Project SHIELD Inc.

MANAGEMENT

CEO/Executive Director

Sandy Pendleton-Dorton

CEO/Executive Director Experience

With two Masters Degrees in Counseling and a PPS Credential, Sandy worked 14 years in education as a Middle School Counselor developing and designing programs for students in need. With a vast experience in education and currently working the front lines with human trafficking victims, she recognized that our schools lacked appropriate and very necessary Prevention Education in the area of human trafficking. It became her quest, to do it right and do it better for the sake of our vulnerable youth, their parents/guardians and the community. Shielded By Truth ~ Protecting Hearts/Guarding Minds Series is unlike the rest because it tackles this dark issue head on and brings educational power back into our communities. This Series sheds light on the tactics that traffickers and predators use and assists to provide valuable safeguards for our youth and their families. This Series educates the educators and support personnel and then comes alongside our school counselors to put appropriate protocol in place. Human trafficking puts a price tag on our kids and we cannot allow that to happen. This Series is evidenced based and data driven and above all it can provide a shield of protection by empowering our youth and their families, as our children are truly priceless. Having direct front line experience, Sandy understands that being a victim of human trafficking creates trauma in a person's life. The sooner we can intercede to assist a victim caught in this devastating darkness the better, so training those that may cross paths with a victim, gives them a chance to get out of the life to let them know there is support and help out there for them. With over 9 years in the field and expert knowledge and knowing that human trafficking victims do not typically self-identify, Sandy's passion to further assist lent itself to create powerful and engaging trainings for 1st Responders, EMS, ER Staff and Sexual Assault Advocates. Understanding the impact of trauma, she shares how trauma not only impacts the way a victim may respond, but that it also has a physical impact on their brain. Teaching how to take a victim-centered approach when working with them increases their ability to more safely connect to offer support and resources for them to make positive changes for help. Because her passion is to make a difference in an area that needs so much more help, Sandy has also done awareness events in the community, has been invited to speaking engagements, has worked the dark web with NCMEC, developed and trained Advocates how to reach out on escort sites to offer help and runs a 24/7 Hotline and has dedicated her time to reach out to vet and collaborate with after-care organizations across our nation. Her advocacy is to be a voice for the voiceless, protect our precious children and to make a difference with the belief that we are stronger together!

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