INTENTIONAL THOUGHTFULNESS

Aberdeen Privet-Holbrook

Aberdeen Privet-Holbrook (she/her) was born and raised in Minnesota, before moving to Denver, CO in 2020. Aberdeen graduated Macalester College with her BA in Anthropology and International Studies and went on to receive her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver. As a Prevention Advisory Specialist at Love146, Aberdeen works alongside the Denver Public School District to support them in implementing Love146’s trafficking prevention curriculum Not a Number into their schools.

Prior to joining Love146, Aberdeen has worked in anti-violence advocacy for the entirety of her career, most recently as the Director of Client Services at an organization serving survivors of intimate partner violence. Aberdeen is passionate about contributing to anti-oppressive, community-driven initiatives. She feels particularly fulfilled when engaging with young people.

Aberdeen enjoys spending time with her dog, Ted, and her cat, Dezi, visiting her family in Minnesota and soaking up the sun and fresh air in the Rocky Mountains.

Andrés Lapadula

Andrés was born and raised in Miami, FL, before moving to Connecticut. Returning to Miami after high school, he returned to Connecticut in 2020. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Barry University in Miami Springs. An experienced non-profit professional, he feels most at home working with organizations with a clear and compelling mission.

As a father, Andrés wants to make sure every child receives the same love and support he is proud to provide to his son. He is committed to working to end child trafficking wherever it takes root. He hopes you will join Love146 in that fight.

When not at work, Andrés can most often be found cooking, spending time with his wife, son, and two cats, or developing film in a darkroom.

Aria Flood

Aria Flood serves as the Director of US Prevention for Love146. She is a native Floridian, but now calls Houston home. She studied Health Education and Behavior at the University of Florida, and joined Teach for America immediately following graduation. After three years in the classroom, she enrolled at the University of Texas School of Public Health where she earned her Masters degree with a concentration in community health practice.

In her role, she is responsible for curriculum development, program planning, implementation, and evaluation of U.S. prevention activities. Prior to joining the Love146 team, Aria worked on a community based participatory research project aiming to reduce teen pregnancies, where she piloted school-based curriculum activities.

She is passionate about reducing health disparities, traveling, podcasts, and spending time with her family and friends.

Carlee MacDonald

Carlee began her journey with Love146 as part of a local volunteer team, where she learned about the realities of human trafficking and committed to doing what she could to contribute to the fight against child trafficking and exploitation. She joined Love146 as an intern in the summer of 2016 and now serves as the Engagement  Administrator.

Carlee loves to hike and travel, and she has an addiction to escape rooms. More than anything Carlee enjoys spending time with friends and family, including her husband Jim and three beautiful daughters.

Chelsea Miller

Chelsea was born and raised in Humble, Texas. She attended the University of Houston where she earned a B.A. in Sociology and African American Studies. Chelsea is currently obtaining her Masters in Social Work at Baylor University. While in undergrad, she mentored teens and helped distribute food and other items with other non profits in the Houston area.

Prior to joining the Love146 team, Chelsea provided direct services to Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth for a non profit in Houston, Texas for two and a half years and also served as a Wraparound Specialist in HISD.

Chelsea is passionate about combating racial disparities in our community, protecting black and brown girls and other marginalized groups, traveling, sports, volunteering and serving others, and hanging out with her family and friends.

Desiree Lakey

Desiree Lakey is a Houston native with a drive to serve others. She received her bachelor’s degree in health studies from Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. While attending TSU, she developed such a passion for community health that she went on to receive her master’s in public health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

During graduate school, Desiree became committed to eliminating health disparities at the state and national level. She participated in breast cancer research, worked for a maternal mortality and morbidity task force, and developed curricula to aid children who have experienced interpersonal violence. Desiree is excited to be a part of the Love146 team where she can continue the fight to mitigate health disparities and inequities.

Dr. Gundelina Velazco

Love146′s Aftercare programs are devised and directed by Dr. Gundelina Velazco, a recognized international consultant in counseling psychology. Dr. Velazco has taught in institutions in Malaysia, South Africa, and the USA, particularly in the therapy of traumatized children. She has also conducted workshops in Ireland, England, Thailand, Brazil, Namibia, Romania, India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia. She was a university professor in the Philippines in the fields of psychology, education, research, and counseling for nine years. She has authored three books and a number of journal and book articles. She is a member of the British Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Velazco obtained her education in the Philippines, USA, UK, and France in the fields of nursing, education, gestalt therapy, drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation, and test development. In recognition of her work among the world’s street children, Dr. Velazco received the Presidential Award, Pamana ng Filipino Award, in December 2004, a recognition bestowed on Filipinos overseas for excellence and distinction in their work or profession. She was also the recipient of the International Humanitarian Award from the APA in 2008, an award bestowed on a psychologist with exemplary contribution to humanity.

