Find the right consultants for you.
Meet our team.
Names & Titles: Everyone on our team is an independent consultant who co-creates their title with SPC. Consultants are also free to use whatever name feels safe and comfortable for them to use in their work.
Self-Disclosure of Lived Experience: We do not require disclosure of survivorship/lived experience at SPC, as we respect each individual’s right to self-disclosure in the workplace. However, should any of the consultants on our team want to include their lived experiences in their title and/or bio, they are welcome to do so.
Consultants Not Listed: Please note that all of our consultants are not listed here on our website, as we recognize the potential risks of public-facing anti-violence work and we honor what feels safe and comfortable for each consultant.
CEO & Founder
CEO, FOUNDER, & HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONSULTANT
Dr. Shobana Powell, DSW, LCSW (she/her)
Dr. Shobana Powell, LCSW, DSW (she/her/hers) is the CEO & Founder of Shobana Powell Consulting. She is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker and an expert in the anti-trafficking and gender-based violence field with a focus on the intersectionality of gender-based violence, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Dr. Powell’s expertise includes working in the areas of child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, survivor-centered and trauma-informed care, equity and inclusion, vicarious trauma and vicarious resilience, multi-disciplinary team development and coalition building.
Education
With Bachelor's degrees in Social Work and Spanish from New York University, a Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University and a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California, Dr. Powell deeply believes that the work we do should be led by the communities we serve. Towards that end, through her doctoral research, she coined the term “Survivor Equity and Inclusion (SEI)” and developed the SEI Framework, a model for anti-trafficking organizations to prevent survivor re-exploitation (i.e. tokenizing, undervaluing, undercompensating).
Current Work
As CEO & Founder of Shobana Powell Consulting, Dr. Powell leads a team of national advocate and survivor experts who consult on human trafficking and trauma. She has provided training and technical assistance for over 30 nonprofits and government agencies on the local, state, and national level.
Dr. Powell has developed and led trainings on best practices for working with survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence, developing interdisciplinary community approaches to violence prevention, and organizational change towards vicarious resilience and survivor equity and inclusion. She was a keynote speaker on the Survivor Equity & Inclusion Framework for the 2021 National Juvenile Sex Trafficking (JuST) Conference hosted by Shared Hope International. She was also a keynote speaker on Vicarious Trauma & Resilience for Legal Services & Pro Bono Attorneys for the 2022 National Equal Justice Conference hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA) and National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA). Dr. Powell has also spoken at a variety of national and international conferences including the National Conference on Crimes Against Women, National American Probation & Parole Association Conference, International Coalition to End Commercial Sexual Exploitation Global Summit, the National Practising Law Institute Domestic Violence During a Pandemic Conference, and the International Human Trafficking & Social Justice Conference. Dr. Powell also created and led the Regional Human Trafficking Conference in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and the Survivor-Led Gender-Based Violence Conference in New York.
Past Work
Before creating Shobana Powell Consulting, Dr. Powell served as the Director of Micro Grants with the New York City Mayor’s Office to End Gender-Based Violence and Sanctuary for Families, one of the largest gender-based violence organization in New York City, where she created and managed the first city-wide flexible funding program for survivors of gender-based violence for 75 organizations, resulting in over $450,000 disbursed directly to survivors impacted by COVID-19.
Dr. Powell also served as the Director of the Survivor Leadership Coalition at Sanctuary for Families, where she transformed a peer-mentor program into a compensated, replicable Survivor Leadership training and economic empowerment program that resulted in a diverse team of survivors of gender-based violence making system-wide change through policy work, direct services, training, and program development.
In her past work, Dr. Powell provided individual therapy to adult and child survivors of complex trauma at the Center for Families, served on an FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, and served as Director of the Caddo Parish Juvenile Mental Health Court, where she conducted court-ordered mental health and sex trafficking forensic evaluations and testified in court regarding diagnoses and treatment recommendations. She also founded and directed a regional human trafficking coalition and developed the first juvenile sex trafficking probation unit and multidisciplinary team in the State of Louisiana.
