What You Don’t See: Understanding Human Trafficking and Finding Hope

PEHT Artists and Survivors create art that tell a story - of survival, growth, and hope. Thanks to PEHT's social enterprise and community partnerships, they have transformed their creative gifts into meaningful work. Their handmade pieces serve as powerful reminders that recovery is possible, and that beauty can rise from even the darkest places.

Jamie Manirakiza, has over 15 years of experience in the field of anti-human trafficking. As the Executive Director of Partnership to End Human Trafficking, she brings her experience working in various roles throughout the Northeast. Jamie joined PEHT as the Executive Director in July 2020, to establish one of Connecticut’s first residential programs for survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. As Executive Director, Jamie has helped to establish a 24-month residential program and re-launch a survivor led Social Enterprise business providing employment opportunities for women who have experienced human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation or sexual violence. Prior to joining PEHT, Jamie, held several key roles with The Salvation Army. Her longest position was in Greater Philadelphia as Director of Anti Trafficking for the New Day to Stop Trafficking Program. Most notably, Jamie helped to start a drop-in center for women victimized by the commercial sex industry and was part of the founding team to open up a residential program, incorporating models of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and the Sanctuary Model ® for trauma-informed care. Jamie continues to serve as an adjunct professor for Vanguard University’s Human Trafficking Certificate Program and has consulted on crime victim services for a number of national organizations. Jamie received her MSW degree from the University of Pennsylvania and is a licensed social worker.

From 2009 to 2023, Kevin Ryan served as the president and CEO of Covenant House International, which serves tens of thousands of children and youth facing homelessness and human trafficking across North and Central America each year. He currently serves by appointment of  judges in California, Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and Texas as a monitor of court-ordered constitutional reforms of child-serving systems.

He is the co-author of the national best seller, Almost Home, which chronicles the lives of youth facing homelessness and trafficking in the United States and Canada. President Barak Obama appointed him to the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Vatican Mission to the United Nations presented him with its Path to Peace Award.

He has a J.D. degree from Georgetown Law School, a Master of Laws (LLM) from New York University Law School, and a B.A. from the Catholic University of America. He is a former Skadden Fellow and Wasserstein Fellow at Harvard Law School, and was the first public Child Advocate and the first Commissioner of Children and Families in New Jersey. A big believer in the power of art to create change, Kevin is a Tony and Olivier Award-winning producer and a member of the Sheen Center’s Board of Directors.

Victim Specialist Laura Riso started her tenure with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1998 and has worked within multiple FBI Divisions. With over 18 years of experience as a highly skilled and dedicated Victim Specialist, Ms. Riso has provided tailored direct services to over 2,200 federal crime victims across 752 FBI investigations. She coordinates and delivers essential support to victims and survivors of various federal crimes, including Human Trafficking, Violent Crimes Against Children, Domestic and International Terrorism, Civil Rights Violations, Fraud, Cyber Crime, Art Theft, Transnational Organized Crime, and Crimes Aboard Aircraft and Cruise Ships. Additionally, Ms. Riso serves as an Acting Program Manager/Relief Supervisor within the Victim Services Division, demonstrating leadership and expertise in managing complex cases. Ms. Riso's commitment to empowering victims and survivors, coupled with in-depth knowledge of federal crime investigations, has allowed her to provide critical assistance to those impacted by some of the most severe crimes.

Taina Bien-Aimé has three decades of experience defending the rights of women and girls at the national and global levels.  She is currently the Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), one of the oldest international organizations dedicated to ending trafficking in women and girls and commercial sexual exploitation as practices of gender-based violence and discrimination. Prior to this position and for twenty years, Taina was involved with Equality Now, a global organization working to promote the human rights of women and girls, first as a founding Board member and subsequently as its Executive Director for ten years. She was also a Director of Business Affairs at Home Box Office and practiced international corporate law at the Wall Street law firm, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. Taina holds a Juris Doctor from the NYU School of Law and a degree in Political Science from the University of Geneva/Graduate School of International Studies in Switzerland.  Taina has extensive media experience and was honored with a number of awards for her campaigns to secure equality for women and girls globally. She was named on the 2021 Forbes’ inaugural list of 50>50 Women Who Have Made a Social Impact.  Just last month, she pinned with the Knight of the Legion of Honor Medal, the highest distinction bestowed by the Government of France in recognition of civilian merit.