Moderator: Dr. Brook Bello

Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama and the White House, Dr. Brook Parker-Bello is a resilient advocate against human trafficking. Drawing from her diverse experiences as an actress, justice advocate, and thought leader, she offers a critical perspective on the root causes of human trafficking, emphasizing avenues for prevention and victim services. In her commitment to ensuring survivors have a voice and a reliable source for help and healing, Brook founded More Too Life, Inc., an organization that has been a beacon of hope across America and around the world for 19 years.  

In addition to her work with More Too Life, Brook has developed digital and educational curriculum platforms dedicated to preventing sexual exploitation and gender-based violence. These platforms, including Legacy of The Father, RJEDE, and Live Until You Die, are integral to court-appointed courses in Miami/Dade County and Florida.  

Having ventured into the tech and copy world, Brook launched Eval, a groundbreaking mental healthcare tech, immediately chosen by Techstars Founders Catalyst. As an alumnus of the Master’s Series of Distinguished Leaders, she holds a US Patent in technology and is the creator of innovative software in mental healthcare, case management, AI, and machine learning virtual reality.  

Brook is also an accomplished author, with notable works such as “Living Inside the Rainbow: Winning the Battlefield of The Mind After Human Trafficking and Mental Bondage,” and “S+CxM=O,” an inspiring exploration of faith and destiny. Her recent releases include “Shame Undone,” a compelling story about a teenager escaping family abuse, and “Fine Heart Table Book,” supported by All for Humanity, showcasing paintings by survivors. The table book, championed by Marina Picasso and the Carlyle Group, launched at the Picasso Villa in Cannes and featured at special events in Monaco 2022, where Brook was a speaker at the Carlyle Global Summit.  

With a Ph.D. in Pastoral Clinical Counseling, Brook combines her academic background with determination to make a significant impact in the fight against human trafficking. Recognized globally, she has spoken at the United Nations, alongside presidents, prime ministers, and fellow change-makers in various forums, including universities, federal agencies, podcasts, and publications such as Yahoo Finance, Ebony, Essene, and digital platforms. Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi and Governor Rick Scott named her Advocate of the Year, and United Way Worldwide recognized her as a Hero on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Google also honored Brook as a Google Next-Gen Fellow for the years 2017-2024.  

Brook attended Seminary, studying behavior and faith, opening doors to collaborations with the FBI, DOJ, US HHS, Harvard, Georgetown Law School, and numerous for-profit and nonprofit entities in the US, Europe, Singapore, and the Caribbean. Her mission has consistently been to raise awareness and support initiatives addressing contemporary life-shattering issues. An inspiration and role model for individuals of all genders, Brook resides in South Florida with her husband and two pups, passionately collaborating with staff, colleagues, and partners worldwide. Her unwavering stance is, “I raise up my voice with love—not to shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” 

Rachelle Starr is a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and pioneer in reaching exploited 

individuals. As the President of Freedom Signal, she leads efforts to leverage technology 

in combating human trafficking and exploitation. Rachelle is also the Founder of Scarlet 

Hope, a national organization with direct care services for women who are experiencing 

exploitation through the adult entertainment industry. A thought-leader, Rachelle shares 

her insights on technology, direct service and inspires audiences to join a redemptive 

impact in fighting for freedom for the rights of exploited individuals. 

Freedom Signal is an online app for service providers and advocates who specialize in 

reaching victims of online sex trafficking or sexual exploitation

Brenda Mezick received her law degree from Georgetown University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in English. She has been an Assistant State Attorney for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit for twenty-nine years. She has specialized in the prosecution of offenses involving homicide, cyber-crimes, capital sexual battery, human trafficking, and financial crimes against the elderly. She is currently the Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit and the attorney supervisor for the State Attorney’s Human Trafficking Task Force. She has participated in the drafting of several successful legislative initiatives to help improve Florida’s legal infrastructure for human trafficking victims and minors. She is a co-chair of the Elderly and Vulnerable Adult Work Group. She has taught for the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative, the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, the National District Attorneys Association, and the Miami-Dade Bar Association. She has presented at numerous law enforcement trainings, conferences, and community events and has served as an adjunct instructor for the Florida International University’s Criminology Department. She is the recipient of the Florida Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecutor of the Year Award, the Women’s Fund Law Enforcement Visionary Award, the National Crime Victims’ Rights Committee Justice for All Award, the CABA Pro Bono Award, the Dade Chiefs of Police ASA Recognition Award, and the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award of Distinction. 