Awards & Recognition
For her work in the field of human trafficking, Dr. Powell was featured in InStyle Magazine’s Badass Women Column and received a National Association of Counties Award. Her article on Safety Planning During COVID-19: Tips for Survivor from Survivors was translated into seven languages, won an National Outstanding Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign Award, and reached over 200,000 individuals around the world.
Contact Info: To work with Shobana, please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com.
Consultants
LEAD HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONSULTANT, SURVIVOR, & VISUAL DESIGNER
Cristian Eduardo (he/him)
Cristian Eduardo is an advocate, speaker and educator for anti-trafficking initiatives, immigrant and LGBTQ+ rights. He is a survivor of international and domestic sex and labor trafficking, a Mexican immigrant, HIV+, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and someone who speaks openly about the mental health challenges he has faced that frequently result from trauma.
Although these are parts of him, he is whole, who cannot be defined. Cristian Eduardo is also a student, who is science and engineering oriented.
Cristian Eduardo's inspiration for his social justice work is to give insight that victims always remain human beings.
Cristian Eduardo is a Lead Human Trafficking Consultant and Survivor with Shobana Powell Consulting, shaping national human trafficking trainings and policies. He also serves as a Survivor Consultant for ECPAT-USA, Center for Court Innovation, and USCRI. He is the Co-Founder of United Immigrants of New York (UIONY), a coalition of immigration advocates providing accessible education and resources to Spanish-speaking immigrants in New York. Cristian Eduardo is on the Steering Committees for New Yorkers for the Equality Model and Louisiana for Survivors’ Justice Coalition and has been instrumental in the development of Equality Model training and legislation across the US.
Contact Info: To work with Cristian Eduardo on projects or ongoing work through SPC , please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com. For one-time speaking engagements with Cristian Eduardo, please contact him directly at ceduardo.sff@gmail.com
LEAD HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONSULTANT & SURVIVOR LEADER
Ashante Taylorcox, MA-MHC, LPC (she/her)
Ashante Taylorcox is the founder and executive director of You Are More Than, Inc. (YAMT), a survivor-led organization supporting marginalized survivors of exploitation and domestic trafficking in New Jersey.
As a survivor of familial trafficking, and a systems-involved foster child, Ashante has always been a fierce advocate for survivor communities throughout the tristate area. Over the past eight years, Ashante has worked to create safer environments within the survivor community by improving support services for adult survivors, particularly within mental health settings.
Through community collaboration, she has invested in the survivor community through direct service work, curricula development, and training mental health providers throughout New Jersey & nationally.
Ashante holds a master’s degree in counseling for mental health and wellness and a post-master’s advanced certificate in LGBT health, education, and social services from New York University.
Contact Info: To work with Ashante through SPC, please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com.
LEAD CULTURAL INCLUSION & HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONSULTANT
Kathy Givens (she/her)
Kathy is a wife, mother, author, writer, and advocate who has overcome the dark world of sex trafficking. After many years of living in silence, Kathy decided to journal what happened to her as a way of dealing with the surreal experience. That journal became a book. That book became a stage play.
Partnering with several organizations, Kathy’s goal is to increase human trafficking awareness, fight for those who are being trafficked, and mentor those who have overcome it. She is now using her voice and expertise to inspire others to join the fight against such a horrible atrocity.
She has presented to faith-based organizations, educators, students, medical professionals, law enforcement, politicians, and leaders from all sectors of society. She has trained nonprofit organizations and individuals who aspire to become better advocates in the field of anti-trafficking.
In 2018, Kathy was invited into The Oval Office to witness a bill she advocated for signed into law. In 2021, Kathy joined the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking by presidential appointment. During her time as a Program Director, Kathy developed a trauma-informed restorative care program for adult survivors of trafficking.
She is now Co-Founder of Twelve 11 Partners, an organization committed to supporting survivors who are on their journey to thriving. As a leader in the field, Kathy continues to provide training and consulting to various groups committed to the fight against human trafficking with a focus on underserved communities and people of color.
