This week on Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek welcomes Brittany Dunn, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Safe House Project, one of the nation's leading organizations dedicated to ending human trafficking and supporting survivors on their path to freedom and restoration.
With a decade of global business experience and years of hands-on leadership in the anti-trafficking movement, Brittany brings a rare combination of strategic insight, operational expertise, and deep compassion for the individuals Safe House Project serves. Under her co-leadership, the organization has expanded survivor housing, advanced trauma-informed care, strengthened national reporting and identification efforts, and mobilized cross-sector partners to fight trafficking at the systemic level.
In this powerful conversation, Mrs. Dunn discusses:
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The realities of human trafficking in the United States and the misconceptions that hinder progress
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Why safe housing is one of the biggest gaps in survivor recovery
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How Safe House Project builds national networks of care and long-term support
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Success stories that illustrate what true restoration looks like
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Policy and community changes needed to protect vulnerable populations
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How individuals, companies, and communities can be part of the solution
This episode sheds light on a crisis too often hidden and highlights the resilience, courage, and hope of those fighting it every day.
About Brittany Dunn: Brittany Dunn is a nationally recognized expert in the fight against human trafficking, with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. She earned a B.A. in Economics and English from Wellesley College and an MBA with distinction from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Before co-founding Safe House Project, Dunn spent a decade in mergers and acquisitions, leading international business development across Europe and Southeast Asia. Her corporate background in strategic planning and fostering corss-sector and cross-cultural collaboration now informs her innovative work in combating trafficking.
As co-founder and COO of Safe House Project, Dunn has refined the national response to human trafficking by building a pioneering network of safe housing and holistic care for survivors while driving systemic change at every level of government. Appointed by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to the Governor's Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support, she has shaped policy, enhanced protections, and created sustainable public-private solutions.
Her leadership has been featured in Forbes, The Hill, and CBN, and in 2024 she co-authored Eradicating Human Trafficking: A Transformative Approach Through Collective Impact. A military spouse and mother of two, Dunn is dedicated to creating a safer, more equitable world for future generations.
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