Linda Share

[Ariano Waiker]

Mysweet cousin - so sweet, so guiding, always a light for others. Her warmth and spirit will be missed but her memory will live on. Never forgotten. With deep love and sympathy for Paul and the kids/family she loved so much. Prayers. - Lisa (Mooney) Sherman

Since relocating to New Jersey in 1979 we have enjoyed a close friendship with Linda and Paul. Linda was a loving mother, an excellent cook, baker and party planner who not only endured the challenges of raising a family, she also worked tirelessly alongside Paul to build two successful businesses.

Dear Paul, Amy, Ashley, Kyle, Zach, Jacki and all the Grands, Howard , Denise, Howie and Heather, I am writing from my brother's home in Florida and cannot get to the services. My heart aches for your loss. Linda was such an exceptional, loving, beautiful soul. She cared first for her family then for herself. In the short time we spent with her, we saw her as a funny, outgoing, and totally lovable person. I feel privileged and grateful to have reconnected with her and gotten to know her as an adult. She welcomed us as if 40 years hadn't gone by, shared her wonderful family with us and included us in her life. She will be sorely missed. Love to All, Kitty and Kevin

Linda Smith is a leader in the global movement to end sex trafficking. In 1998, while serving in the U.S. Congress, Linda traveled to a notorious brothel district in India where the hopeless faces of women and children forced into prostitution compelled Linda to found Shared Hope International. Linda is the primary author of From Congress to the Brothel and Renting Lacy and co-author of The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking and the DEMAND. Report. Linda has testified before Congress, presented at national and international forums, and has been published in news outlets and journals. Linda served as a Washington State legislator (1983-93), before she was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1994.

Under a grant from the U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Linda and her team conducted field research in Jamaica, the Netherlands, Japan, and the U.S. to investigate the business model fueling the sex industry. These findings were compiled in the 2007 publication of the DEMAND. report and the production of the DEMAND. documentary.

While in Congress she became known for her stand against taking special interest money and served on the Human Rights Caucus, a position that provided her initial exposure to the horror of sex slavery. Her compassionate and uncompromising belief that every individual has dignity has carried her from advocating for permanent safe homes for children as the State Senate chair of the Children and Family Services Committee, to the halls of Congress, and ultimately to searching out victims in red light districts around the world. Linda and her husband, Vern, reside in Vancouver, Washington and are the proud parents of two and grandparents of six.

Ms. Sanzi also shared her expertise with Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Federation of Tax Administrators, as an HR consultant working to ensure that both organizations complied with government regulations and that the HR policies and procedures were in place and updated.

Samantha leads the development of the annual JuST Conference program and advises on policy strategies. Currently, Samantha leads the campaign to identify and reopen cases of survivors of child sex trafficking incarcerated in adult prisons for offenses related to their trafficking. She is a graduate of Boston College and the University of Miami School of Law.

Christine is a licensed attorney and obtained her J.D. from American University. Prior to obtaining her law degree, she worked with refugees, asylees and victims of trafficking through federal and state resettlement programs at the International Institute of Boston (now the International Institute of New England).

Camryn Peterson is the Senior Advocacy Manager at Shared Hope International. In her role, she encourages others to learn more about child and youth sex trafficking and advocate for legislative change through grassroots advocacy.

Mikayla Simeral is currently the Senior Manager of Training and Promotions at Shared Hope International. She comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience from her previous position as Victim Services Supervisor with More Too Life operating out of the Suncoast region of Florida, one of the hot spots for domestic minor sex trafficking. Before working directly in the field of anti-human trafficking, Mikayla was a Local and Global Outreach Director for a church in the Washington DC area which allowed her to develop a passion for social justice issues on a domestic and international level.

Mikayla was part of the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force and participated in several sting operations with law enforcement to recover and provide services for victims ages 10-24. She graduated with her Masters in Ethnomusicology from Liberty University in 2017 and recently completed her Masters in Social Work from the University of South Florida. Mikayla currently resides in San Diego, California with her husband, Scott, her energetic toddler son, Cormac, and her furry black labradoodle, Shelly.

Ms. Myers-Martin is energized by the mission of Shared Hope International to eradicate domestic minor sex trafficking through the three-pronged approach of prevention, restoration of lives and bringing justice.

Leif Larson, an accomplished writer, messaging leader, and producer, has significant experience in developing strategy and advertising for associations and issue campaigns across the country. He has effectively utilized various mediums, such as television, radio, print, and digital platforms, to influence decision makers, mobilize supporters, and educate opinion leaders.

With a strong background in advocacy campaigns, Leif has overseen the entire creative process from initial idea to final execution. With more than ten years of experience in public relations and message development, he has successfully implemented numerous advertising campaigns through print, radio, and television.

In his consulting capacity, Leif has created impactful messaging and advocacy campaigns for various political clients and professional associations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society of Anesthesiologists, All Children Matter, Global Automakers, National Retail Federation, and American College of Emergency Physicians.

Recognized for his outstanding work in the industry, Leif has been honored with several national awards, including Pollie awards from the American Association of Political Consultants, PR Week awards for advocacy clients, and Telly awards.

Ernie Allen is a global expert on the digital economy; the dark side of the internet; public-private partnerships and child protection including the issues of child abduction, sexual exploitation, sexual violence, human trafficking and modern slavery. He frequently speaks to global audiences on these issues and serves as an advisor to governments, law enforcement, technology companies and nonprofit organizations. In 2015, Mr. Allen was appointed by UK Prime Minister David Cameron to serve as Chairman of a global initiative to combat online child abuse and exploitation.

Thirty years ago the problem of child abduction and victimization was unrecognized and unreported. Mr. Allen led the effort to create a comprehensive response to address the problem. Mr. Allen was the architect and a founder of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, served as the first Chairman and then as President and CEO for 28 years where the organization grew to $50 million in annual revenues. During his tenure, more than 180,000 missing children were recovered and the recovery rate increased from 62% to 97%. He created the national 24-hour missing children hotline, brought age progression and other forensic resources to law enforcement and provided training for more than 300,000 police officers. He established the CyberTipline for reporting child sexual exploitation; the Child Victim Identification Program to analyze millions of child pornography images to rescue victims; and helped U.S. Marshals track 100,000 fugitive sex offenders.

In 1981 he came to the administrative staff of Warner Pacific College, serving for eight years as Vice President for College Advancement and, then, as Executive Vice President. Barber returned to the college as president in 1996.. After 12 years of leadership of the institution the college for the first time in its history was debt free, had grown from 325 students to more than 1500 and was in good standing with the accrediting body.

Prior to returning to the College as president in 1996 he served as the Director of the Oregon Health Sciences University Foundation, overseeing fund raising programs for the Foundation, the largest university foundation in Oregon, including its three schools and a number of research programs. Barber directed the development of corporate, foundation and major gifts fund raising programs as well as the oversight of estate planning and planned giving.

Active in the community, Barber served as a director for 15 years and 2 years as chair of the Board of Directors of Mercy Corps, a relief and disaster organization based in Portland. In addition he served as chair of the Responder Life Board of Directors, a Portland based not-for-profit serving the needs of first responders and their families. In 2008 Barber was appointed the first Senior Fellow with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Vancouver, WA. Recently Jay was appointed to serve as Mayor of Seaside, Oregon where earlier he had been elected to a second four-year term on the Seaside, OR City Council where Jay and his wife Jan currently reside.

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