Jerry Redman, former CEO and founder of Second Life Tennessee, has joined Street Grace, a faith-based organization focused on mobilizing faith, business and community leaders to end Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children throughout the U.S. Street Grace named Mr. Redman executive director of their Tennessee-based efforts.
Mr. Redman previously was co-founder and CEO of Second Life Tennessee, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast.
“This is an exciting opportunity to expand our advocacy efforts in Tennessee in collaboration with Jerry and the tremendous foundation he laid to help end CSEC in Tennessee,” said Bob Rodgers, president and CEO, Street Grace.
Mr. Redman came into the anti-trafficking field in 2007. The more he learned about the issue of human trafficking, the more he felt working to end it was his next place of calling. Over time, that sense of calling led him to found Second Life, initially known as Second Life of Chattanooga.
“Our recent expansion to Texas, California and now Tennessee enables us to continue to expand our reach into multiple states,” said Mr. Rodgers.
Street Grace was founded in 2009 by leaders of Atlanta’s faith community in response to the rising presence of commercial sexual exploitation of children in the city. Since then, the organization has made encouraging progress with a growing network of approximately 100 churches, 75 community partners and more than 2,500 volunteers.
As the executive director of Street Grace, Tennessee, Mr. Redman will oversee development and daily operations, while deepening advocacy efforts for the non-profit, which mobilizes community involvement to fight CSEC and drive awareness through training, providing resources and education, particularly about the demand. Mr. Redman will continue the growth of Street Grace’s Demand an End initiative with cities and municipalities throughout Tennessee.
“Over the past decade, Jerry has worked to help position Tennessee as one of the leading states in the nation regarding anti-trafficking efforts,” said Norwood Davis, chairman of the board for Street Grace and CFO of 12Stone Church. “He is a well-respected leader on the topic and has spoken throughout the country on the subject of sex trafficking, focusing specifically on how individual citizens, businesses and community groups can work together to bring an end to this horrific crime.”
Mr. Redman is a member of the Tennessee Governor’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council and chairs the Chattanooga Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance, as well as participates in several other boards and organizations. He also sits on the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ 8-state Anti-Trafficking Working Group.
In addition to his work with Second Life, Mr. Redman has also been a long-time, adjunct member of Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond’s staff, focusing on teaching transformational, servant-based team leadership principles to the agency’s Command Staff and officers. His current focus with the agency also includes teaching “Living On Purpose,” a life development/life mapping class he developed, which is offered to men who are currently incarcerated. His desire to communicate a message of hope and transformation remains an important aspect of his life and calling.
Mr. Redman earned a master’s degree in transformational leadership from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., as well as a bachelor’s degree in business from Lee University in Cleveland.