First lady Britainy Beshear announces formation of Human Trafficking Awareness Coalition

FRANKFORT, Ky. – On Thursday, first lady Britainy Beshear announced the formation of the Human Trafficking Awareness Coalition.

Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order establishing the 15-member coalition, with experts in public safety, law enforcement, health care, media, government and more focused on preventing human trafficking and helping survivors. The first lady will serve as chair.

“Human trafficking tears families apart and leaves survivors not knowing where to turn or who they can trust. As First Lady, I’ve made the fight against human trafficking a top priority. I want to end it – in every awful form that it takes,” said the first lady. “Through experiences like serving on the National Coalition for the Prevention of Human Sex Trafficking, I’ve seen firsthand that change is possible – and the more we understand trafficking, the more action we can take to help our neighbors. Through this coalition, we will increase education across Kentucky, support survivors, seek justice and deliver meaningful results.

The Human Trafficking Awareness Coalition will be composed of the following members:

• First lady Britainy Beshear;
• Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr., Kentucky State Police;
• Amy Hess, executive director, Kentucky Office of Homeland Security;
• Josh Keats, senior director of security, executive protection, Churchill Downs;
• Gerina Whethers, Jefferson County commonwealth’s attorney;
• Deanna Lynn, survivor leader and advocate;
• Aundrea Lewis, deputy commissioner, Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities;
• Sheriff David James, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office;
• Corenza Townsend, chief administrative officer, Norton Healthcare;
• Kelly Jones, deputy director, Louisville Metro Emergency Services;
• Matt Gibson, president/CEO, Kentucky Derby Festival Inc.;
• Corey Krill, director of government relations, Churchill Downs;
• Jeremy Murrell, deputy commissioner, Office of Counter Exploitation, Office of the Attorney General;
• Olivia D. Olson, special agent in charge, FBI Louisville;
• Bill Lamb, WDRB media

“Ending human trafficking requires more than law enforcement efforts alone, and the Human Trafficking Awareness Coalition is a step forward in saving lives from this horrific act by raising awareness and empowering Kentuckians with the knowledge to recognize and help stop this crime,” said KSP commissioner Burnett. “If you see something, say something – by working together we will disrupt trafficking operations and hold offenders accountable”

“I want to thank the first lady for inviting me to be a part of the Human Trafficking Awareness Coalition,” said Lynn, survivor leader and advocate. “I think there is a lot we can do in the way of educating people on coercion, fraud, grooming and all the tactics that are used before force comes into the picture. I want to use my voice to impact generations – and to tell our children that we’re not just anti-trafficking, we’re pro-human dignity.”

The first lady’s Human Trafficking Awareness Coalition will convene at the call of the first lady and will provide an annual report to the governor with findings and recommendations to guide wider efforts.

In 2025, Andy Beshear signed legislation making sexual extortion a felony in Kentucky. The governor has also awarded funding to provide survivor services, including more than $145 million through the Victims of Crime Act and more than $18 million through the Violence Against Women Act.