ABOUT
Eyes Up Appalachia serves the Appalachian Counties of Ohio in an effort to identify, alleviate and prevent human trafficking and those vulnerabilities that put someone at risk for it. We provide education and training, both general and tailored to specific audiences such as law enforcement, healthcare, youth-serving agencies and others that have a more focused need. Eyes Up Appalachia does not offer direct services but acts as a liaison for those directly serving our vulnerable populations and the resources we have available in the state.
For training needs, please contact us at eyesupappalachia@yahoo.com.
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) has graciously teamed with Eyes Up Appalachia as our fiscal sponsor. Our vision dovetails with theirs in the desire for citizens of Appalachian Ohio to live in a region abundant with possibilities. Working with and serving these communities will make a lasting difference in the region. Together we can be the catalyst that changes the lives of those being trafficked and help prevent the vulnerabilities that lead there in the first place. You can find our page on their site here.
Foundation for Appalachian Ohio
TEAM
Christi Scott Bartman
Vanessa Torres
Dr. Christi Scott Bartman is the founder of Eyes Up Appalachia, an anti-human trafficking initiative focusing on the Appalachian Counties of Ohio. She operates as a compassionate catalyst to push for better ways to address human trafficking and the vulnerabilities that underlie it. In 2021 she received The Social Justice Leader Award from the University of Toledo's Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute and was chosen as one of the inaugural fellows for the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio in 2022. In 2023 she was awarded the Everyday Ohio Heroes Award for the Southeast Region by the Ohio Children's Trust Fund. In 2025 Christi received The Patriot Award from the Ohio Department of Public Safety. She served as the Co-Chair of the Ohio Attorney General's Human Trafficking Commission Research/Gap and Data Analysis Subcommittee until January 2022. Christi holds an undergraduate degree in business from Appalachian State University, a Master of Public Administration from Troy State University, a law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law and a PhD in Policy History from Bowling Green State University. She is also a Certified Professional Coach and an Air Force veteran. You can reach her at christi.bartman@me.com. For additional information, check out the article at Canvas Rebel dated July 13, 2023.
Vanessa Torres is the Director of Programs for Freedom al a Cart providing workforce training and wrap-around services to help empower survivors/overcomers/thrivers of human trafficking to live happy, healthy, and self-sufficient lives. She has 10+ years experience working directly with survivors as well as being one. Vanessa is a survivor consultant with the honor of giving her expert opinion to agencies, government offices, legislators and law enforcement. Vanessa spent 3 years as the bailiff for Judge Paul Herbert who founded CATCH Court specialized docket in Franklin County Municipal Court for human trafficking victims. She has traveled to different states and all over Ohio sharing her experiences at different events. Vanessa has had the privilege of speaking at the EVAWA
Conference, the Chambers of Commerce in Washington D.C., Eat Up Columbus, has testified at the State House. Vanessa has worked closely with many entities to fight the fight to end human trafficking such as the Attorney General’s Office, senators, governors, abolitionists, schools, churches, police departments, sheriff departments, courts etc.
Although there has been much healing and a ton of gratitude from Vanessa, having been a victim of human trafficking has its negative consequences and long lasting effects. It has been over 13 years since Vanessa has been trafficked yet she still has hard days induced by triggers from her past. This doesn’t define her, but it is a hard
truth. PTSD, nightmares, abandonment fears, imposter syndrome, hypervigilance, depression, anxiety are just a few symptoms that lots of survivors battle daily. Vanessa has a loving family and is excited about life in general. Her favorite things are riding her bike, sitting
outside in the sun, throwing a frisbee and playing euchre with friends. Her favorite quotes are “if they are still breathing, there is still hope,” and “there is always a solution.”
Jasmine Cooper
Jasmine Cooper is a passionate advocate with 12 years’ experience in the Domestic Violence, Mental Health, and Anti-Human Trafficking field. Jasmine was raised in an Appalachian town in North Carolina and is passionate about bringing education and awareness to the community. Jasmine specializes in cultivating tailored training and has provided training on a variety of topics including Familial Trafficking, Image-Based Sexual Abuse, Labor Trafficking, and Serving Male Survivors to a variety of systems including social services, law enforcement, healthcare, and domestic violence programs. She has worked with Survivor leaders across the United States providing training, technical assistance, mentorship and professional development. She openly shares her lived experience of Familial Trafficking as a tool to educate and inspire to bring change. She shows up in all spaces with compassion and understanding and brings peace in times of injustice. Jasmine obtained a Master’s in Science of Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor’s in Arts, Psychology from University of North Carolina, Asheville.