Contact Info: To work with Kathy through SPC, please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com. To work with Kathy independently, please contact her directly at katgivensconsultant@gmail.com.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONSULTANT & SURVIVOR LEADER
Brittany Pearson (she/her)
Brittany Pearson is an expert and consultant in the field ofsex trafficking, specializing in direct services, training and policy work. She is a survivor of pimp-controlled domestic sex trafficking and a national leader in the movement against the injustice of sexual exploitation. Brittany is working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and is certified as a trainer in the Ending the Game national human trafficking curriculum. Brittany has served in multiple roles working with survivors, including residential manager at a transitional housing program, outreach specialist in the community, and national trainer and policy consultant.
As a residential manager, Brittany led support groups and implemented and coordinated activities to build trust, share resources and connect survivors of trafficking with services. As an outreach specialist, she met directly with survivors and high risk individuals, building connections between marginalized communities and service providers in areas and places with high rates of sex trafficking including: jails, hotels, motels, strip clubs, and online advertisement. Using her lived experiences and professional background, as Director of Training at a regional human trafficking coalition, Brittany has educated and trained thousands of individuals including legislators, law enforcement and non-profit staff at the local, state and national level about the complexities and realities of sex trafficking.
Brittany’s passion is training and bringing awareness on the issue of sex trafficking to uplift and empower other survivors. In her past work, Brittany shaped the Micro Grant program with the NYC Mayor’s Office in conjunction with Sanctuary for Families to ensure it was victim-centered and trauma-informed and that it addressed the intersection of gender-based violence and financial security. Currently, she is a Lead Human Trafficking Consultant at Shobana Powell Consulting where she develops and facilitates trainings and advises on program development and legislation across the US.
Contact Info: To work with Brittany through SPC, please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com.
TRAUMA & ANTI-OPPRESSION CONSULTANT
Hazell Imbert, LMHC (she/her/ella)
// Español abajo //
Hazell Imbert (she/her/ella) is a bilingual mental health counselor. Since 2017, she has worked with English and Spanish speaking survivors of interpersonal violence, including survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and sexual assault. Hazell is interested in and is passionate about working with marginalized communities including undocumented immigrants, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Hazell holds a Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Psychology from The College of Saint Rose. After graduating from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a Master’s degree in Forensic Mental Health Counseling, she became a crisis shelter residential counselor at Sanctuary for Families in 2017.
During her time at Sanctuary for Families, she worked with other Spanish speaking clinical staff to generate more inclusive clinical services for Spanish speaking clients, including the creation and translation of clinical documents in Spanish. Along with former colleagues in the crisis shelter program, she worked to help the program become more LGBTQ+ affirming, survivor-centered and make services more accessible to Spanish speaking clients. Additionally, Hazell participated in multiple committees, working groups, and professional organizations to address anti-oppression efforts at different levels. She has facilitated training including training service providers in working with LGBTQ+ survivors of interpersonal violence, vicarious trauma and resilience.
At this time, Hazell works as a bilingual counselor and advocate at the Violence Recovery Program at Fenway Health. She is currently collaborating with other staff in the Violence Recovery Program and across departments at Fenway Health to increase support for Spanish speaking staff and continuing to promote fair and equitable language access for both clients and staff.
Contact Info: To work with Hazell through SPC, please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com.
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Hazell Imbert (she/her/ella) es una consejera bilingüe. Desde el 2017, ella ha trabajado con sobrevivientes de la violencia interpersonal, incluyendo sobrevivientes de la violencia domestica, el trafico humano, y la violencia sexual. A Hazell le interesa y se siente apasionada de trabajar con comunidades marginalizadas incluyendo a los inmigrantes indocumentados, personas de color, y la comunidad LGBTQ+.
