The inspiration for our charity came in spring of 2018. In fall of 2018, Elizabeth and Lisa met after a presentation on human trafficking by Elizabeth for a class at the Santa Rosa Junior College where Lisa sat in the front row. Lisa was very affected by Liz’s recounting of her experiences of addiction, arrests, incarceration and her emergence from the life of trafficking. They bonded over their shared experiences and struggles and formed Redemption House of the Bay Area which was the first group in Sonoma County devoted to helping women escape human trafficking.
In addition to bi-monthly support meetings for women in need, street outreach programs and a 24/7 staffed phone line, Lisa, Liz and their volunteers are working toward the establishment of a women’s safe house in Sonoma County where women can find shelter and services in their quest to leave a life of trafficking.
Elizabeth Quiroz and Lisa Diaz-McQuaid
Elizabeth Quiroz is a human trafficking survivor and former foster youth who overcame addiction and incarceration to become a graduate student, and now serves as a Social Worker that supports adults and juveniles through the child welfare system. She founded Sonoma Counties' first Human Trafficking support group, and co-facilitates with Lisa Diaz McQuaid. She is also a published author
Lisa Diaz was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California and is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. She understands the effects of trauma and addiction and is active in recovery from substances, mentoring women in their recovery journey. As a published author, Lisa contributed to an anthology about surviving human trafficking. She is employed as a human trafficking case worker for a non-profit orginization in Sonoma County.
Elizabeth Baker is a Senior Finance Manager for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. She has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and MBA with a concentration in business development. Elizabeth has served a 6-year term as President of the BOD of New Vintage Church in Santa Rosa and an active board member of Growing Healthy Churches in Stockton, California.
Dianna Badalament, originally from Long Island, New York, has been a resident of California since 1999. With 13 years of experience in international NGO work, she has developed and managed innovative economic and therapeutic empowerment programs for survivors of human trafficking, severe gender-based violence, and at-risk women and children in red-light districts, shelter homes, and resource centers across India, Thailand, and Nepal. For the past 8 years, Dianna has been an active member of the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force. She is also a California State Certified Sexual Assault Victims Counselor, providing support through Verity’s Rape Crisis Hotline. Additionally, Dianna is a classically trained goldsmith, using her skills to teach and empower survivors of trafficking.
Megan Escoto is a former foster youth, adoptee, and survivor of human trafficking. Bilingual and a former first responder, she now works in child abuse prevention, with a focus on addressing disparities within the child welfare system. Megan holds degrees in Social Justice, Criminal Justice, and Behavioral Sciences. She serves on a legislative panel that evaluates California laws concerning sex crimes and gender-based violence. In addition to authoring two books on human trafficking, Megan facilitates skill-building support groups for survivors through Redemption House of the Bay Area.
Kathryn Lombera is a lifelong resident of occupied Pomo Territory, also known as Sonoma County. With 15 years of professional experience in retail bank operations and project management, she brings a wealth of expertise to her work. Kathryn is also a dedicated traditional Indigenous birthworker of Huasteca Nahua descent, offering labor and postpartum support to local expectant mothers. She is a lifelong student of birth practices and ancestral traditional medicines. In addition to her birthwork, Kathryn advocates for Indigenous survivors of spiritual trauma and sexual assault, making her a valuable member of the Board of Directors for Redemption House.
Linda Hernandez is a first generation American and native of the Sacramento region. Her immigrant parents instilled in her a strong work ethic, which has been pivotal in her role as a Strategic Business Professional. Adept in organizational development, leadership, project management, and business administration, Linda has earned certifications in Human Resources from San Diego State University and Construction Management from UC Davis. Her professional accomplishments are a testament to her commitment to excellence and continuous learning.
Anna Reyes was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California, with nine siblings. She survived domestic violence and has been clean and sober for 32
years, and happily married for 34 years. Annie has five beautiful adult
children, 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She is passionate about serving her community, and
she recently retired as an Eligibility Specialist Supervisor from the County of Sonoma/Economic Assistance,
where she worked to improve the health, safety, and well-being of individuals, families, and the community
through programs such as medical coverage, CalFresh/EBT, and others. She has previously volunteered for
several non-profit organizations dedicated to community service. Annie is deeply committed to assisting women
in finding healing and purpose, and she mentors them on how to use their past experiences for a greater
purpose.