Erin Glaccum

Upon graduating from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia with a B.S. in biology, Erin relocated to Houston, Texas. While in college, she continued to hone her passion for helping the less fortunate by volunteering at various organizations primarily focusing on disparities in healthcare and public health. While in Houston, she worked at a consulting firm all the while pursing volunteer opportunities. In 2017, Erin joined Love146 as the Prevention Support Coordinator and is looking forward to dedicating her life to serving her community.

In her free time Erin loves to spend time with her rescue-dog Reagan and new husband, as well as being active and continuing to explore everything Houston has to offer.

Erin Williamson

Erin Williamson serves as the Chief Programs & Strategy Officer for Love146. She is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and operation of Love146’s US Survivor Care and Prevention Education programs.

Erin has over 20 years of direct service, program management, and applied research experience in the fields of social service and criminal justice, with particular expertise in the areas of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation. She has a Masters in Public Administration and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Erin also sits on the US Department of Health and Human Services National Advisory Committee on the Sex Trafficking of Children & Youth in the United States.

Fatime Rexhepi

Fatime serves as the Prevention Advisory Specialist for the Milwaukee area. Born and raised in Chicago, Fatime studied Elementary Education at Loyola University Chicago. During her time in college she developed a passion for helping those in underserved communities through internship work and volunteering. She later moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

After teaching in the classroom for seven years, she made the pivot to the nonprofit world and joined the Prevention Team at Love146. Fatime is extremely passionate about youth development and believes education is the key to changing the world for a better tomorrow.

When she is not working, Fatime enjoys laughing with her husband, Mo, spending time with loved ones, reading, baking, and traveling. She is also passionate about writing and dreams of one day becoming a published author!

Grace Hopkins

Originally from Chattanooga, TN, Grace made the move to Charlotte after graduating from Berry College with a B.S. in Marketing and Psychology. While in school, she worked closely with local non-profits as a Bonner Scholar and she attributes these experiences to her passion for working for social justice.

Since joining Love146 at the end of 2016, she has developed a love of data and is now a Salesforce Certified Administrator.

She enjoys board games, roller skating, and putting way too much effort into her Halloween costumes.

Jay Dunn

Jay first heard of Love146 when the organization spoke at her high school about the realities of child exploitation and human trafficking. Almost a decade later, she is honored to be involved in the mission and work of Love146.

As the Senior Operations Coordinator, Jay supports multiple departments in daily operations and organizational projects. She comes to the team with five years of experience in the nonprofit sector, holding a background in communications and project management.

Jennifer Franz

Jennifer is a native New Yorker, who has been with Love146 for 15+ years, and holds the distinct privilege of being the organization’s first hire back in 2004. Throughout her tenure, she has worked in management of Finance, Human Resources, and Operations. She began her career with Love146 in the New Haven, CT office; and opened the Charlotte, NC office where she worked from 2013-2019 before moving back to Connecticut.

Jennifer is passionate about the end of child trafficking, and how organizational culture works in tandem with strategy to drive towards the accomplishment of Love146’s mission. She holds an M.S. in Organizational Leadership, a Graduate Certificate in Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations, a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management, and is SHRM-SCP certified.

When she’s not working, Jennifer enjoys spending her free time with her husband and their two spoiled dogs, as well as their community of family and dear friends. She is an avid reader, forever learner, and coffee connoisseur. Hope, joy, and love are among her favorite things to pursue in life.

Jennifer Mickus

A native of North Carolina, Jenn joined the Love146 team in 2020 as an Accounting Coordinator. Using her background in administration and accounting to contribute to the work of Love146 is a dream come true!

After earning a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte she spent a few years in Athens, GA working in administration at the UGA Vet School. As a result, she is now an avid Bulldogs fan (Go Dawgs!). She moved back to Charlotte in 2015 and loves living in the Queen City working with an amazing team!

Outside of work, she can be found hiking, reading, cross stitching, fretting over her plants or binge watching something with her husband and dogs.

Josh Stasko

Josh believes that true stories are incredibly powerful instruments for effecting needed change in the world. This belief, along with a creative bend led him to earn a degree in Documentary Studies from the University at Albany. Fighting abuse and injustice is deeply important to Josh, so being a part of Love146 is more than just a job – it’s a passion.

When he’s not at Love146, Josh is working on a film passion project, or laughing with his wife Bridget. He hopes to create some feature length films in the future.

Lucia Manzo

Lucia is a first generation Mexican-American, born and raised in Southern California. She enrolled in the business program at California State University Long Beach, but in search of a better quality of life for her children, she placed her higher education on hold. She resumed her education at the University of Arizona where she earned a B.S. in Commerce.

