Consultants Full Bios

SHARON HAWKINS-LEYDEN, LCSW

Sharon Hawkins Leyden, MSW, LCSW has more than 38 years of experience working with transitional age youth, adults, and seniors with significant vulnerabilities.  She has been licensed as a Clinical Social Worker in the state of California for the past 21 years.  She has worked predominantly with issues pertaining to trauma from sexual exploitation, placement into the foster care system, isolation, poverty, systemic racism, and chronic homelessness. Throughout her career, her work has focused on three primary issues: raising people out of poverty, helping people re-author stories of trauma, and working for equality of access through social justice practices.

As part of her work, Sharon founded an agency for homeless transitional youth. She was the Executive Director for a decade and built shelter and mental health programming designed to increase wellness for young people.  She then designed and implemented the first Coordinated Entry System for homeless adults in Alameda County.  The new system provided triage services for persons experiencing homelessness. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she designed and implemented programming for homeless seniors in the heart of Oakland, CA.  

Concurrently, Sharon has been working internationally for the past five years with survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery at Survivor Alliance as a Mental Health Consultant.  She supports survivors as they become survivor leaders in the anti-trafficking movement, and she supports allies as they work alongside survivor leaders.  

She is also currently a Senior Mental Health Consultant to several organizations, where she continues to teach the next generation of emerging social justice leaders about her knowledge and understanding of the intersectionality of poverty, race, trauma, and survival in the USA and overseas. Throughout her decades of work, she has always worked cross culturally and is committed to living a life based on the foundations of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  She is originally from England, has a wonky accent and loves her cat, writing, and gardening.

ZUHURA ODHIAMBO MIGOT

My name is Zuhura Odhiambo, I was born and raised in Nairobi Kenya a place called Kibera. I went to in Toi Primary School in Kibera and I am also a survivor of human trafficking.

Earlier I have worked with different organizations in different fields. I worked with KANCO and the KAPTLD there I used to do screening and defaulter tracing, and adherence. Women fighting Aids in Kenya as a community Health worker creating Awareness to people of the community about HIV and Aids also making referrals.

I Worked with HAART KENYA on survivor Leadership on protection policies, Ethical storytelling and photography. I’ve worked also with KEMRI Linking the community with the research center, I became a member of survivor Alliance in late 2020.

I was in the lead program and I was trained on community building and peer mentoring and also, I volunteer in Azadi Kenya which is hosting survivor Alliance Kenyan chapter. Late last year I have worked with the united way organization as a lead associate. During my placement at United Way worldwide, I together with other two colleagues, we managed to create ethical story telling guidelines, here is the link; Sharing My Story: Combatting Human Trafficking as a Survivor Leader | United Way Worldwide. I have also been student at the Reading wise international trained on peer-to-peer counseling. 

My intention to join Azadi Kenya is to find a safe place and also to get skills that will help me work in creating Awareness about modern slavery in my larger community and also to build a larger community of survivors, since being a victim of modern slavery have completely changed my life and now through my healing process, through my told story, I’m looking forward to help prevent others in my community against being victims of trafficking.

Wilnisha Sutton

Wilnisha Sutton pronouns are She/Her and she is a Lived experience expert (survivor) and proud of it. She has always wanted to give back to those impacted by injustice and empower them. Wilnisha worked for San Diego Youth Services at STARS as a Case Manager for youth ages 12-24 who were being trafficked or impacted by CSEC. She was also a RISE Court advocate (Resiliency Is Strength and Empowerment) With San Diego Superior Court and an advocate with HOPE Court program in D.C. Superior Court. Therefore, when she worked as a HOPE court Case manager with Fair Girls is was a perfect fit. Serving at both diversions youth courts gave Wilnisha the opportunity to engage in the restorative work happening in the juvenile justice system. 

While Wilnisha has supported her community in many ways, including voter education and registration as well as anti-gang efforts, her heart is in becoming a leader in the anti-human trafficking movement. She believes if she can overcome past experiences and find her purpose without access to services then she knows she can help others on their healing journey through providing survivor-centered services. Wilnisha is also a powerful speaker who has spoke on many platforms, panels, organizations, and colleges regarding topics such as  Human Trafficking, racism and activism, self-love, and empowering others to be their authentic self. Wilnisha lives to inspire others to become the best version of themselves and motivates them to find their purpose in life. She is excited to continue her journey in D.C as a recent Human Trafficking Leadership Academic graduate and to serve more folks at NVRDC as a Community Response Advocate serving all victims.