In the fight against human trafficking, women leaders are emerging as powerful forces for change. With empathy, resilience, and a deep understanding of the complexities of this issue, they are driving innovative solutions and creating lasting impact. Teresa Davidson‘s (Co-Founder and CEO) inspiration to found Chains Interrupted, a non-profit combating human trafficking, emerged during an international medical mission trip.
While providing care, she witnessed traffickers preying on vulnerable individuals, manipulating and coercing them into exploitation. This deeply affected her, leading her to establish an organization to address this issue both domestically and internationally. One of the greatest challenges has been narrowing the focus of the mission. Human trafficking is a vast and complex issue, making it crucial to prioritize specific areas of intervention.
Leading With Vision
Teresa Davidson embraces a strategic leadership philosophy, blending it with the principles of servant leadership. Recognizing the need for a collaborative approach, she initially convened a coalition of key community stakeholders to assess needs and develop a comprehensive plan of action to combat human trafficking locally. The plan, regularly reviewed and refined by the Board of Directors with input from staff and volunteers, remains central to Chains Interrupted operations. Teresa understands the dynamic nature of human trafficking and emphasizes adaptability and clear communication to ensure the organization’s stability and financial sustainability. By actively engaging its audience through various channels, including social media and newsletters, Chains Interrupted fosters strong community support and empowers individuals to join the fight against exploitation.
Holistic Approach to Building the Team
Teresa Davidson recognizes that the fight against human trafficking requires individuals with unique talents and specialized skill sets. She feels fortunate to have assembled a team of exceptionally gifted people who are deeply passionate about serving others and committed to ending this horrific crime. Although she has recruited talent from outside the organization, Teresa prefers to observe potential employees through their volunteer efforts.
Her staff of five actively participates in this process, assessing volunteers for skills and qualities that align with the organization’s needs. Mentorship plays a key role, as volunteers are given the opportunity to learn from the current staff, preparing them for potential roles within the organization. This approach helps ensure a strong cultural fit and a shared commitment to the mission.
In the early stages, one of the primary challenges Teresa faced was addressing the widespread lack of awareness about human trafficking as a significant community concern. Without recognition of the problem, securing funding, services, and policy support was difficult. While awareness of human trafficking has increased over time, many still underestimate its prevalence and severity, continuing to pose an ongoing obstacle to comprehensive action.
The Heart of Chains Interrupted
Teresa Davidson believes that the dedication and willingness to sacrifice shown by the people involved with Chains Interrupted are the cornerstone of the organization’s enduring success. She co-founded the organization alongside Lenchen Raeside, an incredible woman with extensive experience in starting nonprofits and a solid background in the anti-trafficking field. Building and growing Chains Interrupted required significant sacrifices from both its leaders.
Teresa Davidson personally volunteered countless hours—often exceeding 50 hours per week—with she and her husband funding the organization for several years. She made the life-changing decision to leave a rewarding 30-year career in medicine to dedicate herself fully to the mission. Similarly, many staff members left higher-paying jobs with benefits the nonprofit could not match, driven by their unwavering commitment to protecting children from this heinous crime.
In 2023 alone, the organization’s volunteers collectively contributed over 4000 hours, frequently making extraordinary sacrifices to support the cause. Teresa is also deeply moved by the generosity of the donors, many of whom continue to give faithfully despite their limited financial means. She remains profoundly aware of these sacrifices and is committed to honoring the trust and dedication of everyone who contributes to this important work.
Empowering Communities
Teresa’s vision for Chains Interrupted centers around serving communities through three key pillars: Awareness, Prevention, and Advocacy. In response to the growing issue of human trafficking, the organization focuses on assisting children and youth through these pillars. They raise awareness about all forms of human trafficking through 19 educational programs (and counting!), as well as print materials, community booths, parades, and various other events.
Chains Interrupted delivers prevention education in schools, church youth groups, after-school programs, and through the innovative BRYX Program (Building Resilience in Youth against eXploitation). This program collaborates with local organizations that support high-risk youth, aiming to build resilience and prevent exploitation. Key partnerships through BRYX include community youth mentorship programs and the Survivor Guidance Program, both of which play a critical role in protecting children and youth from victimization.
