Most of these children are native U.S. citizens who were recruited via social media from lower- and middle-class families.

If nothing changes, these children will be trapped in an endless cycle of exploitation and violence. Educating our children to recognize human trafficking solicitation helps them protect themselves.

Sources: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; 2022 State Department Trafficking in Persons Report

Our Mission

Saving Jane's mission is to empower individuals impacted by human trafficking and strive for a world where freedom, dignity, and safety are upheld for all. We further this goal by educating children, parents, and caretakers by implementing systems that support impacted individuals while addressing the underlying conditions conducive to human trafficking.

Our Vision

THAT ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE FREE FROM SLAVERY TO CHOOSE THE LIFE THEY WANT TO LIVE.

"I started Saving Jane to empower human trafficking survivors by freeing them from the trauma of their past experiences. Our mission has expanded into awareness and prevention as we discovered for ourselves the size of the scope of the issue. Saving Jane is committed to a world free of slavery, where no person is ever bought or sold and where the wounds of the past are fully healed."

— Kathyann Powell, Founder

OUR TEAM - LEADERS

  • KATHYANN POWELL

    FOUNDER

  • THOMAS ESTLER

    Director Education and Creative Projects

  • WESLEY POWELL

    ED Prevention Program

  • Neil Goldenberg

    Treasurer

  • Oded Levinstein

    Program Manager

  • Founder

    Kathyann Powell migrated to the US from Barbados with her mother in 1986 and was interested in fashion from an early age, eventually attending FIT and obtaining a merchandising degree. She then parlayed that experience into a 14-year career in luxury retail sales which she found to be lucrative, but unfulfilling in spite of winning accolades from her management team and national recognition, while being featured in company magazines.

    In 2017, she attended a leadership training program and chose to retire from fashion and sales and use her new freedom to explore all the things she never had time to do. She became a gourmet chef, took up Pilates and yoga and moved to Las Vegas to enjoy the weather. About three months later, in late February of 2018, she had an epiphany and chose to dedicate her life to helping survivors of human trafficking. She founded Saving Jane in March of 2018. Today she spends her time creating new ways to address the three pillars of Saving Jane: Awareness, Prevention and the Aftercare of survivors.

  • Director of Education and Creative Projects

    Thomas Estler, a writer by nature, was searching for a way to do something about the horror of human trafficking, and as chance would have it, a friend was meeting with a community of young survivors of the crime at the same time. Recounting her experience to Thomas, she said, "You know, they were all reading comic books. Someone should write a comic book about human trafficking." Thomas knew instantly that this was the perfect way for him to make an impact on this crime. Thomas began partnering with experts to carefully craft prevention tools in the form of a comic books that would responsibly educate kids about human trafficking and equip them with the tools that would protect their lives. Since then, Thomas has taken his Abolitionista! comic book workshops to young people all over the country and taught them prevention skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. In addition to comic books, Thomas has created film scripts, podcasts, music, and social media posts as entertainment vehicles for trafficking stories that help children all over the world understand what human trafficking looks like in their own neighborhoods and empowering them with survival tools that are specific to the dangers they face where they live. By harnessing the natural power of popular culture, Thomas engages youth not only to safeguard their own lives, but also to be innovators in a global abolitionist movement that educate and inspire people to take action to eradicate trafficking in their own communities and around the world.

  • ED for the Awareness Program

    Wesley Powell has over 25 years of experience in Information Technology, business consulting and entrepreneurship and has founded and co-founded over 20 companies, including a predictive artificial intelligence trading firm, a live concert streaming and event production service and most recently, an industrial real estate development firm building industrial parks on Native American and indigenous lands around the world. He brings this world class experience to Saving Jane as the Executive Director of the Awareness program, where he is accountable for the delivery of the Awareness Mission: That human trafficking is real, it is everywhere, and its even in your local neighborhood, accessible via any social media platform.

  • My life is currently occupied by my work at myAgro, mentoring early-stage business founders, travel, photography as an enthusiast and continued self-development.

