Signs of Hope is fortunate to have a dedicated and diverse staff with varied backgrounds and expertise.
Administration:
Macy Haverda
Interim Executive Director
Macy joined Signs of HOPE as Interim Executive Director in July 2022. Before joining the SOH staff, Macy was a nonprofit management consultant and an interim executive director with the ACLU of Nevada. She is also the President of the Wild West Access Fund of Nevada, working to minimize barriers to abortion and on public education campaigns about chemical abortion. Macy is dedicated to increasing access to Signs of Hope’s clients and fighting the systems that have brought them here.
Contact Macy Haverda: macy@sohlv.org
Yvonne P.
Office Manager
Yvonne joined Signs of Hope in March 2022. Yvonne has an extensive background in non-profit work in many different faucets from client-centered direct services to administrative support. Yvonne provides support for the grant and fiscal reporting, HR, and bookkeeping functions at SOH, as well as support for special events.
Contact Yvonne: yvonne@sohlv.org
Lachell G.
Development Coordinator
Lachell joined Signs of HOPE staff in November 2021. Her devotion to people and her eagerness to support the community was the inspiration behind Lachell becoming a part of the SOH staff. With over 15 years of business management and development experience, Lachell brings the knowledge needed to support and manage donor relation, fundraising, as well as provide support to the Board of Directors. New to the non-profit world, Lachell is excited about her role within the SOH family.
Contact Lachell: lachell@sohlv.org
Community Engagement:
The Community Engagement team handles public outreach both online and in-person. To increase public knowledge and access to services to better serve our community, with a focus on historically under-served populations.
Tia S.
Director of Community Engagement
Engaging with all aspects of our community, and reaching and serving all survivors of sexual violence and exploitation is key to our mission. As the Director of Community Engagement, Tia is creating and reinforcing connections with community partners, as well as overseeing the recruitment, retention and celebration of our amazing volunteers. Tia joined the team in September 2020 with a strong background in sports marketing and volunteer management.
Contact Tia: Tia@sohlv.org
Gladys G.
(Bilingual – Spanish)
Community Engagement Manager
Gladys joined Signs of Hope at the end of 2020. Before joining the SOH staff, Gladys was a volunteer with the organization and worked in the Human Resource field. She currently works in managing the volunteer training and volunteer experience. As part of the Community Engagement team, Gladys can be found out in the community talking to the public about the services our organization provides and volunteer and intern opportunities.
Contact Gladys: gladys@sohlv.org
Nayeli E.
(Bilingual – Spanish)
Communications Specialist
Nayeli joined the Signs of Hope team in May of 2022! As the Communications Specialist, their main focus is on community engagement through various social media platforms. They make sure that all of our resources are being seen by various communities through our online platforms along with educating the public on important topics. They also have a coordinating role with the CLAS workgroup and are making sure that the CLAS standards are being implemented throughout our organization.
Contact Nayeli: nayeli@sohlv.org
Advocacy:
Signs of Hope has advocates serving in many different settings, including court, schools, jails and prisons, homeless shelters, and doing phone support and hospital accompaniment.
Kathy S.
(Bilingual – Spanish)
Director of Advocacy Services
Kathy is rejoining the SOH team, having previously served as the Juvenile and Family Advocate. She has also worked extensively with child welfare. Kathy oversees the variety of advocates and advocacy services, and works closely with internal and external partners to assure greater access to our services for those seeking support
Contact Kathy: Kathy@sohlv.org
Wendy L.
(Bilingual – Spanish)
Bilingual Program Manager
Wendy has served in a variety of capacities since joining SOH team in 2009. In her current role, Wendy oversees all services, programs, and outreach with the Latinx community. She is also very involved in court and criminal justice advocacy efforts and long-term support for victims as they go through the long process after an assault to bring perpetrators to justice. Wendy is passionate about getting critical safety and awareness information out to the Latinx community, in particular serving families dealing with the aftermath of child sexual abuse, and making sure the SOH’s services in Spanish continue to expand.
Contact Wendy: Wendy@sohlv.org
Marissa P.
PREA Services Manager
Marissa joined Signs of Hope in 2021 starting off as a case manager working with the R.I.S.E. team. She is now the PREA services manager and uses her passion and years of experience with the incarcerated population to serve those in need of an advocate. Marissa has her bachelor’s degree in human development with a focus in substance use and is working on her master’s in clinical psychology with a focus in somatic counseling. Her desire and goal is to continue to provide trauma-informed care to those who need it.
Contact Marissa: marissa@sohlv.org
Sindy Ch.
(Bilingual – Spanish)
Client Services Coordinator
Sindy provides advocacy services and support to clients by providing resources, accompanying them in making police reports and assisting them in navigating the court system. Sindy focuses on following up with clients after their SANE exam to assist with various resources such as State and County Victim of Crime applications, counseling resources and accompanying clients and their families to court proceedings. Sindy strives to guide clients in accessing the resources and information needed when getting connected to Signs of Hope.
Contact Sindy: Sindy@sohlv.org
Irie D.
