Hydeia Collington serves as a police officer for the Reidsville Police Department. She is the school resource officer for department.

Collington has been an integral part of NC Stop Human Trafficking’s expansion into Basic Law Enforcement Training and Crisis Intervention Team training in Rockingham County. She is also actively working to implement training for SROs across the state about the reality of human trafficking in school settings.

She is skilled in connecting with people, which is attributed to her realist and compassionate approach to social issues. Her background, which spans from living in city public housing to college to law enforcement and back to college, has given her a unique approach to communication and community support services. It has also give her an expanded capacity to help steer students away from negative behavior and poor decisions.

As a law enforcement officer, she takes special interest in helping those who are not empowered to help themselves and removing perpetrators of violence and coercion from those vulnerable people, which is the driving purpose for her to serve on the NC Stop Human Trafficking board of directors.

Collington is a graduate of UNC-Greensboro with a BA in sociology. She is currently pursuing a dual degree for masters in sociology with a concentration in criminology and a post-baccalaureate in teaching sociology. She expected to achieve her masters in Spring of 2023.

Sheriff Paula Dance joined the board of NC Stop Human Trafficking in 2020.

During her time on the board, she has implemented positive changes on the community level, which includes assigning a special human trafficking investigator at the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office.

She is the first African-American woman to serve as sheriff in the state of North Carolina, and NC Stop Human Trafficking is glad to have her voice and leadership experience.

Her experience on the law enforcement side of human trafficking is an invaluable tool as the state wrestles with the complexities of human trafficking

Faris Dixon joined the NC Stop Human Trafficking Board of Directors in 2020.

He currently serves as the Pitt County District Attorney, and through his work he has served survivor/victims of human trafficking.

Dixon’s nuanced insights into the needs of survivor/victims with is a valuable skill in guiding the direction of the organization.

“One of the most effective means to end this problem is education. The education of potential victims about the dangers of human trafficking and the education of the community about the red flags that should raise concerns,” Dixon said.

In his spare time he enjoys watching professional and college football and college basketball. He’s a fan of science fiction, history and music, and enjoys working out in his off time.

Oriel Elder serves at the coordinator for the N.C. Demand Reduction Task Force, and is a survivor-leader in the anti-human trafficking movement in North Carolina within the N.C. Survivor’s Network.

Elder sought volunteer opportunities within the anti-violence advocacy work within the state, joining the North Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking and the speakers bureau of the N.C. Survivor’s Network, and previously serving on the Louisville Metro Human Trafficking Task Force.

She has first-hand knowledge on the best practices of law enforcement and service providers in protecting victims and preventing revictimization. She is well versed in literature reviews and professional writing, crisis intervention, and non-violent emergency management.

As a survivor and field expert in human trafficking, domestic violence, assault, sexual abuse, and sexual assault, she is also an expert in available resources as well as the limitations and the obstacles that surround survivorship.

She represents the interests of survivors as she serves as a board of director for NC Stop Human Trafficking with the goal to guide the organization toward best practices, victim-centered approaches, and trauma-informed programming.

Elder is a University of Louisville Alumni. She is also an alumnus of Alpha Phi Sigma, and Lamba Alpha Epsilon. She graduated with honors in her Bachelor of Science in Justice Administration. 

John M. Felton, MA currently serves as a leader in the Office of Experience at ECU Health. He is an experienced professional with over 15 years of experience in various levels of health care. His roles span over multiple specialties including Physician Relations, Human Resources, Recruitment and Patient & Family Experience. He is a native of Carteret County in Eastern North Carolina and is skilled in people centered work. His passion for making lasting connections and his servant heart will be instrumental in his efforts to help stop human trafficking.