Our Story

In 2022, Ashley moved to Northern Colorado with a heart burdened by the realities of human trafficking she witnessed serving overseas. Having experienced violence in her own life, she refused to remain silent and felt called to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Recognizing that human trafficking happens right here in the United States, she established Justice Now as a ministry under Antioch Community Church of Fort Collins and began building partnerships with organizations like A Courageous Rose, a survivor-led nonprofit.

Ashley immediately began training trauma-informed educators and creating Care Kits for trafficking victims, driven by her passion to bring this hidden crime into the light. When she married the love of her life in 2023 and started building a family, this personal milestone added even more fuel to her commitment to the fight, expanding both the vision and capacity for what Justice Now could accomplish in Northern Colorado.

Throughout the years, Justice Now successfully trained four teams of trauma-informed educators, though deployment has proven challenging in practice. We bring awareness about what trafficking looks like, from schools to government officials to local businesses and even to UCHealth cohorts. Justice Now also serves on two Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs), collaborating with law enforcement, social services, and other professionals to coordinate comprehensive responses to trafficking cases.

The ministry expanded beyond education into direct survivor support through care kit distribution and advocacy work with state officials. We launched safe transportation services to survivors, helping them access medical appointments, job interviews, and transition homes safely. Ashley began attending local trials to support survivors and participating in human trafficking panels with other organizations, creating a collaborative network across Northern Colorado.

 In 2024, Justice Now successfully increased the director's budget by 30% and earned recognition as a provider of safe transportation services for survivors. What started as awareness-raising had evolved into comprehensive survivor advocacy and support.

Justice Now is building toward a comprehensive approach to fighting human trafficking that includes our upcoming $1.98 million transitional housing program.

This next phase will provide 2-18 months of safe, trauma-informed housing for survivors while they rebuild their lives, supported by dedicated staff including a live-in community manager and expanded volunteer teams.