While completing her coursework at the University of Arizona, she worked for a local school district in the Structured English Immersion program. She had the opportunity to help first generation students, such as herself, obtain the necessary support from the school system to become educationally successful. Passionate about positively impacting children’s lives, directly or indirectly, Lucia has remained in the nonprofit sector. Again, in search for a better quality of life for her family, she and her family relocated to Charlotte, NC in 2019.

Lucia is a foodie and enjoys traveling with her family, reading, and enjoying the sun, preferably at the beach. 

Maria Reyes

Maria is Mexican-American, born and raised in New York City. She relocated to West Haven, Connecticut and is working towards her M.S. in Digital Forensic Investigations. She obtained her B.A. in International Criminal Justice and minored in Public Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC. She is passionate about combating human trafficking and is working on her masters in hopes of becoming an investigator of Human Trafficking and Child exploitation online.

Maria’s hobbies include singing, dancing, and photography. She loves to travel, and go on new adventures with her friends. She is currently raising her puppy, Mia, which can be described as adorably rambunctious.

Marilyn Murray

Marilyn joined the Love146 team in 2009 and is responsible for writing, designing, and directing much of what you see and hold in your hands from Love146: our website, brochures, newsletters, emails, and videos. She has a degree from Flagler College where she studied Graphic Design and Philosophy/Religion.

Particularly interested in the human experiences of trauma and healing, Marilyn seeks to use her designs to handle the issue of child trafficking in a way dignifies and empowers both the subject of her work as well as the audiences engaging with these communications pieces. She is responsible for maintaining and shaping Love146’s style, brand, and communications philosophy. On a constant search for things of great value, Marilyn seeks to make what she finds emotionally and intellectually accessible.

Marilyn grew up on swamp in Florida and now lives in New England with her husband Tim and their children, Ansel and Marceline. Her favorite color is yellow.

Marissa Castellanos

Marissa Castellanos joined Love146 in February 2023 as Director of Grants, providing support for continued development of prevention and survivor care programming. Prior to arriving at Love146, Marissa worked at Catholic Charities of Louisville where she began in 2008 developing what is now known as the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative, a statewide program addressing human trafficking through services, prevention, training, and awareness. 

Marissa is a representative member of the National Advisory Committee on the Sex Trafficking of Children and Youth in the U.S. and led the planning and implementation of the first National Labor Trafficking Conference, hosted in Louisville, KY in October 2018.

Marissa received her Bachelor of Science and Master’s in Social Work from the University of Kentucky, where she has also worked as an adjunct professor. Marissa has been a peer reviewer for the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, and provides training and technical assistance for the ACF Office on Trafficking in Persons. 

In 2023, Marissa was honored as a recipient of the Visionary Voice Award by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, which “recognizes creativity and hard work of individuals around the country who have demonstrated outstanding work to end sexual violence”. 

Monica Suber

Monica started out as an engineer, but her career took a detour when she convinced a family friend to let her do bookkeeping for his small business. Although Monica figured Accounting would be just another math problem, Accounting Software and Small Business Finance classes proved otherwise. After finishing those courses, though, one question lingered in her mind: What’s the difference between a debit and a credit?

With the single goal of answering her query, Monica enrolled herself into an Accounting 101 class. She found herself enamored with Accounting, eventually pursuing two accounting degrees. As Director of Finance, she’s far from where she previously expected, but she feels as if she’s where she was always meant to be.

Ramona MacIntyre

Ramona grew up in Miami, FL, though she has called many places home including Paris, New York, California, and now Connecticut. She holds a B.A. in Communications and Marketing with a minor in Business Administration from Hunter College in NYC. Previously she worked in the economic development field, and has been an active part of service groups including Lions Club and Rotary which she credits for igniting her passion to serve people.

Inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ramona searched for an organization whose leaders were motivated by justice and humanity. At Love146 she found both and is excited to work with the team to accomplish the mission of ending child trafficking and exploitation. 

In her free time Ramona likes to travel, read, and listen to true crime podcasts while taking long walks with her two labrador retrievers. However, she most enjoys cooking with her family – husband Mark, and two daughters, Cecilia and Abigail.

Rob Morris

Rob Morris is the Founder in Residence of Love146, an international human rights organization working to end child trafficking and exploitation. Prior to co-founding Love146, Rob worked with Mercy Ships International directing training schools at the International Operations Center. He has lectured and taught in over 20 countries on issues of justice, compassion, and human rights, and has been featured in the Huffington Post, the CNN Freedom Project, Forbes, WNPR, Alec Baldwin’s “Here’s the Thing” podcast on WNYC, Fox News, and more.

