Jennifer is deeply committed to addressing issues of slavery, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Since 2013, she has been working with the Reformed Church in America’s Regional Synod of Canada where she has engaged with congregations, groups and individuals to equip and mobilize them in channeling their concerns for slavery and other justice issues. Ecumenical collaboration has been a crucial part of her work; she has collaborated with the Christian Reformed Church (Centre for Public Dialogue) and Defend Dignity on multiple awareness and advocacy projects and events. Jennifer is also the RCA representative to the Canadian Council of Churches’ Commission on Justice and Peace where she serves as the Vice Chair as well as the Chair for the Working Group on Sexual Exploitation in Canada.
Prior to her role with the Regional Synod of Canada, Jennifer worked for Walk With Me Canada, a victim services agency which provided support and services to victims and survivors of both labour and sex trafficking. There, she responded to crisis calls from law enforcement, victim services and other social agencies regarding victims of human trafficking, and she coordinated first-response care, support and services to accommodate immediate needs.
Jennifer obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University where she majored in Global Studies and Religion & Culture. In 2015, she received a Master of Arts in Social Justice & Equity Studies from Brock University. Her research focused on the ways that pimps and traffickers target, recruit and condition females in Canada for the sex trade. Using her experience in victim services, awareness raising/education, and advocacy, Jennifer has vast experience in public speaking, sharing her knowledge with a variety of sectors and fields including law enforcement, health providers, social service providers, academia, and people of faith.
In her spare time, Jennifer can be found spending time with her family, in her gardens, or in the kitchen (cooking/baking and eating!). Isaiah 58:6 is often on Jennifer’s heart: “I’ll tell you what it really means to worship the LORD. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused!” (CEV)