Moderator: Dr. Brook Bello

Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama and the White House, Dr. Brook Parker-Bello is a resilient advocate against human trafficking. Drawing from her diverse experiences as an actress, justice advocate, and thought leader, she offers a critical perspective on the root causes of human trafficking, emphasizing avenues for prevention and victim services. In her commitment to ensuring survivors have a voice and a reliable source for help and healing, Brook founded More Too Life, Inc., an organization that has been a beacon of hope across America and around the world for 19 years.  

In addition to her work with More Too Life, Brook has developed digital and educational curriculum platforms dedicated to preventing sexual exploitation and gender-based violence. These platforms, including Legacy of The Father, RJEDE, and Live Until You Die, are integral to court-appointed courses in Miami/Dade County and Florida.  

Having ventured into the tech and copy world, Brook launched Eval, a groundbreaking mental healthcare tech, immediately chosen by Techstars Founders Catalyst. As an alumnus of the Master’s Series of Distinguished Leaders, she holds a US Patent in technology and is the creator of innovative software in mental healthcare, case management, AI, and machine learning virtual reality.  

Brook is also an accomplished author, with notable works such as “Living Inside the Rainbow: Winning the Battlefield of The Mind After Human Trafficking and Mental Bondage,” and “S+CxM=O,” an inspiring exploration of faith and destiny. Her recent releases include “Shame Undone,” a compelling story about a teenager escaping family abuse, and “Fine Heart Table Book,” supported by All for Humanity, showcasing paintings by survivors. The table book, championed by Marina Picasso and the Carlyle Group, launched at the Picasso Villa in Cannes and featured at special events in Monaco 2022, where Brook was a speaker at the Carlyle Global Summit.  

With a Ph.D. in Pastoral Clinical Counseling, Brook combines her academic background with determination to make a significant impact in the fight against human trafficking. Recognized globally, she has spoken at the United Nations, alongside presidents, prime ministers, and fellow change-makers in various forums, including universities, federal agencies, podcasts, and publications such as Yahoo Finance, Ebony, Essene, and digital platforms. Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi and Governor Rick Scott named her Advocate of the Year, and United Way Worldwide recognized her as a Hero on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Google also honored Brook as a Google Next-Gen Fellow for the years 2017-2024.  

Brook attended Seminary, studying behavior and faith, opening doors to collaborations with the FBI, DOJ, US HHS, Harvard, Georgetown Law School, and numerous for-profit and nonprofit entities in the US, Europe, Singapore, and the Caribbean. Her mission has consistently been to raise awareness and support initiatives addressing contemporary life-shattering issues. An inspiration and role model for individuals of all genders, Brook resides in South Florida with her husband and two pups, passionately collaborating with staff, colleagues, and partners worldwide. Her unwavering stance is, “I raise up my voice with love—not to shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” 

Melissa YAO is the Executive Director of the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance. Melissa has her master’s degree in international development from Eastern University and has worked in the anti-trafficking field for over ten years at both the local and national level. For nearly eight years, Melissa worked in a direct service role at a long-term restoration home for survivors, where she noticed firsthand how service providers often felt siloed in their work. It was through this experience that Melissa realized the importance of building bridges and cultivating collaboration- forming a national community led by the belief that we rise by lifting others. As the Executive Director of NTSA, Melissa has had the opportunity to see the diversity of programs supporting survivors across the US and share with the service providers on the ground about the needs, challenges, and wins they experience for survivors in their programs. Before joining the anti-trafficking field, Melissa worked in advocacy and policy, supporting issues related to hunger and poverty. 

