Meet Bekah Charleston

This year, as part of our Freedom Awards Benefit, we are proud to honor Bekah Charleston for her notable contribution and engagement in the anti-trafficking field. Please take a moment to read her biography below.

Bekah Charleston is a nationally recognized leader, public speaker, and advocate whose story of survival and triumph has been featured by NPR, USA Today, the New York Post, and more. After enduring a decade of exploitation, she dedicated her life to empowering survivors and fostering community collaboration.  

In 2013, she launched Bekah Speaks Out, offering training and consultancy for law enforcement, service providers, and leaders. With degrees in criminal justice and criminology, she has worked on transformative initiatives, including advocating for the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act and filing a federal lawsuit against Nevada’s legalized prostitution industry.  

Bekah has served as executive director of a nonprofit providing emergency housing and advocacy for exploited individuals and co-chairs the Advisory Committee to the Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force. She is also the National Engagement Specialist for the Sex Trade Survivor Caucus and a TEDx speaker, sharing her journey of resilience in “Tragedy to Triumph.”  

Her advocacy efforts came full circle in 2020 when she received a full presidential pardon for crimes committed under coercion, exemplifying the power of justice and hope. Through her work, Bekah champions survivor-centered policy, economic empowerment, and trauma-informed practices, inspiring change and leaving a legacy of dignity and strength.