    My professional background is as a CPA for over 35 years, most of which were spent working in corporate reporting and advisory with public accounting firms including over a decade as a partner at a regional firm. The focus of my services was with commercial companies in a various industry in auditing, public filings, and internal control assessments. Several years ago, I opened a solo practice to serve smaller, scaling companies working directly with founders as a fractional CFO. I am now employed as the global controller at myAgro Farms, having previously served as their interim CFO. During my now two years at myAgro, I have led the finance group as the organization grows to serve farmers in multiple countries in Africa.

    I also provide time mentoring start up founders with Score, providing my knowledge on business plan and budgeting development, financial practices, staffing and working with my fellow mentors in marketing and technology. I currently participate at Score as part of their Advisory Board for established small businesses.

    When available, I travel to advance my enthusiasm in photography, having been to Africa, South America, and India amongst other places. I also bring together other amateur photographers around the city to create a community and opportunity to share and present their art. In my personal life, I have three adult children and am myself living in the UWS of Manhattan. I participate in spiritual learning focusing on Buddhism, enjoy biking through the city as well as other activities.

  • With over 30 years of experience in Information Technology, Oded Levinstein has established and led global operations across multiple locations worldwide.

    He began his career in Israel and then immigrated to the US in the early 1990s, where he worked for some of the largest corporations in North America and contributed to the successful implementation of large-scale software projects.

    In recent years, Oded has shifted his focus towards supporting emerging technology companies on their journey to success.

    He joined Saving Jane as a Program Manager, where he actively contributes to the development and implementation of various educational programs.

    He is guided by the belief that "Anyone who saves a life is as if they saved an entire world."

    In his free time, Oded enjoys riding his bike and exploring new places in our ‘back yard’ as well as internationally.

Board members

  • INDRANI PAL-CHAUDHURI

    Chief Visionary Officer and Board Member

  • DR. ROSARIO V. SANCHEZ

    Board Member

  • Shandra Woworuntu

    Board Member

  • Trudy Fountain – James

    Board Member

  • Jonathan Vazcones

    Board Member

  • Chief Visionary Officer and Board Member

    "Rad feminist director" (Jezebel), photographer, branding expert and social justice advocate, IndraniPal-Chaudhuri is known by a single name for creating cultural icons and moving millions of people to action across the film, TV, fashion, and music industries.

    Her films have won over 25 awards, including two Gold Lions at Cannes Festival of Creativity, Best Picture and Best Director at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, and Best Film at the CNN Expose Awards 2018. Her work has been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, the Victor & Albert Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, Centre Pompidou Paris, The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Lincoln Center, The Museum of the Fashion Institute, The Rubin Museum of Art, the Australian Center for the Moving Image, and been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, V, Vanity Fair and VICE.

    Known for her collaborative approach, she has worked with artists such as Beyonce, Kate Winslet and David Bowie, and brands from L'Oreal and Nike to Pepsi. Indrani works consistently to develop projects that empower women, the underprivileged, and support environmental sustainability.

    "Indrani is internationally recognized for her extensive work on social causes and her video and stills campaign, Digital Death, against AIDS in India and Africa raised over a $1M in under a week" (Huffington Post). Read more about Indrani here.

  • Board Member

    Dr. Rosario Sanchez graduated from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey completing her dissertation on “The Elopement Process of Adult Survivors from Sex Trafficking during Adolescence.” Dr. Sanchez research centers on the sex trafficking of minors and other typologies of human trafficking. She is an expert, author, and lecturer on forensic nursing and human trafficking, and has earned honors for her work. Dr. Sanchez goal is to bring awareness, prevent, respond, and create policies to fight human trafficking globally alongside survivors and victims.

