Welcome to the Hope Center Indy Podcast. The best leaders don't just direct, they listen and learn. Since 2019, Mary has served as Associate Director at Hope Center Indy, and she'll tell you her greatest teachers have been the survivors themselves. Women who've walked through unimaginable trauma and are rebuilding their lives here on campus. Mary takes Pastor Nolen's vision and makes it operational reality. If you know EOS, she's the Integrator to his Visionary. Today, we're talking about how faith, systems, and the wisdom of survivors come together to create lasting transformation. This is Mary's story.

Human trafficking doesn't end when a woman is rescued, it's just the beginning. Creating a safe place for healing, growth, and transformation requires more than staff and facilities. It requires an army of volunteers who show up, serve, and believe in the mission.

Dan Leary is one of those volunteers. After retiring, Dan knew he wanted to serve his community, he just didn't know where. Then he attended a Saturday tour at Hope Center Indy, and everything clicked. Walking back to his car, he told his wife four simple words: "I think I found it."

Now, Dan serves two days a week as part of the team that keeps Hope Center's 25-acre campus and 210,000 square feet of space running. From maintenance to operations, Dan's work allows residents to focus on what matters most: rebuilding their lives. And for Dan, the reward isn't just in the work, it's in being part of a mission he deeply believes in.

This episode is about why volunteers are the backbone of Hope Center Indy, what it's like to serve on the front lines of anti-trafficking work, and how one Saturday tour changed Dan's retirement from restful to purposeful. If you've ever wondered whether your time and skills could make a difference, Dan's story will inspire you.

Interested in volunteering? Visit hopecenterindy.org/takeaction to learn more.

This episode is sponsored by SBBC (School-Based Behavior Consultation). Visit schoolbehaviorconsultation.com or call 888-877-7ABA or 888-877-7222. info@schoolbehaviorconsultation.com

Subscribe, share, and support Hope Center Indy at hopecenterindy.org/donate.

What do you do when your kids leave for college and your sense of purpose shifts? For Jenn Starr, a prayer at Hope Center Indy became the answer and launched her into leading one of the most demanding and rewarding roles in anti-trafficking ministry.

As Director of Residential Ministries, Jenn oversees all of Hope Center Indy's residential programs, including Take Heart Residential, which provides comprehensive care for women who have been sexually trafficked, sexually exploited, or who carry sexual trauma. With a background in child development, years directing preschools, and experience ministering to women in strip clubs through Light in Darkness Ministry, Jenn brings both professional expertise and deep compassion to her role.

But this episode isn't just about programs, it's about calling. Jenn shares the emotional season of watching her three sons grow up and leave home, and how God met her in that transition during her first visit to Hope Center. That prayer brought peace to her heart and clarity to her next chapter: pouring into the lives of survivors and the staff who serve them.

One of Jenn's greatest joys is caring for her team, the front-line staff who carry the emotional weight of trauma-informed care every single day. She understands that to care well for residents, you must first care well for caregivers. Jenn talks about the importance of staff support, self-care, and creating space for her team to be their best in such high-stakes work.

This is a conversation about leadership, calling, and what it takes to provide hope for women rebuilding their lives after unimaginable trauma.

Learn more about residential programs: hopecenterindy.org/programs

This episode is sponsored by SBBC (School-Based Behavior Consultation). Visit schoolbehaviorconsultation.com or call 888-877-7ABA or 888-877-7222. info@schoolbehaviorconsultation.com

Subscribe, share, and support Hope Center Indy at hopecenterindy.org/donate.