“THE PROSTITUTE AND EXPLOITED: BRINGING THE LIGHT” - CHRISTINE MCDONALD

Christine McDonald is an author, activist, survivor expert, and public speaker. She is the founder of Christine’s Vision (www.christinesvision.org) where their mission is to promote a world where love and acceptance is shown to those most in need through awareness, policy, and education, to break down the barriers that hinder their ability to flourish. She is the author of Cry Purple and The Same Kind of Human, where she gives the reader the opportunity to see the marginalized and the exploited through the eyes of grace, a glimpse of life on the streets, the violence she experienced, the role addiction played in her journey, and the challenges and barriers she encountered while putting her life back together. Christine is also the co-pastor of The Table KC Church.

As she overcame her past and claimed her place in future as a change-maker, Christine has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2009 Inspiring Change Honor, the 2010 Ex-Offender of the

Year Award, 2014 Missouri Abolitionist of the Year Award, was named the 2015 Missouri Champion from the Missouri Mental Health Foundation for her work for those in recovery, and the 2019 Bravery Award for her social justice work for vulnerable populations.

Christine is currently working with city, state and national legislators to write legislation that protects victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, as well as working to break down barriers for those with criminal histories, homelessness, and substance abuse disorders. She partners with, and holds positions on, a number of committees and boards from local to national levels, including the Missouri Supreme Court Commission of Human Trafficking, Missouri State Advisory Board for Substance Use Disorders and Behavioral Health, the Governor’s Council to End Homelessness, Missouri Supreme Court Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Commission, Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Task Force, KCPD Prostitution Working Group, and Relentless Pursuit.

Christine has been featured on multiple documentaries and news interviews speaking on topics such as reentry, substance abuse, and human trafficking. With over 200 key note speeches, 75 workshop facilitations, 50 testimonies on legislative floors, and 100 inspirational and faith-based presentations, Christine’s lived experience, coupled with her education and training, provide her the perfect insight to see beneath the surface of our society’s otherwise “invisible” populations.