Jenna McKaye - Survivor Advocate

Jenna McKaye is a survivor leader and advocate who shares her story, healing journey, and work done to stay on her path of healing. In this episode, she talks of being trafficked at a young age by someone she trusted, and the importance of healthcare providers being educated in identifying trafficking victims and providing resources to leave their trafficker.

Penny and Jenna discuss branding in human trafficking, the need for awareness and identification of trafficking victims, and the significance of safe housing and comprehensive healing programs. Jenna emphasizes the importance of survivor voices and the role of parents in having conversations with their children about trafficking and creating a safe environment. She also shares her experience advocating for California Senate Bill 14, which recognizes sex trafficking of a minor as a serious crime, and her present work on California Senate Bill 1414.

In every episode, Penny and her guest highlight key actions people can take to combat human trafficking. In this episode, Jenna gives her perspective as a survivor.

To learn more about the Jenna McKaye Foundation, please visit their website HERE.

To learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit our website HERE.

Host: Penny Ronning
Writer: Penny Ronning
Producers: Penny Ronning, Ty Lowe
Editor: Ty Lowe
Sound Designer/Engineer: Ty Lowe
Music: Ty Lowe, Konstantin Klimov
Graphic Design: Rae Clark
Website: Justin Townsend

 

Jenna McKaye Bio

Jenna McKaye is a survivor of human trafficking with an incredible life story she now shares throughout the US. Jenna's extraordinary journey offers hope that inspires others through education and training. She continues to train hospital staff, law enforcement, and other first responders how to identify victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking. 

Jenna’s personable keynote speaking engagements leave a notable impression among a variety of audience demographics including the United Nations. In 2016, Jenna started the Jenna McKaye Foundation to engage in a broader advocacy training model and to provide equine therapy to victims and high-risk youth.  Jenna has been interviewed on countless podcasts across the country and internationally including Elizabeth Smart’s Smart Talks, and she consulted on the award-winning documentary Surviving Sex Trafficking. 

Jenna Serves on the board for The Worthy Ranch in Montana and Cycling for Change in New York. She worked with California State Senator Shannon Grove for 2 years to successfully get Senate Bill 14 passed into law. 

Jenna’s story has been optioned for a film and is in pre-production now. Visit jennamckaye.com for upcoming news/events and details on her soon-to-be-published book.