To honor Human Trafficking Awareness Day, each week in January we will be posting a “Community Champion Spotlight” highlighting two individuals who exemplify excellent anti-trafficking work in New Orleans.

Our fourth and final highlight of 2020 focuses on two trailblazing newcomers to the New Orleans anti-trafficking movement. They are Maria-Isabella Pontoriero from the New Orleans Children’s Advocacy Center, and Mary Anne Mushatt, the Community Awareness Committee Chair for the GNOHTTF.

To honor Human Trafficking Awareness Day, each week in January we will be posting a “Community Champion Spotlight” highlighting two individuals who exemplify excellent anti-trafficking work in New Orleans.

Our third highlight features leaders who have been long-term staples in the New Orleans anti-trafficking community. Both were nominated because of their leadership, commitment to treating survivors with dignity, and dedication to collaboration. They are Judge Joy Lobrano and Detective Kay Horne.

To honor Human Trafficking Awareness Day, each week in January we will be posting a “Community Champion Spotlight” highlighting two individuals who exemplify excellent anti-trafficking work in New Orleans.

Our second highlight features leaders in the legal services field. Both were nominated because of their leadership, commitment to treating survivors with dignity, and dedication to collaboration. They are Fahreta Muminovic of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans and Ranie Thompson of CrescentCare.

To honor Human Trafficking Awareness Day, each week in January we will be posting a “Community Champion Spotlight” highlighting 2 individuals who exemplify excellent anti-trafficking work in New Orleans.

Our first highlight features members of funded GNOHTTF service provider agencies. Both were nominated because of their leadership, commitment to treating victims/survivors with dignity, and dedication to collaboration. They have raised the bar on survivor services in New Orleans. They are Ariel Gutierrez of the New Orleans Family Justice Center, and Ruth Goldberg of

Our fourth highlight features two community members who are sharing the truth about trafficking experiences in unique ways. Dr. Laura Murphy conducts research on human trafficking, highlighting survivor experiences and leading the community through evidence-based understandings of the crime. Nadia Lee is a Survivor Leader and Eden House employee who shares her lived experience to provide prevention education to at-risk youth.

Each week for the month of January, we will be highlighting individuals who have gone above and beyond in the Greater New Orleans community to serve victims and survivors of human trafficking. Each individual was nominated by Task Force members. Community champions represent a variety of different disciplines and perspectives from the anti-trafficking movement.

Our second highlight features innovators who are bringing promising practices to the New Orleans juvenile justice system: Storm Ehlers and Samantha Sahl. These young professionals were nominated because of their commitment to evidence-based practices and continuous engagement and collaboration with community members.

To honor Human Trafficking Awareness Day, each week in January we will be posting a “Community Champion Spotlight” highlighting 2 individuals who exemplify excellent anti-trafficking work in New Orleans.

Our first Community Champion Spotlight features members of our lead Task Force agencies. Both were nominated because of their leadership, commitment to treating victims/survivors with dignity, and dedication to collaboration. Both are individuals who have made themselves available all hours of the day, and are known as people you can count on to help out in any situation. They are Lieutenant Billy Hare, Commander of Vice Division for Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Sheri Lochridge, Senior Human Trafficking Case Manager for Covenant House New Orleans.