Ana Cutter Patel is the Washington D.C. Liaison for the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (UN Human Rights), bringing 25 years of experience in international peacebuilding, gender empowerment, and human rights to this new role. Previously, she served as the U.S. Representative for Front Line Defenders, leading the U.S. advocacy and representation for human rights defenders at risk.  Among other prior professional roles, Ana has served as the executive director of Outward Bound Center for Peacebuilding, the Deputy Director for the International Policymakers Unit at the International Center for Transitional Justice, a lecturer at Columbia University, and worked as a consultant with the UN Development Programme and the UN Department of Peacekeeping.  Ana has co-edited two publications “Disarming the Past: Transitional Justice and Ex-combatants” in January 2010 and “Experiential Peacebuilding” in September 2019. Ana initiated her career as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic. Patel holds a master’s in international affairs from Columbia University and graduated from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She earned a graduate certificate in peacebuilding from the Rotary Peace Center at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. 

Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama and the White House, Dr. Brook Parker-Bello is a resilient advocate against human trafficking. Drawing from her diverse experiences as an actress, justice advocate, and thought leader, she offers a critical perspective on the root causes of human trafficking, emphasizing avenues for prevention and victim services. In her commitment to ensuring survivors have a voice and a reliable source for help and healing, Brook founded More Too Life, Inc., an organization that has been a beacon of hope across America and around the world for 19 years.  In addition to her work with More Too Life, Brook has developed digital and educational curriculum platforms dedicated to preventing sexual exploitation and gender-based violence. These platforms, including Legacy of The Father, RJEDE, and Live Until You Die, are integral to court-appointed courses in Miami/Dade County and Florida.  

Having ventured into the tech and copy world, Brook launched Eval, a groundbreaking mental healthcare tech, immediately chosen by Techstars Founders Catalyst. As an alumnus of the Master’s Series of Distinguished Leaders, she holds a US Patent in technology and is the creator of innovative software in mental healthcare, case management, AI, and machine learning virtual reality

Brook is also an accomplished author, with notable works such as “Living Inside the Rainbow: Winning the Battlefield of The Mind After Human Trafficking and Mental Bondage,” and “S+CxM=O,” an inspiring exploration of faith and destiny. Her recent releases include “Shame Undone,” a compelling story about a teenager escaping family abuse, and “Fine Heart Table Book,” supported by All for Humanity, showcasing paintings by survivors. The table book, championed by Marina Picasso and the Carlyle Group, launched at the Picasso Villa in Cannes and featured at special events in Monaco 2022, where Brook was a speaker at the Carlyle Global Summit.  

  With a Ph.D. in Pastoral Clinical Counseling, Brook combines her academic background with determination to make a significant impact in the fight against human trafficking. Recognized globally, she has spoken at the United Nations, alongside presidents, prime ministers, and fellow change-makers in various forums, including universities, federal agencies, podcasts, and publications such as Yahoo Finance, Ebony, Essene, and digital platforms. Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi and Governor Rick Scott named her Advocate of the Year, and United Way Worldwide recognized her as a Hero on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Google also honored Brook as a Google Next-Gen Fellow for the years 2017-2024.  

Brook attended Seminary, studying behavior and faith, opening doors to collaborations with the FBI, DOJ, US HHS, Harvard, Georgetown Law School, and numerous for-profit and nonprofit entities in the US, Europe, Singapore, and the Caribbean. Her mission has consistently been to raise awareness and support initiatives addressing contemporary life-shattering issues. An inspiration and role model for individuals of all genders, Brook resides in South Florida with her husband and two pups, passionately collaborating with staff, colleagues, and partners worldwide. Her unwavering stance is, “I raise up my voice with love—not to shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” 

Rochelle Keyhan is a distinguished leader in the fight against human trafficking, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Collective Liberty and recognized as the 2018 Thomson Reuters Foundation Stop Slavery Hero. With a track record, Rochelle’s accomplishments include being a finalist at SXSW’s 2020 Pitch event, securing victories in MassChallenge and Innovate4Good competitions, and pioneering a technical solution to the nation’s data-collection approach to combat human trafficking. This innovative, tech-driven solution was described as the Washington Post  in March 2020 as a “21st-century solution to an age-old problem.” Her expertise is sought by government officials, financial institutions, and both for-profit and non-profit corporations nationwide. Keyhan extends her impact globally, providing technical assistance to organizations in Europe. 