Hazell tiene la licenciatura en Psicología Forense de The College of Saint Rose. Después se graduó con su Maestría en Consejería de la Salud Mental con un enfoque forense en John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Después de graduarse, se hizo consejera residencial en el programa de refugio de emergencia en Santuario para Familias en 2017. Mientras estaba en Santuario para Familias, colaboró con otros empleades hispanohablantes para facilitar servicios más inclusivos para les clientes hispanohablantes, incluyendo la creación y traducción de documentos en español. Con otros miembros del equipo residencial, ella ayudó el programa a ser más inclusivo para la comunidad LGBTQ+, centrando las voces de les sobrevivientes de la violencia interpersonal, y haciendo servicios en español más accesible para les hispanoparlantes. Adicionalmente, Hazell participó en varios comités, grupos, y organizaciones profesionales para promover esfuerzos anti-opresivos. Ella ha dado entrenamientos incluyendo entrenando a proveedores de servicios trabajando con les sobrevivientes de la violencia que son parte de la comunidad LGBTQ, el trauma secundario y la capacidad de recuperación del trauma.
Actualmente, trabaja en Fenway Health con les sobrevivientes de la violencia interpersonal como consejera y defensora. Está colaborando con otros empleades en el Programa de la Recuperacion de la Violencia (conocido en inglés como Violence Recovery Program) y con empleades de otros departamentos en Fenway Health para aumentar el apoyo para empleades hispanohablantes y para seguir promoviendo el acceso justo y equitativo para les trabajadores y les clientes.
*Reconociendo que hay diferentes géneros que existen fuera del binario de hombre y mujer, esta traducción está escrita utilizando la “e” en vez de “a” u “o” en ciertas palabras para ser más inclusivo.
Información de contacto: Para trabajar con Hazell, contáctenos en info@shobanapowellconsulting.com.
FINANCIAL FREEDOM CONSULTANT & SURVIVOR LEADER
Alida Tchicamboud (she/her)
//Français ci-dessous//
Alida is the founder and CEO of Healing Hands International, a community organization dedicated to helping survivors of domestic violence achieve personal and financial freedom. She is also the founder and CEO of Tchic Consulting, where she holds a full time Human Resources Consultant position.
Alida believes in her clients and in their potential to live positive experiences after trauma. Determined to play an essential and decisive role in the lives of survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking, Alida offers suitable guidance to achieve self-confidence, self-motivation, and ultimately financial freedom.
She holds a Master Degree in Human Resources from the University of Paris XII (France) and count more than 20+ years of experience in the HR field.
In 2019 she was the spokesperson at the press conference releasing the Comptroller Scott Stringer report on Housing Survivors, which findings and recommendations was shaped by her testimony.
Since 2020 she is part of the HOMEworks Research Advisory Group. Committed leader, she serves as aco-chair of the Coordinated Entry Advisory Group for the NYC Mayor's Office to End Gender-based violence
With the new NYC Mayor's Administration she became an active member of the Impacted Advocates Group (a group created by NYC Mayor's Office to bring together people with lived experience to address the City's homelessness crisis), Alida works closely with Chief Housing Officer Katz. She recently shared her expertise and supported the development of Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness.
Contact Info: To work with Alida through SPC, please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com. To work with Alida independently, please contact her directly at info@tchicservices.com or visit her website at www.tchicconsulting.com
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Alida est la fondatrice et PDG de Healing Hands International, une organisation communautaire dédiée à aider les victimes de violence domestique à atteindre une liberté personnelle et financière. Elle est également la fondatrice et PDG de Tchic Consulting, où elle occupe un poste de consultante en ressources humaines à temps plein.
Alida croit en ses clients et en leur potentiel à vivre des expériences positives après un traumatisme. Déterminée à jouer un rôle essentiel et décisif dans la vie des survivants de la violence domestique et du trafic sexuel, Alida offre des conseils appropriés pour atteindre la confiance en soi, l'auto-motivation et, finalement, la liberté financière.
Elle est titulaire d'un Master en Ressources Humaines de l'Université de Paris XII (France) et compte plus de 20 ans d'expérience dans le domaine des RH.
