At age 14, Jennifer Gaines was recruited by a sex trafficker within 48 hours of running away from home during a painful time in her family life, and survived 28 years being sex trafficked, from Minneapolis to New York City and around the United States. While in ‘the life,’ Ms. Gaines felt “trapped and all used up” and often wished to be dead. But following her escape, Ms. Gaines for the past decade has been a mentor and advocate for women struggling to exit prostitution, and feels empowered to be a part of the movement to end all forms of sexual exploitation.  Ms. Gaines is also the founding leader of JCS Affective Sober Living, a sober/step-down housing program for women recovering from addiction, trauma, trafficking, exploitation, and/or domestic violence.  Her personal journey of overcoming addiction, exploitation, homelessness, and domestic violence shapes the heart of JCS and its core belief that no one is defined by their past and that lasting recovery and stability are possible.