  • Shandra is the founder and CEO of Mentari Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program, Inc. As a survivor leader, Shandra has testified before the United States Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations Ending Modern Slavery Senate. Testified as a witness and expert for the State of New Jersey. Testified at the City and borough in New York. She consulted with numerous governmental bodies in the United States, Indonesia, Mexico, UN- ICAT, UN-Women, UNODC, WHO, and the OSCE-ODIHR. In 2011, Shandra co- founded a survivor leadership program called “Voices of Hope” in New York. From 2013- 2017, she was The State of New Jersey Commissioner on Human Trafficking. In 2014, Shandra participated in the first Federal Survivor Forum Listening Session at the United States White House and she was appointed by former President Barack Obama to be a member of the first United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. Since 2017, Shandra became a survivor advisor to the ODHIR-OSCE based in Europe on the Human Trafficking National Referral Mechanism publication. Shandra has been honored by multiple government and non-government organizations and has been a motivational and inspirational speaker at events for institutions around the world. She was a 2017 L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth National Honoree and she was one of the years of 2020, and 2021 Top 100 Most Influential Asian Americans in New York politics and policy. In 2022 Shandra received recognition as one of The 2022 Power of Diversity: Asian 100 New York’s Asian American trailblazers. As a member of the International Survivor Advisory Council to the ODHIR-OSCE, she was appointed became the chair in 2021. Shandra is a human trafficking expert witness, specifically on Illicit Massage Parlor and organized crime. Shandra the author of Taste of Freedom, recipes for resilience to benefit survivors of trafficking. Shandra is “WHY SLAVERY?” Ambassador to the United Nations and live in New York with her family.

    “Our narrative must not merely be inspiring, but the lessons that lie within them must be turned into solutions.” Honorable Shandra Woworuntu, Chair of the OSCE International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council, CEO of Mentari Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program – TIP Report 2022

  • As Atos' General Counsel, Trudy leads legal affairs as well as participating in Atos’ businesses and growth strategies. She is developing and empowering a cohesive, collaborative, diverse and agile organization embodying the highest standards of legal practice while contributing to the organization’s strategic goals and objectives. Trudy rejoined Atos five years ago as the Global Negotiations Leader after a four-year sabbatical to care for her father who was diagnosed with Dementia and her son who was diagnosed with Autism. She led and closed billions of dollars in strategic deals and helped create strategic global partnerships with some of the largest technology industry leaders. Trudy spent ten previous years with ACS/Xerox as SVP Deputy Global General Counsel/Head of Software and Business Management, where she led a 250+ person global department and was the primary corporate officer-in-charge of global commercial legal, software and contracts management.

    Prior to ACS/Xerox, Trudy was the Lead Negotiator and Contracts Manager for Northrup Grumman Ship Systems, managing a 15+ person team. During her tenure at NGSS she led the negotiations of the largest multi-billion-dollar Navy contract at that time. That position followed a successful term as SVP of Legal and Regulatory Affairs for Park Place Entertainment (currently named Caesars), managing 125+ attorneys, contract managers, paralegals, and regulatory officers.

    Trudy’s philosophy is leading by example with empathy and empowerment with a focus on Integrity, Care and Respect. You will hear her speak in multiple forums and fireside chats about her diverse team as a vanilla cupcake with sprinkles, gummy worms, fruit and chocolate shavings. She is a prolific advocate for the neurodivergent population, including youth. Having seven of her nine children with a neurodiverse gift she has learned the challenges of fighting for the level playing field for the “neurogifted”. She learned to conquer and excel with neurodiversity herself having three (3), Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia. She has learned to make those neurogifts her Super Powers and encourages others to follow her example.

    She resides in Dallas with her husband, nine children and rescue dogs. When not working, she likes to run, does Lagree fitness, and is a Pilates instructor. She enjoys and supports the arts as a member of the National Arts Club in New York.

  • Jonathan Vazcones is the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer at Amalgamated Bank. Jonathan is

    responsible for creating and executing Amalgamated Bank’s strategy for lending, investing and providing

    banking services to low- and moderate-income communities within the Bank’s footprint. Jonathan has

    spent the last decade working to provide equitable Banking access to low-income communities through

    his professional work and volunteer Board service. He currently is the Chair of the Board of Futures

    Ignite and serves on the Board of Directors of the Leviticus Fund. He resides in Forest Hills, New York

    with his wife and daughter.

