Hope Arise: board of directors

Paula Perkins

Founder | Registered Art Therapist (ATR) | Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) | Interior Design Consultant

Paula Perkins is an empathetic and experienced art therapist, deeply committed to guiding individuals through emotional healing and resilience. Paula uses various art forms, such as painting, sculpting, and drawing, to help clients express and process emotions, memories, and fears.

With experience across diverse communities, Paula's work is enriched by her multicultural perspective through living in Asia for 25 years. She has supported survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, mentored youth with incarcerated parents, and led international art activities for children in need. Paula holds a Master’s in Art Therapy and two Bachelor’s in Marketing and Interior Design.

Bethany Ku'ulei Hall -

Founder | Program Developer | Missionary | Advocate

Bethany is a compassionate individual with extensive experience in advocacy, trauma-informed care, and community engagement. She has a passion for building strategic partnerships and launching sustainable justice- driven initiatives.

Her roles in various nonprofit and mental healthcare organizations, sexual violence advocacy, as well as missionary work abroad focused on anti-trafficking efforts, have enabled her to support the healing and empowerment of vulnerable individuals. Bethany leads the development of trauma-informed programs and excels in managing teams and facilitating educational presentations and trainings that inspire and uplift communities.

Rebecca Cary

Rebecca Cary is a nationally recognized survivor leader, educator, and advocate with extensive experience in human trafficking awareness and survivor empowerment. She holds a Master’s degree in Victim Studies from Sam Houston State University and has served in leadership, advisory, and training roles at state and national levels. An author of the When Silence Ends series, public speaker, and consultant, Rebecca has led survivor-centered initiatives, including opening the first economic empowerment and resource center of its kind in the Texas tri-state area. Now based in Alabama, she leads the National Survivor Leader Initiative and continues to educate, consult, and develop new programs for survivors nationwide through The Hope Collective.

LeeAnn Smucker Rawlins

Entrepreneur | Counselor | Author | Missionary

LeeAnn Smucker Rawlins is a dedicated entrepreneur, counselor, and missionary who has centered her life around faith, family, and service. As the owner of LAS Farms and Smucker Manufacturing, her career includes extensive global missionary work through Youth With A Mission (YWAM), where she has counseled and taught in 45 countries.

LeeAnn’s passion for strong families and marriages is reflected in her books, including Loving for Life and Raising Kids Right in a World Gone Wrong. Alongside her husband Duane, LeeAnn remains deeply involved in mentoring and global missions. Her dedication to faith and service has impacted communities around the world.

Bethany Brueggen

Registered Nurse | Forensic Nurse Examiner | Advocate

Bethany is a Registered Nurse with a deep passion for supporting survivors of exploitation. Her journey began in 2010 while working in the red-light district of Phuket, Thailand, where she first encountered the realities of human trafficking. Since then, she has dedicated herself to anti-trafficking efforts, volunteering with local organizations in Denver, Colorado, engaging in strip club outreach ministry, and advocating for minors recovering from sex trafficking as both an advocate and residential coordinator for a safe house.

In 2021, Bethany merged her nursing expertise with her commitment to helping survivors by becoming a forensic nurse examiner. Recognizing a critical gap in healthcare services for trafficking survivors, she developed a pilot program in partnership with a local nonprofit to provide emergency case management in the hospital setting.