Renee Adams was just a child when she learned that love came with conditions, if it came at all. Placed in an orphanage after enduring child abuse, she longed for acceptance, for proof that she was worthy of kindness. But the very place meant to protect her became another source of pain. When she ran, she wasn't looking for trouble; she was searching for safety. Instead, she found herself in a world even darker than the one she left behind, a world where traffickers prey on the vulnerable, where abandonment and abuse mark children as easy targets. Every decision she made was one of survival. The transition from an orphanage to the streets, from captivity to escape, from victim to survivor was shaped by choices no child should ever have to make. Yet, through every moment of darkness, a truth remained: She was more than what had been done to her. For years, she believed she was just another statistic, another lost child swallowed by a broken system. But today, Renee stands as a survivor, an advocate for those still trapped, a voice for those who have yet to find their own. The past tried to steal her worth, but it could not take her purpose. She is living proof that no matter how deep the wounds, healing is possible; every survivor has a story worth telling. In this session, attendees will learn about the deep trauma that survivors of trafficking experience and discover how survivors overcome obstacles of their past that can create a life filled with purpose, strength, and possibility.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Renee Kae Adams is now a grandmother, entrepreneur, and advocate who brings awareness to the harsh realities of human trafficking and childhood trauma. After nearly 50 years of exploitation, her work is fueled by quiet strength and deep commitment to supporting those whose lives have been shattered by similar experiences.