The Everyday Advocate

78 - Schools as a Protective Factor *Best of Episode*

What if one trusted teacher could change the trajectory of a child’s life? In this episode, Jessica and Audrey sit down with Dr. Keeanna Warren, CEO of Purdue Polytechnic High School, to explore the powerful intersection between education and anti-trafficking work. Together, they unpack how schools can become protective spaces for vulnerable youth, why relationships matter more than ever, and what educators, parents, and communities can do to better support students navigating trauma, mental health struggles, and identity development. Dr. Warren shares how her schools are reimagining education through restorative practices, relationship-centered learning, and student empowerment while also addressing the real challenges students face today, including social media pressure, mental health concerns, domestic violence, and exploitation. This conversation is a reminder that preventing trafficking is not just the responsibility of one organization or system. It takes all of us working together to create safe spaces where young people are seen, valued, and supported. What You Will Learn: How education and anti-trafficking efforts intersect in everyday life. Why strong relationships with trusted adults are a major protective factor for students. The importance of teaching students how to think instead of what to think. How restorative practices can help students feel emotionally and physically safe at school. Why mental health support and community partnerships are essential for student success. How social media and technology are impacting students’ mental health and identity development. Ways teachers and schools can recognize warning signs of abuse, trafficking, or unsafe situations. Why empowering students to educate and advocate for their peers can create lasting change. How communities can support schools and vulnerable youth before crisis situations happen. The role parents, educators, churches, mentors, and organizations all play in protecting children. FAQ: How can schools help prevent human trafficking? Schools can help prevent human trafficking by building strong relationships with students, training educators to recognize warning signs, creating emotionally safe environments, and partnering with community organizations that support vulnerable youth. What are protective factors that help keep students safe? Protective factors include trusted adult relationships, emotional support, safe school environments, mental health resources, community involvement, and positive peer connections. Why are teachers important in identifying trafficking or abuse? Teachers interact with students daily and are often able to notice behavioral changes, emotional distress, attendance issues, or signs that something may be wrong in a student’s life.

77 - Online Safety for Everyone with kNot Today *Best of Episode*

Most parents think human trafficking looks like a stranger in a van, but today, it’s happening through screens, games, and social media. Alyssa Van Vactor, Executive Director of kNot Today works to share knowledge and resources that educate families and parents about human trafficking. Join hosts Jessica Evans and Audrey Hood as they share stories and resources for you to learn and be an everyday advocate. This episode breaks down how online grooming actually works, why even “good kids from good families” are at risk, and what parents, caregivers, and communities can do to protect the next generation. You’ll also hear practical tools, real-life examples, and simple ways to start conversations that could make all the difference. If you have kids, work with kids, or simply care about protecting them, this is a conversation you cannot afford to skip. What You Will Learn: How online grooming is now one of the leading pathways into human trafficking. What predators are actually doing inside games, apps, and social platforms. Why kids are especially vulnerable due to brain development and emotional needs. How insecurity, loneliness, and curiosity are being exploited online. What red flags to watch for in both children and suspicious behavior. Simple ways to start age-appropriate conversations about online safety. How to monitor devices and apps without completely losing trust. What tools and resources exist to help parents stay proactive. Why awareness, not fear, is the key to prevention. FAQ: How does online activity connect to human trafficking? Many trafficking situations now begin with online grooming, where predators build trust through conversations before exploiting or manipulating a child. What apps or platforms are most risky? Any platform with chat features, including gaming systems, social media, and messaging apps, can be used for grooming if not monitored. At what age should parents start talking about online safety? Conversations can begin as early as toddler years with body safety, and should evolve into deeper discussions about relationships, boundaries, and online behavior as kids grow. What are signs a child might be at risk? Changes in behavior, secrecy around devices, new “friends” they won’t explain, or sudden exposure to inappropriate content can all be warning signs. FREE COMMUNITY EVENT MAY 12 AT 6:30 PM EST Ascension St. Vincent – William K. Nasser, MD, Healthcare Education and Simulation Center 1801 W 86th Street Indianapolis, 46260 Register here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/alliesinc/event/empoweredtoprotectonlinesafetyforfamilies/ More about kNot Today: https://knottoday.org/ kNot Today Child Protection Guide for Parents & Caregivers: https://knottoday.org/guide/  https://www.defendyoungminds.com LOVE. RESPECT. COMMUNITY Allies, Inc empowers survivors of trafficking & sexual exploitation through mentorship and family support Visit ⁠Allies⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/] to learn more about programs and ways you can support. ⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/] Donate ⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/donate/ [https://www.allies-inc.org/donate/]

