bible training institute in the region. He began working at NLM in 2006 as a teacher and in 2011 was promoted to compound manager to handle all logistics. During that time, he finished his diploma in secondary education. Martin is a dedicated and compassionate team member in LUV’s anti-trafficking network and since 2018 plays a vital role as deputy director at NLM. Read more about NLM: Where We Work

Anthony is the deputy director of Hope For South Sudan (HFSS) located along the border of Uganda. He is originally from the region of HFSS where his father was a primary teacher in a village school. During his secondary education, war re-erupted and he left Sudan for Uganda searching for education. He returned to South Sudan in 2003 to begin his long teaching career. In 2007, he went with Peter Lomago and Ezekiel Ayub to Zambia for further training through Emanuel Christian College on primary school teaching where he acquired a diploma. In 2010, he joined HFSS’s teaching staff, rose through the ranks to serve as Head Teacher and in 2019 he was promoted to Deputy Director. Read more about HFSS: Where We Work

Tara Herget received her BS in Psychology, Graduate Certificate in College Teaching and Leadership, and MA in Applied Learning and Instruction from the University of Central Florida. She began her career working in the private sector, assisting people with bankruptcies, family law, and criminal law but felt a desire to increase her impact in the lives of others. As a result, Tara worked at a public university to assist students in pursuing their education goals. Through this meaningful career experience, Tara obtained knowledge in various facets of nonprofit work. Additionally, She gained proficiency working on the Finance, Human Resource, Operations, and the Business Incubator Program teams. This impactful experience intensified Tara’s calling to empower and enrich the lives of others. In 2021, she became LUV’s Finance and Administrative Officer and works on all financial and administrative functions at LUV. Contact: tara@liftupthevulnerable.org

After finishing his high school education, Francis began at the Kabete Technical Training Institute where he started a Diploma in Business Administration. Before completing his degree, he returned to his home village in order to teach for several years at the primary school he grew up in. Since 2011, he has been serving the anti-trafficking network spanning Sudan and South Sudan. Today, he leads as LUV’s Kenyan Administrative Coordinator. He is responsible for personally overseeing acquisition and delivery of life-saving supplies from food to medicine to building supplies. Francis also facilitates the child welfare program and documents children in our network and trains and collaborates with the indigenous welfare team members.

Eustace Mwiti graduated with a Master’s in Public Policy and Management from the Corvinus University of Budapest in Hungary and a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and Computer Science from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya. He is passionate about youth empowerment and mentorship as well as community service. Earlier in his career, Eustace worked in the private sector in Research and ICT fields. Driven by the desire to serve the public in a role that directly impacted people’s lives, he later took up the opportunity to work in the Government of Kenya as a Program Officer for a youth program that entails training, innovation, and mentorship. Eustace is passionate about using his skills, knowledge, and abilities to positively impact society.

Jane oversees and coordinates the care for and empowerment of women and children in LUV’s Kenya Safe House and throughout the anti-trafficking network.  Prior to her journey in service of the most vulnerable, Jane worked as a receptionist for 7 years with Hyundai Motors Company and then started her own shop in Nairobi until 2009. Her heart was moved for the needs of the orphans early on and she served as an active volunteer at a children’s home in Nairobi. Jane, Eugenio and their daughters regularly open their hearts and home to love and care for the women and children that are medevaced to Kenya for emergency care. When these patients are strong enough to be released from the hospital, but not strong enough to endure the tough conditions of Sudan or South Sudan, Jane oversees their rehabilitation. Read more about the Kenya Safe House: Where We Work

Isaac is the child welfare coordinator at New Life Ministry (NLM) located along the border of Darfur. Isaac grew up near to NLM and finished his primary school in the area. After completing high school in Juba, Isaac attended medical school but his education was disrupted due to the political instability causing the school to close. After, he worked for several NGO’s and government agencies in the region before joining the NLM team in 2016. Prior too, he also served as a volunteer translator for several international medical mission teams that visited the anti-trafficking network. He holds a degree in IT and International Relations Management. Read more about NLM: Where We Work

Joseph Losigin is a Medical Clinician and public health officer that graduated from the Juba Health Science Institute. He trained at Juba Teaching Hospital and Al Sabah Children’ Hospital and has an advanced certificate in nutrition, counseling, and trauma healing.  In 2023, he joined Hope For South Sudan and serves in dual capacity as clinician and child welfare coordinator. Read more about Hope For South Sudan: Where We Work

Graduating from Auburn University with a BS degree in Global Studies, Ashton’s journey in ministry started at age 12 during her first mission trip. Since then, she’s actively engaged with nonprofit organizations and companies, specializing in marketing, communications, and donor engagement.

Ashton’s unique strength lies in her deep empathy and unwavering commitment to helping those in need. Her heartfelt dedication aligns seamlessly with LUV’s mission to prevent human trafficking and improve lives in Sudan and South Sudan.

Discovering LUV’s innovative approach to combating human trafficking and assisting vulnerable communities, Ashton found her true calling. She sees it as an extraordinary privilege to apply her skills to advance the Kingdom and uplift the lives of those who need it most.