Boasting a decade of experience in government and non-profit advocacy for vulnerable populations, Rochelle focuses on gender-based violence issues, including domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. In her role as CEO at Collective Liberty, she leads the strategic direction and collaborations aimed at disrupting specific types of human trafficking. Keyhan excels in building collaborative networks of law enforcement, agency stakeholders, and service providers, forging relationships and coalitions to drive public policy initiatives for systemic change. 

Under Rochelle’s leadership, Collective Liberty has played a pivotal role in supporting the passage of over 30 laws across the United States. Her team has trained over 12,000 police officers, detectives, and financial crimes investigators, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of traffickers and the closure of over 1,000 trafficking venues. This impact is from over 450 agencies, working to increase support for victims, and shifting criminal energy toward exploiters and away from the potential victims. 

A sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, Rochelle advises on global policies and criminal justice best practices for supporting survivors of human trafficking while dismantling criminal networks. Her team’s comprehensive analysis of national trends and best practices informs the creation of training programs and resources, contributing to the effective and systemic eradication of trafficking in the United States. 

Rushan Abbas’s activism started in the mid-1980s as a student at Xinjiang University, co-organizing pro-democracy demonstrations in Urumchi in 1985 and 1988. Since her arrival in the United States in 1989, Ms. Abbas has been an ardent campaigner for the human rights of the Uyghur people. Ms. Abbas is the founder and executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) and became one of the most prominent Uyghur voices in international activism for Uyghurs following her sister’s detainment by the Chinese government in 2018. Ms. Abbas has spearheaded numerous campaigns, including the “One Voice One Step” movement, which culminated in a simultaneous demonstration in 14 countries and 18 cities on March 15, 2018, to protest China’s detention of millions of Uyghurs in concentration camps. 

Ms. Abbas frequently briefs global lawmakers and officials on the Uyghur genocide and provides testimonies at legislative bodies worldwide, such as the U.S. Congress, and other parliaments. She advocates for raising awareness and engaging in discussions on policy options to address the challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party and halt the ongoing Uyghur genocide. She also serves as the Chairperson for the Advisory Board of the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation and as a board member of the Task Force on Human Trafficking within the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum. 

In 2019, Ms. Abbas received the Freedom Fighter Award, and her work was recognized at the National Prayer Breakfast in February 2020. Under her leadership, CFU published the ‘Genocide in East Turkistan’ report in July 2020, leading to the organization receiving the World Democracy Courage Tribute in 2021 and a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2022. 

Karen Stauss is the Director of Strategic Engagement at Transparentem where she oversees the organization’s engagement with the private sector to remedy labor and environmental abuses connected to global supply chains. Prior to that, Karen served as senior policy counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit (HTPU) from 2016 to 2023. She worked on legislative and executive branch policy proposals affecting the capacity of the unit and of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to prosecute trafficking, and supports building capacity among HTPU’s enforcement partners.

Ms. Stauss was previously the director of programs for Free the Slaves from 2010 to 2016, where she was responsible for overseeing the organization’s policy advocacy work and its partnerships with community-based organizations in eight countries. She was managing attorney and policy counsel at Polaris Project, a national anti-trafficking organization, from 2006 to 2010. From 2003 to 2006, Ms. Stauss was an Africa researcher with Human Rights Watch, where she operated the field office in Democratic Republic of the Congo after holding a yearlong fellowship conducting human rights research in Nigeria. She investigated war crimes and other human rights abuses, conducted advocacy, and strengthened human rights group networks.

