Lara Powers is the Senior Manager of Program, Learning, & Impact at Humanity United and has been at the forefront of domestic anti-trafficking efforts for over ten years. Before her current role, she worked in a consultant capacity where she served as the Sr. Survivor Engagement Advisor and a lead research team member for the National Survivor Study at Polaris. Lara has advised a wide array of non-governmental stakeholders promising practices for survivor-centered, survivor-led engagement in the anti-trafficking field, including the United Nations, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other leading institutions in the international anti-trafficking community.
Previously, Lara was the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline manager at Polaris, overseeing hotline case response; protocol and policy development; outcomes and impact management; and staff training, wellness, and professional development. She holds a Master of Arts degree in International Development from the American University’s School of International Service.