Bri’s passion for encouraging, uplifting, and affirming members of marginalized communities is what drew her to The Cupcake Girls in May 2019. Her background is in Psychology, Human Services, and Educational Psychology, and she brings a decade of mentoring, training, and leadership experience to their team.

As The Cupcake Girls' Co-Executive Director of People Operations & Equity, she serves our staff, board, and volunteers by providing support in several areas, including operational support, leadership training, and onboarding/offboarding, with equity-based practices at the center.

Of the many things she enjoys, Bri is a food enthusiast, a dance instructor, and a proud auntie. She firmly believes everyone deserves respect, kindness, and a chance at wholeness.

Betty Beatty is a mom, writer, and bold change maker in the fight against human trafficking and domestic violence. She is also a former foster youth and survivor of CSEC. With over 10 years of experience in the human services field, combined with her personal history, she is passionate about promoting best practices and survivor voices. Betty, graduated with her bachelor’s in Political Science, she currently sits on the Multnomah County Sex Trafficking Collaborative.

Jay Benke, an abduction and child sex trafficking survivor based in Oregon, offers a distinctive perspective shaped by her experiences intersecting with disabilities and LGBTQ2IA+ identity. Specializing in advocacy for people with disabilities, trafficked children, victims of intimate partner violence, and the houseless, Jay's work spans from criminal justice reform to survivor equity and inclusion. As a Human Trafficking Consultant, public speaker, author, and mentor, she contributes significantly to the field, serving as a curriculum specialist and fact-check editor. Jay is the visionary behind The Network, a platform connecting survivors and allies, and the founder of Clever Human LLC, her consulting firm. Jay is the cofounder of the Sex Trade Survivor Caucus, an Elevate Academy faculty member, consultant for DHS's Blue Campaign, and serves on several committees, including the Oregon DOJ T.R.I.P. and the Multnomah County Sex Trafficking Collaborative.

Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to embark on a journey with the one and only Heather Hagelberger! Hailing from the sunny shores of Florida, Heather's upbringing was steeped in family love and warmth. But wait, there's more! Recently, she's been delving into her Indigenous Puerto Rican roots, adding even more flavor to her already vibrant persona.

With a heart brimming with compassion and a fierce determination to support others, Heather found herself drawn to the icy wilderness of Alaska. There, she fearlessly battled against gender-based violence and fought tirelessly as a leader in the Anti-Trafficking movement. Task forces? Check. Program development? Double check. Heather was everywhere, making waves and leaving a trail of positive change in her wake.

Now residing in the quirky city of Portland since Fall 2023, Heather continues her crusade for social justice as an independent consultant and part-time prevention coordinator at PCC's Outreach and Advocacy Project. With over two decades of experience in aiding trauma victims across various sectors, she's a force to be reckoned with.

But don't be fooled by her serious side – Heather's also a big kid at heart. When she's not busy saving the world, you can find her frolicking with animals, immersed in all things Disney, soaking up the sun at the beach, or serenading the world with her musical talents. So buckle up, folks, because with Heather, every moment is an adventure!

Kiera has over 20 years of professional experience working with multiply marginalized survivors of gender-based violence. Kiera specializes in working with survivors of trauma who fall outside of our societal narratives of the “perfect survivor.” That includes survivors of all genders, queer and trans survivors, survivors in the sex trade, survivors with disabilities, survivors who currently or have use substances, those who have been incarcerated and those who have used violence themselves. It is their passion to work with those who do not see themselves in mainstream organizations, may not qualify and have potentially been banned from services. 

Currently, Kiera coordinates the PCC Women’s Resource Center at the Southeast Campus. They also teach in the PCC Addiction Counseling Program. 

Alice Johnson, MSW, CSWA, is a community mental health therapist serving survivors of sex trafficking and young people impacted by the sex trades. Combining her experiences in social services, mutual aid, and in the sex industry, she has over ten years of experience supporting survivors and sex workers. Alice is passionate about harm reduction and liberation psychology. Alice is white, queer, and neurodivergent. When Alice is not a therapist, she enjoys volunteering, thrifting, dancing and drag. 

TJ Keefer is an Oregon born activist and member of their community. Since 2009 they have been involved with their community, from nature conservation, to renters rights and now, human sex trafficking advocacy. TJ is a survivor of human sex trafficking as a minor, and has years of anger management and therapy under their belt. They’re here to share their lived experience as a person in recovery. 

Victoria is an aspiring lawyer based out of the Oregon + SW Washington branch. She first joined The Cupcake Girls as a Client Advocate Intern in 2022 and continued volunteering with TCG’s Resource team until early 2023. 

Upon graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in psychology, she returned to the Cupcake Girls as a Junior Program coordinator. They care deeply about culturally competent care, decriminalization, and The Cupcake Girl’s mission to love without agenda. 

Outside of the office, Victoria enjoys attending afro-beat events, crocheting, and spending time with their 17-year-old dachshund.

Kat Salas is the dedicated director of the New Day program at New Avenues for Youth, serving young individuals aged 12-26 who have survived sex trafficking or are at risk of exploitation. With seven years of personal experience in the commercial sex industry, Kat identifies proudly as both a survivor of sex trafficking and a former consensual adult industry worker, challenging societal misconceptions and advocating for nuanced understanding. Transitioning from grassroots outreach with Stroll PDX, she co-curated a groundbreaking symposium on the sex trades for the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art before joining New Avenues in 2020. Possessing nearly a decade of experience in organizing and harm education, Kat co-founded the Portland Sex Worker Resource Project in 2020 with her best friend Saiya and is still a member of the collective- you might see her doing outreach in East County with a fabulous pink van. 