En 2019, elle a été la porte-parole lors de la conférence de presse publiant le rapport du contrôleur Scott Stringer sur le logement des survivants, dont les conclusions et les recommandations ont été façonnées par son témoignage.
Depuis 2020, elle fait partie du groupe consultatif de recherche de HOMEworks. Leader engagée, elle est co-présidente du groupe consultatif contrôlant les différents points d'entrée des personnes cherchants des ressources, coordonnée par le bureau du maire de New York pour mettre fin à la violence sexiste.
Avec la nouvelle administration du maire de New York, elle est devenue un membre actif du groupe appelé Impacted Advocates (un groupe créé par le bureau du maire de New York pour rassembler des personnes ayant une expérience vécue pour faire face à la crise des sans-abris de la ville), Alida travaille en étroite collaboration avec le directeur du logement Mme Katz. Elle a récemment partagé son expertise et soutenu le développement de logeant nos voisins. Housing Our Neighbours: Un plan élaboré pour le logement des sans-abris.
Coordonnées : Pour travailler avec Alida au travers de SPC, veuillez nous contacter au: info@shobanapowellconsulting.com. Pour travailler avec Alida de façon indépendante, veuillez la contacter directement au: info@tchicservices.com ou visiter son site internet à www.tchicconsulting.com
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
AJ Dunn (she/her)
AJ Dunn is the CEO and Owner of Glowing and Growing, a virtual assistant business specializing in supporting nonprofits and small businesses. Her focus is partnering with organizations in the fields of mental health, trauma, education, and maternal healthcare. Some of the specialized services that AJ offers include software implementation, data management, human resources, payroll and administration. What makes her work unique is her trauma-informed approach, her background as a nonprofit leader and entrepreneur, and her experience working with communities of color and people with disabilities.
AJ holds a Master’s degree in Family and Child Studies with a concentration in Child Development from Louisiana Tech, and she has over 15 years of experience working in the education and training field. She also has certifications in Nonprofit Management, Domestic Violence, Positive Parenting Program, Childbirth Education, Vocational Adjustment Training and is a Breastfeeding Specialist.
Some of AJ’s past work includes serving as the Director of Rehabilitation Programs for a nonprofit providing job readiness skills to people with disabilities, youth, and veterans. She has also served as a data analyst and administrative assistant for the juvenile court system.
In addition to running her business, AJ is the Co-Founder of the Doula Collective, providing education and support to pregnant individuals and their families with a focus on preventing infant and maternal mortality, especially in communities of color. She also serves as a Board Member at the local homeless coalition and the YWCA of Northwest Louisiana, a nonprofit focused on gender-based violence and racial justice.
Contact Info: To work with AJ through SPC, please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com.
TRAUMA-INFORMED LINGUSTIC EXPERT (CHINESE LANGUAGES & DIALECTS)
Yuki Chen (she/her)
Yuki C. is an advocate and mentor for survivors of human trafficking, LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities and the elderly, and is a polyglot who is fluent in and interprets Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka dialects. She holds a Putonghua Shuiping Ceshi Certificate in Mandarin from the Ministry of Education in China.
Yuki has wide expertise in many customer service roles, including in the food and apparel industries. She thrives in her own kitchen, working as a private chef cooking traditional Chinese dishes, and in fast growing consumer product businesses, optimizing order flows, packaging, shipping, and logistics. Yuki has worked in the fashion industry for the past four years, and her position is the Director of Operations.
Yuki is passionate about creating inclusive environments for under-resourced individuals and communities.
Previously, Yuki was a Board Member at Ceeds, Restore NYC, a New York City based anti-trafficking not for profit organization, and a tech and logistics advisor for Empowerment Square, a New York City based non profit organization which empowers survivors of human trafficking with financial literacy and English language skills.
One of Yuki’s main passions is to assist and advocate for Chinese survivors and the elderly as they confront complex social and legal services systems, offering peer support, and connecting them with resources, services, and economic empowerment. She loves New York City and dreams of one day becoming a certified traditional Chinese herbalist, bringing holistic healing to survivors of trauma.
