Gina Cavallo

Gina Cavallo is an award-winning author, consultant, and survivor leader whose journey from silence to advocacy has made her a powerful national voice in the fight against human trafficking.

For much of her life, Cavallo carried the weight of trauma—surviving child abuse, domestic violence, abduction, and sex trafficking. For years, she could not even see herself as a victim, and after escaping, she faced stigma, criminal convictions, broken relationships, and barriers to housing, health, and education. It was only in 2016, through Celebrate Recovery, mentorship, and counseling, that she began to reclaim her truth, her identity, and her freedom.

What began as personal healing became a calling. Today, Cavallo is the founder of We RISE USA and serves as Survivor Consultant and Board Vice President of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking. She is also a member of national advisory boards including PACT-USA, NJCASA, and the Alliance to End Human Trafficking. She published her memoir, "A Survivor’s Secrets," opening her story to the world and inspiring others to break the silence.

Cavallo has testified before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the implementation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, partnered with the New Jersey Department of Education to establish prevention guidelines for schools, and trained thousands of legislators, law enforcement officials, educators, healthcare providers, and community leaders nationwide.

Her advocacy and leadership have been recognized with numerous honors, including a U.S. Army Commendation, the Rising Phoenix Award, a Certificate of Appreciation from William Paterson University, a Senatorial Citation from Ohio Senators Teresa Fedor and Stephanie Kunzie, the Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference, a Proclamation from the Township of Toms River, the National Liberators Award for Leadership, and recognition as a finalist for the White House Champion of Change.

Beyond her titles and achievements, Cavallo’s mission is deeply human: to remind survivors that they are more than their trauma, to challenge systems that perpetuate exploitation, and to build bridges of collaboration that create lasting change. What once felt like emptiness has been transformed into purpose. Today, she uses her platform to educate, inspire, and lead with compassion—proving that every survivor’s story holds the power to change the world.