A Message from Leah Albright-Byrd, Incoming CEO, Traffick911
Dear Traffick911 Community,
It is with deep gratitude and great anticipation that I introduce myself as the new CEO of Traffick911. Stepping into this role is not just a professional milestone—it is a homecoming to the work that has lived in my heart since 2006, when I lost a dear friend whose life was tragically taken through trafficking and violence. Her story both shattered me and changed the trajectory of my life.
That loss, though devastating, became the catalyst for my calling: to help ensure that no young person slips through the cracks unnoticed, unsupported, or unloved. It’s what led me to the anti-trafficking field, and it’s what makes me so honored to join Traffick911—a mission-driven organization that has spent the last 15 years doing just that: building trust, fighting exploitation, and walking youth toward freedom with dignity, advocacy, and care.
I’ve spent the last 20 years in the nonprofit sector, with 14 of those focused specifically on anti-trafficking work. Most recently, I served as Executive Director of Operations at the Rebecca Bender Initiative, where I focused on strengthening Elevate Academy’s infrastructure and impact—supporting a global community of trafficking survivors on their journey toward economic freedom. While I’ve led strategy, operations, and trauma-informed programs, at the core of it all has been one truth: people matter most. My deepest work has been listening to those most impacted, believing in their capacity, and relentlessly reimagining systems to serve—not silence—them.
I come to this work not only as a leader, but as someone who has lived the realities we’re working to transform. I’ve navigated the very systems we now seek to improve—and I did so in a time when services were scarce and survivor-informed care was rare. I know the weight of trauma intimately—but I also know the profound impact of being met by someone who simply sees you, believes in you, and stays. That kind of trust-based relationship changed my life—and it’s at the core of what Traffick911 stands for. And that’s why I’m here!
I’ve seen the worst that trafficking can do—but I’ve also seen what’s possible when a young person is met with empathy instead of judgment, and when healing is honored, not rushed. I believe in restoration and in the resilience of those we serve. With the right support, healing isn’t just possible—it’s powerful!
In the coming months, I’ll be spending intentional time listening—to our team, our board, our partners, and the community that has made Traffick911 what it is today. I want to honor the foundation that’s already been built, and discern, together, how we grow forward with strength and soul.
Traffick911’s vision–communities free from relational brokenness—resonates deeply with my own. And the mission to free youth from sex trafficking through trust-based relationships is not
just language to me—it’s legacy. I’m committed to building on this legacy, and to co-creating a future where freedom isn’t just a moment, but a lifestyle—a whole, healthy, and joy-filled life for the youth we serve.
Thank you for welcoming me into this story and I’m looking forward to helping to write the next chapter. I’m not just here to lead—I’m here to listen, to serve, and to be an example of what healing can look like.
With gratitude and great hope,
Leah Albright-Byrd
Incoming CEO, Traffick911
P.S. Outside of work, I’m a proud mom of seven (six bonus kids and one 11-month-old baby girl), happily married to my best friend, and a dog mom, too. I love to sing, write, laugh with my friends, and find joy in sacred everyday moments—like a playlist blasting, fresh flowers, or conversations that leave your soul stirred. I believe in leading with both strategy and softness—and that the most revolutionary thing we can do is love people well.