Finalist: Kelsey Rae Morgan-Babikov

(Amie Gosselin)

Co-Founder & Chief Program Officer
EverFree

Orange County native Kelsey Morgan-Babikov has been combating human trafficking for over a decade. After learning about children living in slavery, she shifted her life plan to become a first-grade teacher and later founded Willow International to provide care and support for survivors and address the systemic issues fueling trafficking. Under her leadership, Willow’s impact doubled yearly, and she set an ambitious goal to increase their scope through a rare international merger, which resulted in forming EverFree. With a comprehensive anti-trafficking model, EverFree operates globally in Uganda, the Philippines, and the United States, striving to ensure every survivor has access to quality care. Morgan-Babikov’s commitment extends to her Ph.D. program at UC Irvine, developing a strengths-based tool called The Freedom Greenlight to empower survivors and influence policy. She collaborates with various organizations and works diligently to combat trafficking and support survivors.