    Jonathan has over 13 years of experience in Banking and Community Development. A recipient of

    Crain’s New York, 40 under 40 in 2021; his career has always centered on supporting low and moderate

    income (LMI) communities. Having learned how to bank and lend to undocumented communities

    during his tenure at the Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union as a small business loan officer,

    Jonathan spent over ten years at M&T Bank where he was the Regional CRA Officer. Tasked with

    lending, investing, and providing Banking services to LMI communities in New York City, Long Island, the

    Southern Hudson Valley and Connecticut; Jonathan developed relationships and partnerships that

    allowed him to leverage cross sectoral and transboundary opportunities to benefit the most

    underserved cities and towns in his purview. One such example was Jonathan’s work on the Amplify

    Fund. The Amplify Fund was a new $25MM charitable commitment from M&T Bank, where Jonathan

    crafted a program, a racially equitable decision-making process and disbursed close to half of the fund

    within eight months of the Fund launching. This Fund had three foci- Community and Tenant

    Organizing, Mission Driven Investments and Environmental Justice and Equity. All in, this Fund

    supported over 110 organizations across the Northeast all benefiting LMI and underserved communities.

    All this experience led Jonathan to Amalgamated Bank in 2022 where he became the Community

    Reinvestment Act Officer. In his current role, Jonathan is responsible for defining, creating and

    executing a comprehensive community development strategy to benefit LMI communities for this $8BN

    Bank. With market share in New York, Washington D.C., California and Massachusetts; Jonathan is

    taking his experience and skillset to enhance and finetune how Amalgamated Bank meets the needs of

    its most vulnerable communities.

    Jonathan’s passion for community development does not end with his profession. Over the years,

    Jonathan has served on the Board of various non-for-profit organizations across the North East and in

    leadership positions on the Board of the following organizations- Futures Ignite- Current (Current Board

    Chair), Leviticus Fund- Current (Investment and Loan Chair), Hope Community, Inc- (Vice Chair), Queens

    Community House (Treasurer), Local Initiatives Support Corporation- Connecticut (Investment and

    Lending Chair), Housing Action Counsel (Treasurer).

Advisors

  • MICHELE SILVER

  • GERALD NEBEKER

  • JEFF BERGSTEIN

  • Sanford Shevack

  • Michele Silver attends the Urban Food Policy Institute at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health, managing several evaluation and research projects examining healthy food initiatives in low-income neighborhoods in New York City. She has worked with a number of agencies and organizations including city government, non-profits, small business, and local economic development, community development, and affordable housing. She holds a Master of Science in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from The New School.

  • Dr. Gerald Nebeker is a social enterprise entrepreneur. Considered an expert in nonprofit governance, he has served on many local and national nonprofit boards. Dr. Nebeker has helped many nonprofit organizations incorporate, establish relevant missions, and monetize them through relevant strategic plans. He founded RISE, Inc. in 1987, which has grown into a large multi-state nonprofit organization supporting children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities.

  • Mr. Bergstein spent 36 Years with Arrow Electronics (25 Billion Technology Distributor) in a myriad of Sales, Management and Executive Jobs in Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain and was responsible for 100 Million Dollar Sales Operation as well as managing major OEMS and Export/Brokers.

    Prior to his work with Arrow, he was Director of North America Sales for Chicago Miniature Labs, a Major Lighting Mfg.

    Currently, he is very involved in the Startup Technology Community in the 5 Boroughs of New York City as a Mentor and on the Advisory Board for Second Muse.

    He mentors startups for several NY accelerators and serves on various advisory boards.

    Mr. Bergstein holds an MBA in Marketing Management from Pace University.

  • Shevack, New Jersey’s 2020 BD Paterson Patriot Jefferson Award recipient, has an impressive roster of community improvements to his credit. The five buildings he renovated – four in Passaic and one in Paterson – provide 15 affordable housing units as well as space for two preschools and the Bella Chanel Mentoring Program for young women. Rental income from the properties create sustainability, helping to underwrite much-needed youth empowerment initiatives.

    Through Shevack’s leadership, 11 human rights themed murals grace the Paterson-Passaic community as well. A 12th mural, “Girls Changing Our World,” is in the planning stages. It will feature Emma Gonzalez, Simone Biles, Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. In addition, Shevack secured grant funding to build a children’s playground at Kidz University Preschool in nearby Garfield.

    Shevack is an Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Montclair State University and holds a BA Sociology from William Paterson College, 1976, a MA degree in Child Advocacy from Montclair State University, 2007, and a Doctor of Education, National American University, 2018

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