LESLIE KING
FOUNDER, PRESIDENT
Leslie King is a survivor of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. She was coerced into the lifestyle of prostitution at the tender age of 15 in Grand Rapids, MI. She became trapped in the underworld of prostitution and drug addiction for over 20 years. On July 4, 2000 Leslie miraculously found the strength and the courage to break free. Since 2003, she has been intensely engaged in working with individuals who find themselves trapped in the same horrors that she experienced.
In 2005, Leslie utilized her experience, expertise, and inspiring example of a renewed lifestyle to open Sacred Beginnings, a safe haven that offers hope, and healing to trafficking victims. Leslie consults with law enforcement agencies, human service professionals, clergy, and others requesting direction and understanding in working with prostituted individuals. She also speaks at various conferences and academic institutions on the issue of human trafficking.
Leslie is well-respected in the state of Michigan from which she hails and where she is often seen boldly conducting street outreach to sexually exploited people during unconventional hours.
Her awards and recognitions include:
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2005 Grand Rapids, MI Woman of the Year nominee
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2008 YWCA Advocate of the Year
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2011 Rising Hero Award
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2014 "50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan"
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2018 Michigan Liberator Award
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2019 Grand Rapids Negro Business and Professional Women's Club Certificate of Achievement
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2021 African American Leadership Award
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2021 BBB Trust Award
MEET THE BOARD
KAT GRIFFITH
Board Secretary
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Kat is a medical social worker with Corewell Health Hospice and Palliative Care West Michigan. Before transitioning to social work, Kat worked as an illustrator and graphic designer for 10 years.
Kat obtained her MSW from Western Michigan University and her BFA from ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, CA. When she's not working or volunteering, Kat enjoys painting and spending time with her husband and pet corn snake.
Mary Musick
Board Vice President
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Mary has a background in marketing, sales, and management. She currently works for the NBC and ABC affiliates in Grand Rapids WOOD TV8 and WOTV. She previously was the Sales Manager for a group of five radio stations with Regent Broadcasting.
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Mary won top honors for two national promotions she developed and executed with the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo. She was nominated for the 2019 YWCA Tribute Award and two local Addy Awards. Her hobbies include golf, international travel, and just hanging with family. Mary attended Davenport University and resides in Grand Rapids.
Marilyn Buford
Dr. Marilyn Buford is a recent graduate of Western Michigan University's Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Program. Her passion is advocacy and activism, particularly for the most marginalized, as well as research in race-based trauma and its impact on Black people.​ It is her hope to help victims of exploitation receive evidence-based mental health services and address existing systemic issues that enable the cycle of human trafficking to continue.
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Currently, she is a clinical therapist for Hope Network, where she utilizes her background in trauma-informed care, multiculturalism, and evidence-based treatment modalities to provide high-quality mental health care to her clients.
Madelaine C. Lane
Madelaine is a partner at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP specializing in white collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation. She regularly acts as trial counsel representing clients in both federal and state court.
Madelaine served as a Criminal Justice Act Panel member for the Western District of Michigan for nearly a decade. She has extensive experience working in several sectors, including higher education, automotive, health care, finance, and agriculture, among others. She is recognized as one of the go-to lawyers in Michigan when clients need to create programs focused on sexual abuse prevention and detection training. Madelaine also serves as Warner's deputy general counsel, handling questions regarding privilege and ethics at the firm level.
Anjannette Casper
Anjannette is a Member Service Coordinator at Great Lakes Energy for over 12 years. She is deeply compassionate which drives her to be an advocate to make a positive impact for others.
Anjannette is joining the fight against trafficking, exploitation, and addiction after being a witness to what that life had done to her own daughter and how it affected her entire family. She wants to help victims/survivors and family members through their journey.
Her daughter is a survivor! Anjannette says, "My daughter is strong, stubborn and a survivor for a reason. I look forward to the day she turns her story into a testimony."
Kim Childress
Kim is a dedicated licensed professional counselor, operating Childress Counseling, PLLC. With a strong passion for mental health and well-being, Kim specializes in providing compassionate and effective therapeutic support to individuals facing various challenges.
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In addition to her private practice, Kim serves as the Anti-Human Trafficking Therapist at Wedgwood Christian Services, where she focuses on supporting survivors of trafficking. Her commitment to advocacy and healing extends beyond traditional counseling as she works tirelessly to raise awareness about human trafficking and the unique mental health needs of survivors. With a holistic approach to therapy, Kim emphasizes the importance of building trusting therapeutic relationships, fostering an environment where clients feel safe to explore their thoughts and emotions.
MEET OUR STAFF
CJ DolehantY
CJ is our wonderful Executive Assistant. Her career background is in administrative support, and she possesses degrees in both Ministry Leadership and Business Management from Cornerstone University.
CJ is a survivor of multi-generational abuse. Enduring decades of chronic and complex trauma created her undying resolve to advocate for other victims and use her voice in any possible way to give encouragement, raise awareness, and promote activism. Joining the fight to eradicate human trafficking is a calling and a great honor, and CJ considers herself tremendously privileged to be engaged with Sacred Beginnings.
Cynthia Brown
Cynthia is a deeply dedicated survivor whose lived experience empowers her to be an ideal Peer Support Specialist for the residents of the Transitional Home she manages at Sacred Beginnings.
For more than 30 years, Cynthia was ensnared in the merciless cycle of trafficking and addiction. Being fully attuned to the loss of too much as well as too many loved ones to list, she unwaveringly provides devotion and compassion to every survivor she meets and serves.
Cynthia credits her well-being, recovery, and ability to facilitate the same for others to God’s saving grace, and she finds great meaning and inspiration in Psalm 139:14, as it says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Katie Papke
Katie is a Survivor, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She has been working with the Department of Veteran Affairs for 18 years.
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Katie has her own therapy private practice with Life Support Counseling and Coaching, LLC in Grand Rapids, MI. She has a passion for working with victims and survivors of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and other forms of abuse. Her specialty is working with teens and adults who have a history of trauma, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking.
Additionally, Katie has achieved years of experience in community education and consultation. She is a School of Social Work Program Associate Professor at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, teaching classes on human trafficking and homelessness. She is a national Health, Education, Advocacy, and Linkage (HEAL) Trafficking speaker and trainer and has provided over 100 national and international trainings on human trafficking.
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Katie was recently awarded "40 Under 40 Boston Congress of Public Health Catalyst Award" for her achievement in shaping human trafficking as a public health concern.