In 1997, Harbour Hope Co-Founder Merrie’s path to founding the organization began with a life-changing encounter in the Rampart District of inner-city Los Angeles, one of the most dangerous areas in the U.S. at the time. There, Merrie met a 15-year-old runaway who had fallen into the devastating cycle of human trafficking. Despite providing refuge and mentorship, the young girl ran away, leaving Merrie heartbroken but with a newfound understanding of the complexities of helping trafficking survivors. This experience laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to providing restorative care and support to those trapped in trafficking.

Merrie’s journey continued through her work with street youth in Moscow, Russia, where she met her husband and co-founder, Igor. During this time, Merrie witnessed firsthand the harsh reality of human trafficking when she saw young women being exploited in an alley. This moment fueled her determination to intervene, and, years later, a powerful encounter with a reformed trafficker further solidified her belief in the possibility of transformation. This experience, paired with her time mentoring women survivors in Orlando, sparked the creation of Harbour Hope in 2015. Today, Merrie and Igor’s vision has grown into a global mission to combat human trafficking and offer hope and healing to survivors through trauma-informed care and mentorship.