Our Founder

Sa'rai Smith-Mazariegos

Sa'rai Smith-Mazariegos has dedicated over 25 years supporting high-risk youth in various roles, achieving significant advancements in her field. Her experience includes working with survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, runaway and homeless youth, minors in foster care and probation, as well as in group homes and shelters. For the last 22 years, she has focused on CSEC-specific services. Sa'rai specializes in crisis intervention and trauma-informed care for women and children who have faced sexual abuse, possessing expertise in residential and service management, victimology, youth development, program and resource development, community awareness initiatives, and advocacy for gender-based violence and social injustice affecting young girls.

She is actively involved in Trafficking Task Forces throughout the Bay Area, the Program Committee of the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, SBCEHT-No Traffick Ahead, the executive committee of AC United, the CEASE (Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation) Network, and has served as Co-Chair of the Alameda County Sexually Exploited Minors Network Sa'rai is also a co-founder of MISSSEY, where she formerly held the positions of program director and Chairwoman of the Board of Directors. In her prior role as the Youth Support Center Site Supervisor and CSEC Program Coordinator for Alameda Family Services' DreamCatcher Runaway/Homeless Youth Services Division, she managed a support center, provided essential services to high-risk youth, and establish the first Alameda County CSEC Home (Nika's Place) in collaboration with the nonprofit.

Sa'rai has developed conducted training for law enforcement, service providers, healthcare professionals, teachers, and others on topics such as prevention effective engagement, and trauma-informed care for survivors of sexual exploitation.

Additionally, she is the Founder of the Survivors Healing, Advising, and Dedicated to Empowerment (S.H.A.D.E) Movement, a survivor-led organization focused on anti-human trafficking advocacy. This initiative offers training, court advocacy, bedside crisis intervention, victim and survivor support, group meetings, street outreach, and leadership programs. Sa'rai views her own journey as a survivor of child commercial sexual exploitation as both a driving force and a valuable education, empowering her to assist fellow survivors in their paths to freedom.