The Advocacy team at Chains Interrupted works to equip staff within BRYX partner organizations to identify and support those affected by trafficking using trauma-informed approaches. Teresa also provides expert witness testimony, advocates for essential legislative changes, and works to bridge gaps between partner organizations. Together, they are united in their dedication to ending this heinous crime.
The Double-Edged Sword
Teresa Davidson acknowledges that technology has been both a blessing and a curse in the fight against human trafficking. The ability to disseminate vast amounts of information about Chains Interrupted, human trafficking, events, needs, prayer requests, educational opportunities, and meetings has proven invaluable. Since the organization does not have a physical office where all staff work together, much of the work is done remotely, leveraging internet-based tools to communicate effectively and stay connected.
However, Teresa is also acutely aware that technology is a powerful tool used by traffickers and exploiters. Social media platforms, in particular, are often used to recruit and exploit individuals, especially children and youth, for financial gain. These same platforms have been weaponized by traffickers and predators, hindering the organization’s critical work. A particularly alarming trend that Teresa has witnessed is the rise of financial sextortion, where youth are manipulated and exploited to the point of devastating actions, including suicide. Additionally, the misuse of artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images of children and youth has further fueled their exploitation.
Teresa and her team remain committed to raising awareness about these urgent issues and continue to fight to protect the vulnerable from the dark side of technological misuse.
Staying Innovative and Effective
Teresa Davidson’s approach to advancing the services of Chains Interrupted involves an annual strategic planning meeting with the Board of Directors (BOD). This process incorporates valuable input from the staff, Member Board, volunteers, and key community stakeholders. Above all, the organization seeks God’s guidance as they evaluate opportunities, risks, marketing trends, community needs, and internal capabilities.
In a constantly evolving field like human trafficking, staying innovative and competitive requires continuous adaptation to changing conditions and emerging challenges and needs. This is no small feat. For example, when other nonprofits in the area secure grant funding to provide specific services for human trafficking survivors, Chains Interrupted intentionally shifts its focus to avoid duplicating efforts. Similarly, when funding streams change, the organization adjusts its strategies to fill critical gaps. This flexibility allows them to maximize their impact, steward resources effectively, and continue serving those who need support the most.
The BRYX Program
Teresa recently launched the BRYX Program, which includes several impactful subprograms aimed at combating human trafficking. Among these, the Survivor Guidance Program has proven especially effective in addressing a critical need. This program offers support and guidance to families concerned about their children being groomed into trafficking situations. A recent example highlights the program’s value: A mother reached out to Teresa Davidson, worried about her twelve-year-old daughter’s online relationship with a 27-year-old man.
The mother had found a packed bag under her daughter’s bed and feared she was planning to run away to meet the man. Through the Survivor Guidance Program, Teresa connected the family with a survivor who shared her personal story with the young girl. This conversation helped the girl recognize the dangers and exploitative intentions of the older man, preventing what could have been a devastating situation.
A Lifeline for Families and Communities
Another key component of the BRYX Program is its staff education initiative. Through BRYX, Teresa Davidson has collaborated with agencies and organizations that work directly with high-risk youth, providing staff with the tools and knowledge to identify and assist children or youth who may be at risk, have been trafficked, or are currently experiencing trafficking. This training has reached various local organizations, including police departments, judicial districts, psychiatric medical institutions for children (PMICs), foster care agencies, youth detention centers, and more.
Beyond the local level, Teresa has also trained statewide agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Businesses Against Human Trafficking, the National Association of Confidential Addresses (through the Secretary of State’s Office), the Iowa Supreme Court, State Public Defenders, and Iowa Crisis Negotiators as well as national associations and agencies.
The impact of the BRYX Program is evident in the increased number of referrals for children identified by agencies that have received this training. Additionally, personal testimonies from attendees have shown the program’s effectiveness. Many have expressed regret that they hadn’t received the training earlier to better assist children in past cases, while others have shared how it has immediately helped them address the needs of the children and youth they currently work with.