Student Advocate
Irie has been with Signs of Hope since late 2021 and currently serves as the Student Advocate, working with teens ages 13-17 and with any child needing K-12 school advocacy. She provides administrative support to the S.T.R.O.N.G. Teen Support Group, for both attendees and facilitators. She amassed most of her prior anti-violence advocacy experience through the CARE Advocates at the UNLV CARE Center, and has also dabbled in homeless outreach services. She is working through her Bachelor’s in Psychology at UNLV. Irie continues to learn and unlearn with each case she assists, and takes pride in empowering clients to reclaim their strengths.
Contact Irie: irie@sohlv.org
Jazmine R.
Crisis Response Advocate
Jazmine joined Signs of Hope in March of 2022! Before joining the SOH team, Jazmine was a volunteer with the organization. Her role is to ensure that victims and survivors of abuse have a safe, confidential place to go to when they need support and resources. She’s primarily responsible for answering incoming hotline calls, offering accompaniment to forensic exams (SANE) at the hospital and providing crisis intervention for walk-in clients. Jazmine also assists clients in applying for victim compensation, accompaniment to police interviews, coordination of emergency shelter, emotional support, educating on victims’ rights, safety planning, assistance with reporting options, referrals to community resources, and coordination of Signs of Hope services, such as individual counseling and support group. Jazmine also assists folks during after-hours for crisis response.
Contact Jazmine: jazmine@sohlv.org
Jeanne S.
After Hours Advocate
Contact Jeanne: jeanne@sohlv.org
Prevention & Education
Sexual violence can be prevented by changing the views and behaviors of young people, through bystander intervention, and through widespread education of children from a young age that empowers them regarding their own body boundaries. Their mission to to offer prevention through education to build healthy relationships and promote responsibility to end violence in all communities by shifting how we value ourselves and each other.
Wayua Barrett
Director of Prevention & Education
Wayua graduated from the University of Reno, Nevada with a degree in psychology and minor in substance abuse. She is currently working on her master’s in social work. She joined Signs of HOPE as a case manager in our anti-human trafficking department in December 2019 and became the Director of Prevention & Education in October 2020. Prior to joining Signs of HOPE, Wayua specialized in working with highly traumatized youth; spending 7+ years working as an advocate for women and children experiencing domestic violence, sexual violence and/or neglect.
Contact Wayua: Wayua@sohlv.org
Tamicka C.
Youth Education Specialist
Tamicka joined SOH in October 2021, embarking on a new role as a Youth Education Specialist. Most of her career has been working as an advocate, case management or doing some form of direct client service. She aspires to inspire which she brings to her role here at SOH which is opening new doors for her as she is in the process of becoming a Certified Advocate. She loves working with the youth and community as it is fulfilling and helps her to learn and grow.
Contact Tamicka: tamicka@sohlv.org
Jackie G.
Prevention and Education Curriculum Specialist
Jackie was previously a Youth Facilitator in 2019-2020, and then rejoined Signs of HOPE in January of 2022 as the Curriculum Specialist. As the Curriculum Specialist, Jackie develops and refines curriculum for the prevention and education programs. She also assists is giving presentations as needed. Jackie graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UCLA in 2016.
Contact Jackie: jackie@sohlv.org
Debbie H.
Prevention Education Training Facilitator
Debbie is a California native and has lived in Southern Nevada since 2003. From 2003 to 2008, she was Director of Prevent Child Abuse Nevada, providing training on “Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse” to hundreds of community members who work with children. Since then, she has worked at various Clark County nonprofit organizations and continued to serve as a child advocate for over 20 years. As Prevention Education Training Facilitator, she provides education to children on prevention of bullying, stranger abduction, and sexual abuse; and education to adults on child sexual abuse prevention and responding to human trafficking
Contact Debbie: Debbie@sohlv.org
R.I.S.E. (Resources and Integration for Survivor Empowerment) Team:
R.I.S.E. is a comprehensive case management program for those that have been impacted by any form of human trafficking. Referrals are taken from Law Enforcement, Medical Professionals, other Service Providers, and community referrals.
Joanna G.
(Bilingual – Spanish)
RISE Client Services Manager
Joanna began working with victims of Human Trafficking as an intern with Seeds of Hope in 2017 and graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice that same year. Joanna continued her dedication to support domestic and foreign national victims of human trafficking by volunteering as hotline advocate with Seeds of Hope for over 2 years. In 2020, Joanna joined Signs of Hope under the R.I.S.E program to continue following her passion for serving the Las Vegas community.
Contact Joanna Joanna@sohlv.org
Claudia H.
(Bilingual – Spanish)
RISE Case Manager
Claudia joined Signs of Hope at the beginning of 2015 as the Volunteer and Hotline Manager by coordinating the hotline schedule as well as overseeing all aspects of volunteer management. In 2020, Claudia transitioned into the RISE Case Manager role and has been assisting domestic and foreign national victims of human trafficking. Claudia assists human trafficking victims by providing support, referrals and determining both immediate and long-term goals. Claudia obtained a degree in Journalism and Media Studies from UNLV in 2012.
Contact Claudia claudia@sohlv.org
Brandi W.
