From surviving human trafficking to training the very systems designed to stop it, Alina Donahue’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and urgent relevance. The Shelter for Abused Women & Children is honored to have Donahue, a nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and survivor-advocate, as the keynote speaker at the Gentle’men Against Domestic Violence event on Jan. 14.
Donahue brings a rare and powerful perspective to the national conversation on human trafficking and domestic violence. After surviving eight months of exploitation, she transformed her experiences into purpose-driven advocacy, becoming a leading voice in survivor-informed education and trauma-responsive intervention. Her work focuses on closing the gap between survivors and frontline responders, including law enforcement, nonprofits, educators, and community leaders.
As the founder of the Human Trafficking Education & Response Academy (HTERA), Donahue has trained professionals across the country using practical, real-world tools grounded in both lived experience and frontline practice. She also helped develop innovative survivor support initiatives, including a nationally recognized 18-month residential recovery program, co-created in partnership with The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.
“Alina brings both credibility and courage to this conversation,” said Linda Oberhaus, CEO of The Shelter for Abused Women & Children. “Her ability to educate about her experiences challenges audiences to rethink how we respond to survivors and how communities can play a role in prevention and healing.”…