A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US…
We envision a world where people value people, freedom, and healing.
In early 2022, I found myself frustrated seeing organization after organization passionately diving in to serve those who've experienced human trafficking but having to do so with little funding, support, training, or collaboration.
A fire to stand in those gaps was born. The Lord woke me up one night soon after with the name, The Genesis Project, and a blessing to run with this mission.
We are a survivor-led and founded, faith-based organization whose mission is to reach and empower individuals overcoming exploitation and sex trafficking, and train other organizations to do the same, while establishing a healthy, meaningful coalition forging statewide collaboration.
It is essential to note, that though we are a faith-based organization, there are no faith requirements and no strings attached. We are open to individuals from all walks of life, and we respect everyone’s religious and spiritual views.
The Founder and CEO of The Genesis Project, Kathy Bryan is a respected international speaker/trainer, consultant, mentor, and author, who works tirelessly to communicate the stark truths of trafficking. She has trained thousands of professionals on how to identify and respond to those victimized by human trafficking, including medical personnel, Homeland Security, anti-trafficking organizations, and churches, to name a few.
In addition to speaking and consulting, Kathy worked at Rebecca Bender Initiative from its 2014 inception to June 2021. In that time, she served as Executive Director, Director of Elevate Academy, and Lead Mentor, using her lived experience and wisdom to guide hundreds of survivors as they navigated their healing journey and professional growth.
Kathy is driven by a belief that all people should live in freedom; a belief held long before she survived two years of sex trafficking as a teen. She has testified before the DC Council, several times before the Arkansas Congress, resulting in the passage of three new laws, is a consultant for the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign, a member of both the National Survivor Network and the Survivor Leader Institute, and serves on the board of Into the Light.
Her personal experience with sex trafficking has been featured in many venues from tv, radio, news articles, podcasts, and blogs to The Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College, an internationally recognized repository of women's history, Charisma magazine, a short VR film by 27Million.
Traci Tutor is the Executive Administrator for The Genesis Project. With a background in the medical field as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) spanning over 30+ years, Traci brings a wealth of experience and compassion to her role.
She is a graduate of the NLC School of Ministry, where she honed her skills and deepened her understanding of ministry and spiritual leadership. She currently serves as a Ministry leader at New Life Church of Heber Springs, where she guides and inspires others on their spiritual journeys.
Throughout her ministry work, Traci has been a relentless advocate for freedom from spiritual bondage. Through this unwavering commitment to this cause Traci continues to channel her heart and passion into bringing freedom to those enslaved by Human Trafficking.
When she's not immersed in her ministry work, Traci enjoys exploring new destinations through traveling, cooking, being a devout foodie, delving into her family's genealogy, and finding solace in the company of her beloved cats. Her love for adventure, discovery, and connection extends to both her personal and professional life, as she embraces every opportunity to make a positive impact on the world around her.
Jim Staggs' life has been dedicated to service, with a focus on helping those in need. With 22 years of experience in the US Navy Reserve, he has dealt with complex situations and served on search and rescue teams. He has also served with the WY Army National Guard and worked with chaplains to meet the needs of service members.
In addition to his military service, Jim was ordained to the ministry in 1989 and has pastored both in the United States and in Papua New Guinea. He has led a Bible College in Port Moresby and served as the Academic Dean of the Lae Baptist Bible College. Currently, he serves as the Outreach Pastor for New Life Church, Heber Springs, where he helps meet client needs, teaches and supervises volunteers, and writes grants. He also makes hospital calls and visits the homebound for the church.
Jim’s experience as a bi-vocational pastor has given him work experience in various fiscal disciplines. He has purchased and stocked a warehouse of trailer parts and bought commodity building materials, all while maintaining the bottom line. His most recent position was as the Road Department's administrative assistant for Cleburne County, where he worked with federal, state, and local government agencies to ensure proper accounting and reimbursement of FEMA funds.
With his talent for grant writing, Jim is now using his experience to help The Genesis Project expand its efforts to advocate and assist victims escaping sex trafficking. He successfully received all the grants he filed for last year and is now writing at the federal level to help The Genesis Project continue to make a difference.