Kat is the recipient of the Judge Herrell Award and the Skidmore Prize as well as a contributing artist for the Stroll publication "Working It: An Anthology, Sex Workers on the Work of Sex," and the co-facilitator of Sex Trafficking CAB. She envisions a future where lived experience is valued and survivors are invested in by non-profits and other agencies.  She wants you to know that essential societal reforms such as rent control, universal basic income, and safe harbor legislation are key to ending sex trafficking and shouts out the New Day collaborative team, which are some of the most amazing and expert people you will ever meet. 

Dawn Schiller is the Training Director, L.A. County Project for the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST). She is a Lived Experience Expert Consultant in the anti-trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault movements. Abused and trafficked on the streets of Hollywood in her youth her subsequent years of struggle to survivorship, education and service to others offer valuable first-hand insight to community advocates. Today, she is a national speaker, educator, consultant and author. 

Dawn earned her undergraduate degree summa cum laude in 2012 from Eastern Oregon University with honors in communication and gender studies. She received the “Women of Vision and Courage” award from EOU President’s Commission on the Status of Women. She is a Phi Kappa Phi Kathleen Greey Fellow and received a teaching fellowship from Oregon State University earning her Master of Arts in Women, Gender, & Sexuality in 2020. Dawn is a VISTO volunteer and regularly visits the girls in Los Angeles juvenile halls who struggle with substance abuse, sharing her experience, strength, hope, and recovery.         

Dawn taught Women’s Studies and Activism at Oregon State University. Her academic presentations and trainings infuse lived experience on topics of anti-violence, anti-trafficking (Commercial Sexual Exploitation & Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children), trauma and trauma-informed care, teen/child abuse, the media, ally-ship, resilience, addiction, recovery and healing. Her memoir, “The Road Through Wonderland,” was published by Medallion Press.

Nationally, Dawn is a violence and human trafficking expert consultant with the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, the Department of Health & Human Services Office on Trafficking in Persons (NHTTAC) and the U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. She is a founding member of “Survivor 2 Survivor” (S2S) and member of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking’s (CAST) “Resilient Voices.”

Above all else, Dawn’s greatest joy is the privilege to be a parent to her talented child.                                                                                       

Hey there, I’m Wenseay Seay!

When I was between the ages of 14 and 16, I found myself caught in the web of sex trafficking. Those years were tough, but I emerged from that darkness. In June 2023, I took a big step—I got sober.

During my journey, I spent over two decades in the adult entertainment industry. Life wasn’t always easy—I faced my share of challenges, including struggles with substance abuse. But you know what? I’m here, and I’ve learned a lot along the way.

Since February 2024, I’ve been a recovery mentor for sex-trafficked youth. It’s my way of giving back, of being that guiding light for others who’ve faced similar struggles.

So, call me a survivor, an advocate, and a fighter. Let’s keep this conversation going!

Joel Shapiro is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Trafficking Law Center, which connects trafficking survivors with pro bono legal services.  Joel is an attorney and advocate for victims’ rights.  He has served as chief counsel to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Multnomah County Deputy DA, and Adjunct Law Professor at Lewis & Clark Law School. Joel has represented trafficking survivors in numerous court proceedings, including: victim’s counsel in criminal cases, restraining orders, restitution claims, and civil lawsuits seeking financial compensation.

Martha Strawn Morris is a cis white survivor of intimate partner violence raised in the Woodstock neighborhood of SE Portland, Oregon, by two highly-educated but often cash-strapped parents. After working full time to put herself through PSU, Martha attended law school in Tucson, AZ. Martha has been fortunate to find local government opportunities to share her passionate and dynamic leadership over more than 20 years of successfully designing and managing innovative, impactful, trauma-informed, multi-agency programs in service to her community. Martha is a talented trainer, facilitator, collaborator and consensus builder, but also is not afraid to challenge others and believe growth springs from conflict and friction. Racial justice is at the forefront of all of her efforts; she believes that all social ills are a result of the intentionally built racist capitalist patriarchal system under which we all struggle; Martha understands we will only be free when those systems are dismantled. Martha is actively engaged in envisioning a world where basic needs are regarded as human rights, and relationship choices are never about money. Martha loves her partner of 27 years, the two teen children they share, her dog Noodle and escape rooms. 

Kara Sydnor is a cisgender, light-skinned Black femme and survivor of domestic and sexual violence living in Northeast Portland. Born and raised in rural Missouri to parents who experienced generational trauma and poverty, Kara grew up in a working-poor household and remained low-income for the majority of her life, only shifting to middle class status when she became a first generation college graduate and began working for the Gateway Center for Domestic and Sexual Violence Services in 2022.

Kara has participated in transformative justice and equity efforts for many years; her work is rooted in abolishing white dominance culture and institutional power and privilege imbalances. She knows that domestic and sexual violence are public health issues that can only be diminished through profound upstream strategies such as affordable housing; living wages; and free health care, child care and education for all. When she’s not championing collective healing and liberation, you can find her streaming the latest Star Wars content with her deeply loved partner and two rescue pups.

Saiya has eight years experience in the sex industry and four years experience working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Portland’s non-profit sector. In March of 2020, Saiya started the PDX Sex Worker Resource Project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project has bloomed into a vast network of volunteers and continues to provide resources to sex worker communities via the Pink Van Project mobile outreach unit.