Episode 3: Leaving "the Life"

Laura Mullen is a survivor of human trafficking. She is the Co-Founder and President of the Human Trafficking Survivor Advisory Board for the Empowerment Collaborative of Long Island (ECLI/VIBES), which is the first human trafficking survivor advisory board on Long Island. Laura actively participates in curriculum writing and program development for anti-human trafficking training. As a community engagement leader, she frequently attends public speaking events for Suffolk County’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative to educate and raise awareness about human trafficking.

Laura is a Survivor Leader and dedicated Anti-Trafficking Services Advocate, who gives direct support to victims of trafficking by lobbying for legislative bills and successfully campaigning for The START Act, which was passed in 2021. Laura is also the Coordinator for the Girl Vow Task Force for the missing and murdered. Laura is a keynote speaker breaking generational curses. As one of the newest Executive Board Members of Cycling for Change, Laura brings valuable insight on how to better serve our communities who are battling human trafficking.

Doraina Rochford was born and raised in Brooklyn. She is a survivor of substance abuse, sex trafficking, physical, emotional psychological and sexual abuse. Thriving over generation abuse and trauma, she went back to school for her GED and then became a credentialed substance abuse counselor and licensed chaplain. Doraina is an alumni Survivor Leader and current Survivor Advisory Board member at Sanctuary for Families, one of the largest gender-based violence organization in New York City, where she works with survivors, informing policy within the agency and increasing community awareness on gender-based violence and human trafficking.