Ms. Stauss holds a bachelor’s from Duke University and her law degree from Columbia Law School. Karen is fluent in French and speaks basic Spanish and German. She is a lecturer at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

*Organizational affiliations are for ID purposes only.

Sara Woldehanna social science researcher and evaluator with more than 20 years of experience in the design and implementation of social science research. At present, Sara is the Managing Director of Data, Strategy, and Impact. She leads a team of researchers and analysts to support Polaris’s mission of dismantling systems that enable human trafficking. The team produces the largest data set on trafficking in the USA through the operation of the National Human Trafficking Hotline. In 2023, Sara led a team with diverse lived and technical experience to deploy the National Survivor Study (NSS), developed in full partnership with survivors of human trafficking. Sara has a Master’s degree in Applied Anthropology, a Masters in Mechanical Engineering, and a B.A. in Physics.

Ms. Alex Nguyen is currently a Director of Product & Analytics at Ulula, a Canadian company founded in 2013. Ulula has been an award-winning, global leader in accessible digital engagement technology to capture human and labor rights risks in global supply chains. Ulula has a broad diversity of projects with clients and partners around the world, in multiple sectors including mining, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, etc. Industry associations such as amfori and Sedex, as well as many multinational companies, have used Ulula’s suite of tools to measure, monitor, and improve labour conditions to mitigate human rights risks in their global supply chains.  Before joining Ulula in 2021, Ms Nguyen worked in the UN systems, including at the International Labour Organisation and the Office of the UN Secretary-General

Joanna is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Freedom United, a digital-based global community against modern slavery powering action for change. Joanna is also a trustee at Labour Behind the Label Trust – campaigning for workers’ rights in the clothing industry. At the end of 2021 she completed her term as Chair of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative UK, during which she received an innovation award for the newly created Commonwealth 8.7 Network on modern slavery. Joanna was previously with Walk Free and Anti-Slavery International, where she developed and directed their work on business engagement, including coordinating the Cotton Campaign in Europe. Joanna is a contributing author to books including Vulnerability, exploitation and migrants: Insecure work in a globalised economy (Palgrave, 2015), and The SAGE Handbook of Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery. (SAGE, 2018). Her international human rights experience spans the UK diplomatic service, academia, and philanthropy, managing multi-million dollar budgets. Joanna holds a Masters in Understanding and Securing Human Rights from the University of London. 

Kate Price is the Executive Director of ACT Alberta, a seasoned fundraiser, and a non-profit strategist who is passionate about social impact work. Over the last fifteen years, she has worked at the intersection of altruism and innovation, raising critical funds for charities across Canada. She has held executive leadership roles with Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society and Fort Calgary National Historic Site, led Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity’s flagship fundraiser, the Midsummer Ball Weekend, and sat on the Board of Directors of the National accessArts Centre, Canada’s largest disability arts organization.   

Kate holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Royal Roads University, her Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) designation, and is an MBA candidate with the University of Calgary. 

Bryon Lippincott is the Head of Communications and Digital Engagement for Free the Slaves. 

He is passionate about helping people experiencing marginalization or vulnerability access safegy and belonging within healthy communities, as well as helping organizations represent these communities and individuals in ways that honor their dignity and respect their value as human beings. 

He holds an M.A. in Strategic Communication from California Baptist University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Peacebuilding at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. His research focuses on the role of rhetoric and mass communication in the development of conflict and the opportunities they present for catalyzing and maintaining peace. 

Prior to working for Free the Slaves, Bryon ran a creative agency specializing in strategic communications and media production for NGOs in Asia. He has partnered with more than 100 organizations and individuals in 13 countries. In this role, he partnered with organizations working with child vulnerability, anti-trafficking, HIV/AIDS, refugees and asylum seekers, agriculture, poverty alleviation/community development, and education. 

Though Bryon was born and raised on a family farm in Nebraska, USA, his love for intercultural and humanitarian causes brought him to Asia, where he has lived and worked for over ten years. He lived in China and Cambodia before moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where he lives now with his wife, two children, and two cats.