Contact Info: To work with Yuki through SPC, please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com.
TRAUMA-INFORMED INTERPRETER & TRANSLATOR
Aidee Lomeli (she/her/ella)
Aidee Lomeli (she/her/ella) is a bilingual advocate for youth/minor survivors of human-trafficking providing direct services and resources. She works with Multiple Disciplinary Teams, immigration systems, legal teams, child welfare systems, faith-based organizations and churches, medical teams, and school districts. She specializes in working with the Spanish-speaking community. Aidee is a Trauma-Informed Interpreter & Translator.
Aidee holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business Administration with a minor in Spanish. She has certifications in Nonprofit Management and Volunteer Management. She has served for over 12 years as a nonprofit professional. She also has her Cosmetology License. She is fluent in Spanish and English.
Aidee’s past accomplishments include developing a strong partnership with her home church and a local school that serves approximately 600 students, comprised of 95% Spanish-speaking youth, establishing a monthly food distribution that serves 250 families, and increasing yearly partnership and member recruitment and retention in after-school programs. As a former director for a youth program, her branch received Partner of the Year Award. Aidee has helped plan various galas, events, and conferences.
Aidee is a Board Member of Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas-Fort Worth Chapter and a Board Member of MaaPaa. She is a member of various organizations that provide services to underserved and underrepresented communities.
Aidee’s passions include giving back to the community through acts of service and kindness, connecting people and organizations, reading, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.
Contact Info: To work with Aidee through SPC, please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com. To work with Aidee independently, please contact her directly at aidee.consulting1@gmail.com.
TRAUMA-INFORMED LEGAL CONSULTANT & MANDARIN & TAIWANESE INTERPRETER
Amy Hsieh, JD, MPA (she/her)
Amy Hsieh is a trauma-informed legal expert, language justice advocate, Mandarin and Taiwanese interpreter, and consultant. A champion of community voices, cultural humility, human rights and dignity, Amy wields her expertise in anti-trafficking, immigration legal remedies, and health and human rights, to empower and support survivors and communities.
As a direct legal service attorney, she represented survivors of trafficking seeking immigration relief (including T-visas, U-visas, VAWA, and asylum, among others) and victims' rights advocacy support.
Building on her experiences directly serving survivors of gender-based violence and advocating alongside people living with HIV, Amy has facilitated workshops and trained hundreds of community members, law students, pro bono attorneys, law enforcement, and judges on diverse topics, including cultural humility and trauma-informed lawyering.
Amy has served as a lead grant writer and collaborative facilitator, supporting multiple staff on proposal development and donor relations, and successfully securing grants from private foundations, the federal government, and UN agencies.
Trained in organizational change and strategic planning, she has also developed, implemented, monitored, and evaluated programs, and advocated for policy changes in anti-trafficking and global health arenas. Published in several public health, medical, and law journals, Amy has also led trainings and supported community members on scientific abstract writing.
Amy was formerly Deputy Director of the Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Sanctuary for Families. She also helped launch the EMPOWER Center, which offers trauma-informed medical, mental health, social, legal, and employment services for survivors of sex trafficking/commercial sexual exploitation. Amy has also worked as a health policy consultant focused on advocating for the rights of people living with HIV.
Amy was a Georgetown Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellow and graduated from Brooklyn Law School, NYU Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, and Barnard College of Columbia University. Presently, Amy also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law at Brooklyn Law School and the Director of Community Engagement at its Public Service Law Center.
Contact Info: To work with Amy through SPC, please contact us at info@shobanapowellconsulting.com. To work with Amy independently, please contact her directly at amyhsiehesq@gmail.com.
Finding the right fit.
At Shobana Powell Consulting, we believe in the abundance mindset, meaning when others in our communities succeed, we all succeed. If we are not a good fit for your organization, we would be happy to connect you with any of our brilliant colleagues around the world who might have the skills, expertise, and services that are just right for you.