Tharros Place, a nonprofit providing residential services for girls ages 12 to 17 who are survivors of human trafficking, recently announced it has added new members to its board and selected officers. 

The new board members are:

• Aimee Bellmore, Mental Health Researcher, Scholar, and Practitioner

• Kristen Berger, Business Development Officer, Mag Mutual

• Michael “Chief” Carpenter, Retired Army Chief Warrant Officer, Pooler City Council Member

The officers include:

• President: Denise Cooper, Assistant City Attorney, City of Savannah

• Treasurer: Elizabeth Summerell, Assurance Director, CBIZ, Inc.

• Secretary: Phylicia Anderson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker 

“Having the expertise and insight of these community leaders will help us make real and lasting change possible in the lives of our residents,” said Julie Wade, Executive Director of Tharros Place. “We are so grateful for their support as we transform girls in our community from victims to young women brimming with confidence, self-respect, and courage.

Tharros Place opened its doors to survivors of human trafficking in late 2023. This residential facility is open 24/7 and staffed by trained and licensed professionals providing trauma-informed, client-centered care to girls ages 12 to 17.

In 2022, 494 minors with an average age of 14 were identified as victims of human trafficking. Chatham County ranks fourth in the state for the number of sex trafficking cases of minors. Tharros Place’s ultimate goal is to transform those girls from victims to young women brimming with confidence, self-respect, and courage.

The issue is of particular concern for Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, who created the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion, and Education (GRACE) Commission to eliminate human trafficking as a threat to people in every corner of Georgia.