Dear Friends

It is with sincere gratitude and enthusiasm that I share with you the exciting news that Jamie Manirakiza is stepping into the role of PEHT’s fulltime Executive Director! Jamie replaces Susan White, who has been working with PEHT over the course of recent months assisting us with securing a residence. We are VERY close and anticipate an announcement on that front in the near future! We are indebted to Susan for her counsel and work in this critical area of our mission and wish her the very best in future endeavors.

Elizabeth Koldyke Boolbol 
Founder and Chair 

I have been working in the field of survivor services and anti-human trafficking since 2009, with the majority of my experience focused on developing survivor services and programming in Philadelphia. I first learned about PEHT through my church community when my family and I moved to Connecticut in 2017. I am deeply moved and inspired by the mission and vision of PEHT for this region, for there is a great need for safe housing options for survivors in Southwestern CT. Over the past two years, I have supported PEHT’s efforts as a member of the Church Coalition and through serving on the Board of Directors. It is with great excitement that I step into the role of Executive Director. PEHT’s mission to provide housing and job training for survivors of sex trafficking is crucial, especially during the COVID 19 pandemic, where so many individuals have been and continue to be adversely impacted. I am passionate about the work we are doing and are going to do in Connecticut and in this region to open up opportunities for survivors of sex trafficking to find housing, hope, and vocational skills through a justice enterprise program. As an ally with the survivor community, we strive to come alongside survivors as we continue to build a strong foundation for a future free from exploitation. - Jamie

Jamie Manirakiza, has over 10 years of experience in the field of anti-human trafficking. She held several key roles with The Salvation Army. Her longest position was in Greater Philadelphia as Director of Anti Trafficking for the New Day to Stop Trafficking Program. Most notably, Jamie helped to start a drop-in center for women victimized by the commercial sex industry in 2010, incorporating models of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and the Sanctuary Model ® for trauma-informed care. Jamie also helped to open a residential program for survivors of sex or labor trafficking who were victimized as children or adults in the Greater Philadelphia region. In 2018, Jamie transitioned to work as the Territorial Anti Human Trafficking Program Coordinator for The Salvation Army Eastern Territorial Headquarters in New York. As Territorial Anti Human Trafficking Program Coordinator, she developed, implemented, evaluated, and supported the ongoing growth of direct survivor service programs and coalition building on a regional scale. Jamie is an adjunct professor for Vanguard University’s Human Trafficking Certificate Program and has consulted on crime victim services for a number of national organizations on promising practices and trauma-informed care. Jamie is a founding Board of Advisor member for the Villanova University School of Law Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation. Jamie received her MSW degree from the University of Pennsylvania and is a licensed social worker.