RISE Case Manager
Brandi joined Signs of Hope at the beginning of 2022. As a RISE Case Manager, she assists human trafficking victims by providing support, referrals and determining both immediate and long-term goals.
Contact Brandi: brandi@sohlv.org
Luisa A.
(Bilingual- Spanish)
RISE Housing & Employment Specialist
Luisa joined Signs of Hope in September of 2021. Her educational background is in criminal justices, and she obtained her bachelor’s degree from Nevada State College in May of 2021. Before Signs of Hope, Luisa worked at a law firm. She currently assists RISE clients to find housing and employment opportunities.
Contact Luisa: luisa@sohlv.org
Heather R.
RISE Operations Coordinator
Heather started as a volunteer in 2018, and joined on staff in 2020 as the after hours advocate. In the beginning of 2022, Heather took on a new role as the Operations Coordinator. As the Operations Coordinator she works closely with volunteers and schedules the 24/7 crisis response hotline, and coordinates outreach opportunities with local law enforcement.
Contact Heather: heather@sohlv.org
Cassie M.
Anti-Human Trafficking & Overdose Prevention Specialist
Socorro S.
Intern Coordinator
Socorro is the Intern Coordinator for the R.I.S.E program at Signs of Hope supervising bachelor and master level students. Socorro graduated with her Bachelors in Social Work from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2017 and then with her Masters in Social Work from the University of Nevada Reno in 2019. Since 2015, Socorro’s passion and dedication has been to provide direct services to victims of human trafficking beginning with her time at a local nonprofit organization working with commercially sexually exploited children. She then began working with the SEEDS of Hope program in 2017 before transitioning to the R.I.S.E program in 2020. Since then, Socorro has provided support to youth and adult survivors, facilitated the adult survivor support group, and continues to host practicum students.
Counseling Center:
We have multiple counselors providing services in English and Spanish and serving clients ages 3 and up who have been impacted by sexual abuse, assault, and human trafficking in our counseling center. Language line services for those speaking other languages are available.
Patricia C.
(Bilingual – Spanish)
Counseling Center Manager
Patricia joined Signs of Hope team in October 2016. She helps manage the schedules of nine therapist and keeps track of the preferences and availability of our clients. Patricia is dedicated to making all clients at SOH feel comfortable and welcome.
Contact Patricia: Patricia@sohlv.org
Kathleen Bergquist, JD, Ph.D., LCSW
Clinical Director – Signs of Hope
Dr. Bergquist is on the faculty of the UNLV School of Social Work and also serves in many community roles. Dr. Bergquist has been working with Signs of Hope since 2013. She serves as our Clinical Director, overseeing therapeutic services, all of our counseling center staff, and providing organizational direction in the growth and development of our trauma-centered therapeutic services.
Practicing Therapists:
Ashley Martinez, MS, LCPC: Ashley is a Licensed Clinical Professional counselor who has a Masters of Science from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Ashley has over 4 clinical years providing therapeutic services to sexually exploited youth and adults in our community through Signs of Hope. Specialties include treating adolescents, complex trauma, sexual trauma and incorporating EMDR interventions.
Carolina Villar-Mendez, MA, LCPC (Bilingual-Spanish): I joined Signs of Hope in 2019 and I specialize in providing treatment for Spanish speaking, primary and secondary survivors. My main area of focus is helping clients process trauma and alleviate additional concerns including, but not limited to depression, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, and chronic pain. I tend to use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as well as other trauma-informed approaches. My overall goal is to support clients in their healing journey!
Liz Carrasco, MSW, LCSW (Bilingual-Spanish): Liz earned her Master of Social Work degree (MSW) and her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice at UNLV. She is also currently a Trauma Psychology PhD student at Northcentral University. Liz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and specializes in working with victims of interpersonal violence and trauma. Liz has worked with survivors of power based violence for the past twelve years. Liz’s clinical training includes working with foster care children, adults, youth, mandated clients in the CPS and criminal justice systems, and post-prison re-entry clients.
Dawn Canty, MS, LMFT
Emily Lewis, MS, LCPC: Emily has been with Signs of Hope since 2019 and works primarily with teens and young adults. In addition to seeing clients individually, she co-facilitates the teen groups held on Thursday nights. Emily practices from a trauma-informed, feminist perspective. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization (EMDR) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Gabriela Meraz, MS, LCPC (Bilingual-Spanish): Gaby joined Signs of Hope in 2016. She has a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and has over 14 years of practice in the mental health field. She has experience in crisis management and resolution, depression, anxiety, and trauma working with both adults and adolescents. Her preferred modalities are Trauma- Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and she is a certified clinical trauma professional (CCTP). Her passion is to empower others to be the best version of themselves!
Glenda Cruz Juarez, MSW, LCSW
Holly Shank, MS, LCPC
Sandy Simanton, MSW, LCSW: Sandy Simanton joined SOH in 2017. She graduated with an MSW from the University of Denver and has more than 30 years of clinical experience with individual and family therapy. Sandy is a certified clinical trauma professional (CCTP).
Sarah Mount, MS, LMFT
Sarah Oettinger, MSW, LCSW