Roberta Senter

Roberta Senter, LCSW, is the Long Term and Rapid Response Senior Program Manager at Love146. Roberta has been working at Love146 for over 6 years, starting at the agency as a Survivor Care Social Worker, and then serving as a Clinical Supervisor before moving into her current role. She has over 15 years of experience working with at-risk youth in various capacities which include: working for the CT Department of Children and Families, serving as a full time missionary in Mexico and Costa Rica, and volunteering with local area ministries.

Sarah Mouser

Sarah, a proud British-Texan, was born in England but raised in the great state of Texas. She holds a B.A. in Organizational Communication from Texas State University and an M.S. in Human Rights and Global Ethics from the University of Leicester. Prior to working for Love146, she worked in Education for nearly a decade, first as English teacher and Literacy Specialist, then transitioning into a Manager of Special Populations position- supporting at-risk youth in intervention programs such as Special Education and English as a Second Language.

Sarah believes deeply in the power of relationships and is driven by an intense desire to leave every place better than she found it. Forever a teacher at heart, she is thankful for a role that allows her to design curriculum that works best for diverse learners, as well as the opportunity to partner with organizations nationally to ensure their youth have access to quality prevention education programming.

When she is not working, Sarah enjoys traveling, watching sports, going to concerts and trying new restaurants. You can find her spending time with her family and friends, especially her husband, Jordan, and their two Basset Hounds, Giggs and Biggie Smalls, and their cat Sammy.

Shanelle Poole

Shanelle is a dedicated nonprofit and education professional with over five years of experience in program development and community engagement for underserved communities. She is committed to creating supportive systems for vulnerable populations and is recognized for her efforts in implementing restorative justice practices and fostering strong community partnerships. Holding a Bachelor’s in Computer Science, Shanelle combines her technical skills with a passion for building inclusive and empowering environments.

Shayan Malik

Hailing from Karachi, Pakistan, one of the hottest cities in the country, Shayan has recently made the move to Houston, TX, an equally hot city in the country. With a B.A. in Communication and Design and a minor in Philosophy from Habib University, her professional background is in Marketing. She has been an advocate for social causes throughout her educational and professional career, and has made the pivot to the non-profit world with Love146.

She lives with 3 cats (all of whom she brought over from Pakistan! With their own passports! And tickets!), mountains of excellent stationery that she plans to one day use to write her book, and a few dying plants.

Shirley Higerd-Rusli

Stephanie Franco

Hailing from New Haven, Connecticut, Stephanie is a proud product of her local community, having attended a nearby high school before earning her degree in Psychology from Southern CT State University. Prior to her role at Love146, Stephanie contributed her skills and passion to various local non-profit organizations, further solidifying her commitment to making a positive impact in her community.

Recently, Stephanie has taken on a significant role at The Women & Family Life Center, where she not only serves on their Board of Directors but also dedicates her time as a volunteer for workshops that directly benefit her hometown. Beyond her professional endeavors, Stephanie is deeply devoted to her family and friends, consistently striving to make a positive impact on her community. Drawing on her extensive HR background, she adeptly navigates complex situations and fosters productive working relationships. 

When not at work, Stephanie can be found at home with her husband, two energetic sons and three cherished rescue dogs indulging in her passion for cooking, engrossed in a good book or snuggling baby goats.

Tamarra Clark

Tamarra Clark, MS serves as the Director of U.S. Survivor Care for Love 146. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects related to service coordination and implementation within the Connecticut Survivor Care Program.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management. Tamarra brings her 15 years of experience providing direct service and managing family systems such as early childhood education, home-visiting, parenting education, care coordination, and homelessness systems to this important work.

She believes everyone has a life purpose and is passionate about helping others recognize their strengths and work towards addressing barriers that hinder their purpose-filled lives.

Tenisha Brown

Tenisha was born a Hoosier, and lived in Indiana up until her early adolescent years. College brought her to the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she earned her Bachelors of Science with a concentration in community health. There, she started her journey with nonprofits and became an educator on teen pregnancy prevention.

Furthering her education and travel, she moved to Houston, TX and earned her Masters of Public Health, while continuing her work reducing teen unplanned pregnancies. Tenisha joined Love146 in October 2019 to advance her passion in public health prevention.

When she is not serving as a catalyst for change, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and planning themed parties!

Tyla Kelly

Originally from central Florida, Tyla moved to Houston as a teen. She attended Louisiana Tech University where she earned a B.S. in Kinesiology and Health Promotion.  While in school, she volunteered with the special olympics and the local early education center to put on adaptive sports programs for special needs students throughout the year. 

Prior to joining the Love146 team, Tyla worked in college athletics for nearly a decade with the last 4 of those years focused on fundraising and development. She was captured by everyone’s passion for Love146 and the work they do and  is excited to see that passion in action.

Tyla loves to read, travel, try new foods, play with her dog Kangaroux & hang out with her husband, family and friends.