76 - How Allies Is Expanding Its Mission in 2026

Season four of The Everyday Advocate Podcast is here. In this episode, Jessica Evans shares a powerful update on Allies Inc., celebrating 15 years of impact while stepping into a new season of growth, expansion, and deeper community connection. If you’ve ever wondered how you can make a difference, this conversation will show you exactly where to start. What You Will Learn: How Allies Inc. has grown over the past 15 years and what has made its impact sustainable. Why mentorship creates long-term transformation through safe and consistent relationships. What new data reveals about the success and future direction of the mentorship program. How community involvement plays a critical role in supporting survivors. Ways you can get involved through events, volunteering, or sharing the mission. FAQ: What is Allies Inc.? Allies Inc. is a nonprofit organization that empowers survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation through mentorship and supportive community programs. What is the mentorship program focused on? The program focuses on building safe, consistent relationships that support healing, stability, and long-term personal growth. What new developments are happening in 2026? Allies is expanding its programs, adding new staff, launching a volunteer platform, and introducing new initiatives to support independent living skills. What is the Illuminate event? Illuminate is Allies’ annual celebration event that brings the community together to reflect on impact and support future growth. Learn more about becoming a mentor with Allies: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/becoming-a-mentor/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/becoming-a-mentor/] LOVE. RESPECT. COMMUNITY Allies empowers survivors of trafficking & sexual exploitation through mentorship and family support Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Allies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/] to learn more about programs and ways you can support. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/] Donate ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/donate/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/donate/]

75 - The Quiet Power of Showing Up

In this heartfelt wrap-up to our mentorship series, host Jessica Evans sits down with mentor coach Lisa Pirinelli to explore what it really means to support a mentor-mentee relationship from behind the scenes. Lisa shares how she became involved with Allies in a nontraditional way, what she’s learned about herself through coaching, and the powerful impact of simply showing up consistently and compassionately. Lisa highlights how suffering often plants the seeds of passion and why being a steady presence matters more than having all the answers. You’ll hear her perspective on navigating hard conversations, supporting both mentors and mentees, and what keeps her committed to this work even in the toughest moments. Learn more about becoming a mentor with Allies: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/becoming-a-mentor/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/becoming-a-mentor/] LOVE. RESPECT. COMMUNITY Allies empowers survivors of trafficking & sexual exploitation through mentorship and family support Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Allies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/] to learn more about programs and ways you can support. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/] Donate ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/donate/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/donate/]

74 – More Than a Mentor: A Journey of Lasting Impact

In this heartfelt episode, longtime mentor Julie Snider opens up about her long time journey with her mentee through the Allies program. Julie shares how a simple coffee meeting led to a deep and lasting relationship that has touched both their lives. From first meetings and creative outings to learning how to model healthy motherhood, Julie reflects on the powerful transformation that comes from simply showing up, listening, and loving without condition. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that mentorship isn’t about fixing someone—it’s about walking alongside them with grace, consistency, and care. Get Your Ticket to Illuminate Here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/illuminate/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/illuminate/] Learn more about becoming a mentor with Allies: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/becoming-a-mentor/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/becoming-a-mentor/] LOVE. RESPECT. COMMUNITY Allies empowers survivors of trafficking & sexual exploitation through mentorship and family support Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Allies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/] to learn more about programs and ways you can support. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/] Donate ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allies-inc.org/donate/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.allies-inc.org/donate/]