What is human trafficking?
When we hear the words “human trafficking,” it’s easy to believe that it’s a crime that only happens overseas – but the truth is, human trafficking happens right here at home, in the neighborhoods and communities we know and love. Human trafficking happens when someone is forced to work or to have sex, and it does not discriminate based on age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, or neighborhood.
Most often, victims of trafficking aren’t trafficked by strangers; they are trafficked by someone they know: a family member or a romantic partner – someone who sees their vulnerabilities and uses those vulnerabilities to abuse and exploit them.
How We Help
The Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking (CCAHT) is the only counter-trafficking organization in East Tennessee that unites and equips our community to end human trafficking while providing survivors with comprehensive, trauma-informed aftercare services, including case management, safe shelter, food and clothing, transportation, therapeutic services, community resources, and more.
Based in Knoxville, the CCAHT serves 33 counties of East Tennessee, serving as the single point of contact Tennessee Counter-Trafficking Alliance (TCTA) partner for the East Tennessee region.
Our Team
Kate Trudell
Executive Director
Kate is passionate about building connections and creating spaces that foster healing, safety, and inclusion.
Charis Mwesigwa
Housing Support Specialist
Shantel Standefer
Director of Research and Strategic Innovation
Shantel is a warrior princess who enjoys the art of exploring potential with others, showing up and showing love when it is least expected.
Amanda Stevens
Therapist-Youth and Emerging Adults
Amanda believes we are more than our trauma and with compassion, knowledge, and courage we can become an even more fierce version of ourselves.
Lisa Bolton
Director of Youth Services
Lisa is a fierce advocate that believes in the power of empathy to change the world.
Tara Davis
Community Relationship Coordinator
Tara is a relationship builder who believes in the value of people and fulfilling our purpose in the world.
Gabi Smith
Community Care Liaison – Johnson City
Gabi believes that through compassion and collaboration, we can change the lives of those in our communities that have experienced human trafficking.
Brittany Thompson
Director of Adult Services
Brittany is passionate about inspiring change in her community and in the lives of all survivors.
Judy Martinez
Youth Care Coordinator
Judy is passionate about being a sister to anyone who needs a family, support, and love!
Bethany Norris
Group Facilitator
More info on Bethany to come soon!
Rana Zakaria
Community Educator
Rana is passionate about bridging health disparity gaps in the community.
Jill Ferrie
Care Coordinator
Jill loves helping others find their voice and strength while overcoming adversity and chaos.
Brianna Harrison
Care Coordinator
Brianna believes in the power of positivity and encourages others to reach for the stars.
Kristie Lee
Youth Risk Prevention Coordinator
I believe that it is possible to make the world a better place through kindness, compassion, and building relationships.
Doniqua Joyner
Care Coordinator (youth)
Doniqua is passionate about improving one’s emotional wellbeing and resiliency despite their circumstances.
Missy Anderson
Housing Support Specialist
Lacie Norris
Group Facilitator
Lacie thinks that caring for and loving others is an honor bestowed upon a select few of us.
Amanda Dykes
Lead Housing Support Specialist
Amanda loves people and is passionate about showing them that there is hope in darkness regardless of their situation.
Jill Shelton
Housing Support Specialist
Our Board of Directors
Annie Colquitt, MSW
Board President
Masters of Social Work
Joe Butler
Board Treasurer + Secretary
Senior Director, Fuel Supply & Optimization
Pilot Company
Cynthia Deitle, JD
President Elect
Director of Civil Rights Reform
Matthew Shepard Foundation
Amanda Hara
Evening Anchor/Executive Producer of Digital Content
WVLT News
Carletta Smelcer, Ed.D
Staff Therapist and Adjunct Professor at Johnson University
Sara Diamond
Anchor
WJHL-TN
Chris Rush
Assistant Professor
East Tennessee State University
Brooklyn Sawyers Belk
Lyft Litigation and Safety Counsel University of Tennessee College of Law Visiting Professor
Our Values
Each day, we choose to love the survivors we serve relentlessly and unconditionally, building long-term relationships that reach beyond direct service provision. Our love means inclusion, equality, respect, safety, hope, and friendship.
We respect and honor the resilience, courage, and perseverance of the survivors we serve, and we understand that in order to best serve them, we must provide them with individualized, holistic, end-to-end services.
We are helpers; not heroes. We are here to serve, not to judge. We listen before we speak, supporting our clients on their journeys toward restoration, supporting them as allies – not as instructors or mentors. We understand that we still have much to learn, and that we will learn most effectively with open ears, open hearts, and open minds turned toward the clients we serve, the community we love, and the partners that help make this work possible.
We could not do this work if it weren’t for the force of nonprofit organizations, law enforcement agencies, volunteers, interns, board members, faith groups, community groups, and incredible individuals of Knoxville and East Tennessee that provide ongoing support. When it comes to strengthening the movement to end human trafficking and growing our capacity to serve survivors in our community, our ability to do these things comes directly from the support of our community – and that’s powerful.
Human trafficking is a complex crime. By partnering with more than 40 nonprofits, law enforcement agencies, and governmental agencies throughout Tennessee, we seek to foster a collaborative and creative response to human trafficking.
Our aftercare services are not a one-month, six-month, or one-year program. While we have an established aftercare plan in place, we also recognize that our purpose is to provide individualized services for our clients through each unique healing journey, regardless of timing, detours, or challenges.