Ashton joined LUV in 2023 and can be reached at: ashton@liftupthevulnerable.org

Katie Robinson has worked in children’s ministries since 2007. She graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a degree in English and is a trained catechist with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She has worked in marketing, communications, and advancement over the years, and her passion for children and spiritual formation has remained steadfast. Katie approaches her work with children humbly because she feels that children have an innate ability to grasp deep theological truths more easily than many adults. After learning about LUV’s ethical approach to transformational change in the region led by relationships with local partners, she was moved to be a part of the ministry. She now considers it a great privilege to be able to combine her love of working with children and her professional skills to support the work of Lift Up the Vulnerable and its partners in Sudan and South Sudan.

Louise, LCSW, is a University of NC alumna, earning both her BA in Psychology and Masters in Social Work. She is a psychotherapist in private practice in Wilmington and a Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work. She has practiced psychotherapy since 1974, seeing individuals, couples, families and groups.  She has been active on issues related to the status of women, domestic violence and child abuse. She was honored with the YMCA Academy of Women Human Services Award in 1999, the School of Social Work Outstanding Alumna of the Year 2006, and in 2019 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the YWCA. Louise joined the board of Make Way Partners in 2004 and in 2018 continued her service as chair for Lift Up the Vulnerable.

She shares, “As (my husband and I) learned more about the massive problem of human trafficking worldwide, we both knew we had found the cause of our lifetime—fighting the greatest evil of the 21st century through helping the ‘least of these’ in the most forsaken countries. I have served on many nonprofit boards, and Lift Up the Vulnerable is the most compelling and rewarding work I have ever had the privilege of doing. We have seen God use this ministry to bless helpless victims who had no hope before LUV became their advocate and protector. I urge everyone who is interested to come partner with this dedicated group of life-saving volunteers, indigenous leaders, and staff.”

John is an artist originally from Ontario that lives and works in New York. His paintings over the past three decades explore many genres, from figuration to abstraction, small scale portraits and seascapes to very large-scale cityscapes painted on the streets of New York City. He has been committed to ending human trafficking and has been involved in the mentoring and spiritual development of youth as well as the housing of the homeless through his church communities. John joined board of directors in 2018.

He writes, “Having grown up in Canada as a child of uneducated immigrants from the Netherlands I suffered, for various reasons, some of the isolation that even a Western European immigrant can face when entering a somewhat closed rural environment. I calculate that this, along with my understanding that Jesus of Nazareth calls us to identify with the poor and in some way be the poor, formed me in such a way as to have empathy for those who suffer both individually and corporately. To provide for the orphans of South Sudan was an easy move for me. Violence and corruption are not always easily corrected. Butto provide for the innocents left in the wake of incalculable horror is easily identifiable as a good. How often does the scripture make reference to the widow and the orphan?”

Carrie Hadley is an alumna from Hobart & William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, NY. After earning her bachelor’s degree in International Relations, she became the Director of Business Development for Citadel Contractors, Inc. Outside of work, Carrie is incredibly passionate about long distance running, reading and acts of community service. Currently, she is affiliated with Lift Up the Vulnerable and Variety Kids. She joined LUV’s board in 2022.

Lauran has been working for more than three decades on behalf of and caring for women and children who have been exploited and abused. She currently serves as a Consultant with grassroots organizations, encouraging the development of projects and networks which are dealing with the issues of prostitution, trafficking in persons and other forms of abuse and exploitation. She travels extensively throughout the world, teaching, training and consulting. Lauran was honored in 2005 with the Human Rights Award of the Baptist World Alliance, which was presented to her by President Jimmy Carter. In 2009, she was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Palmer Seminary for her “longstanding and focused ministry of justice and compassion”.  She joined the board of Make Way Partners in 2006 and in 2018 continued her service as board spiritual director for Lift Up the Vulnerable.

Lauran shares, “Abused, exploited and otherwise vulnerable women and children, living in one of the most volatile places on earth, have the opportunity for protection, healing and thriving through LUV. I’m passionate about serving them in any way I can!” 

Mary is a graduate of Duke University and the University of NC School of Law from which she received the “Distinguished Alumni Award” in 2016.  She practiced law for 38 years with her last legal job being her five-year term as the U.S. Commissioner for Trademarks. As Commissioner, she served as the highest-ranking U.S. Government official devoted solely to brand protection, led a 950-employee team with a $360 million budget and testified before Congress twice. Mary has received many awards throughout her career, is a lifelong Episcopalian, and actively serves with a number of non-profit groups. In 2021, she launched an interior design business: Boney Decor Solutions, LLC. Mary joined the board in 2021 to further her support for trafficked persons and her interest in telling the story of trafficked people.

“Human trafficking continues to be a global problem and is particularly widespread in the lawless regions of Sudan and South Sudan. By using indigenous leaders, LUV has found a way to effectuate change. We have to continue to help these shockingly abused women and children to help them have a life and to give them hope of a brighter future. LUV is the answer.”

Elika, MA, JD, EdD, and MSW, works as the Executive Director for VISIONS, is an adjunct instructor at NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs, and is a long-standing member of Mediators Beyond Borders International. Her professional experience includes criminal law, working with nonprofits and higher education, teaching as a professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, and a decade of work in development and humanitarian contexts in Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia with various UN agencies and INGOs. Elika is Persian-American, was accidentally locked out of Iran because of the revolution, and immigrated with her family to the USA. Most of her work abroad included access to education and child protection, as well as juvenile justice, restorative practices, and psychosocial programming all over the world. She joined LUV’s board of directors in 2021.

Elika is dedicated to supporting LUV’s mission and the work to address the various barriers that impact an individual experiencing trafficking and oppression, so they can live into their strengths and know their power.