Melissa Palepu is an Attorney Specialist in Human Trafficking and Child Abuse, with the Michigan Department of Attorney General. Melissa previously served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, and was the General Counsel for the Wayne County Land Bank. She is an alumna of the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science and History. She then received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
In her current role with the Michigan Department of Attorney General, Melissa leads the charge in Human Trafficking and Child Abuse prosecutions. She also sits as a member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, the Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking Advisory Committee, and on the Human Trafficking of Children Protocol Revision Committee. Melissa is also a proud member of Shorewood Kiwanis and American Inn of Courts.
Katie Papke is a human trafficking survivor. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker, Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor and a Clinically Certified Human Trafficking Victims Services Provider. Katie has her own therapy private practice with Life Support Counseling and Coaching, LLC in Grand Rapids, MI.She has a passion working with victims and survivors of human trafficking, intimate partner violence and other forms of abuse. Her specialty is working with teens and adults who have a history of trauma, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking.
She serves as the Vice President of the board of Sacred Beginnings in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sacred Beginnings is a safe haven for victims of human trafficking. Katie is highly involved with her local Human Trafficking Task Force in Kent County, Michigan. She contracts with Kent Intermediate School District’s to provide education to students about human trafficking as part of the Human Trafficking Youth Prevention Education grant. Katie graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelors and Masters of Social Work in 2006.
In addition, Katie has achieved years of experience in community education and consultation. She is a School of Social Work Program Associate Professor at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan teaching classes on human trafficking and homelessness. She is a national Health, Education, Advocacy, and Linkage (HEAL) Trafficking speaker and trainer and has provided over 100 national and international trainings on human trafficking.
Katie was recently awarded “40 under 40 Boston Congress of Public Health Catalyst Award” for her achievement in shaping human trafficking as a public health concern.
Michael Draminski, of Lansing, is the Compliance Section Manager for the Bureau of Professional Licensing’s Enforcement Division within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
Michael earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University. He serves as the designee of the Director of LARA.
Jeff Getting, of Kalamazoo, is currently the Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney. He is a past-president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM) and currently serves on the PAAM Board of Directors as well as several additional committees. Jeff was first elected as Prosecuting Attorney in 2012, and was re-elected in 2016, 2020, and 2024. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University and the Indiana University School of Law.
In addition to serving on the Human Trafficking Commission, Jeff serves as a member of the Michigan Crime Victim Services Commission, is Chair of the Board of Directors for Prevention Works, is Chair of the Board of Directors for Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program, is Chair of Kalamazoo Community Corrections Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Integrated Services of Kalamazoo Recipient Rights Advisory Committee.
Jeff is appointed to represent county prosecuting attorneys and was nominated for the position by PAAM.
Alice Johnson, of Warren, is a human trafficking advocate for Neighborhood Legal Services of Michigan and the founder of Sister Survivor National Connect. She is the author of Out of the Darkness: A Survivor's Story.
Ms. Johnson is appointed to represent individuals who have survived human trafficking for a term commencing March 26, 2021 and expiring March 1, 2023. She succeeds Fadowa Harrel whose term expired March 23, 2021.
Leslie King-Friday was trafficked at the age of 15 for over 20 years in Grand Rapids, MI. On July 4, 2000, Leslie's life was changed forever. Through sincerity of her heart and an answer from God, Leslie was given a new lease on life and set to starting her life's work.
In 2005, Leslie utilized her experience, expertise, and inspiring example of a renewed lifestyle to open Sacred Beginnings, a safe haven that offers hope, and healing to trafficking victims. Leslie consults with law enforcement agencies, human service professionals, clergy, and others requesting direction and understanding in working with prostituted individuals. She also speaks at various conferences and academic institutions across the country on the issue of human trafficking.
Her awards and recognitions include: 2005 Grand Rapids, Woman of the Year nominee, 2008 YWCA Advocate of the Year, 2011 Rising Hero Award, 2014 "50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan," 2018 Michigan Liberator Award, 2019 Grand Rapids Negro Business and Professional Women's Club Certificate of Achievement, 2021 African American Leadership Award, and 2021 BBB Trust Award.
Lisa K. McCormick is a Circuit Court Judge for the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County, where she is assigned to, and presides over the Family Division and is the Chief Circuit Court Judge Pro Tempore. Judge McCormick was appointed in 2020 to this judicial seat by Governor Whitmer and was later in the same year elected to that seat as the incumbent. Judge McCormick is responsible for a docket that includes child abuse and neglect cases, child custody, parenting time, child support, delinquency, and Personal Protection Order hearings. Judge McCormick presides over the Family Treatment Court in Ingham County. In 2021, Judge McCormick was appointed by Governor Whitmer as a seated member of the Human Trafficking Commission for the State of Michigan. Judge McCormick is the co-chair of the Michigan Judges Association Family Law Committee and the Chair of the Community Corrections Advisory Board. In 2024, Judge McCormick was appointed to the State Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee and is chair of the Family Treatment Court Subcommittee.
Prior to her judicial appointment, Judge McCormick was the director of the Michigan Office of Children’s Ombudsman (OCO), now identified as Michigan’s Office of the Child Advocate, (OCA), where she advocated for children within Michigan's child welfare system. Prior to her appointment at the OCO, Judge McCormick spent over 20 years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office, 11 years as an assistant prosecutor, and in 2008 was promoted to Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, where she served until her retirement in 2018. She founded Small Talk Children’s Advocacy Center, which provides a comfortable, child friendly atmosphere where children receive coordinated services during the child abuse investigative process.
Judge McCormick, prior to her judicial appointment was the chair of the Michigan State Employees Charitable Campaign, was a member of the Michigan League for Public Policy Kids Count in Michigan Advisory Committee, the Michigan Court Improvement Program Statewide Task Force Tribal Court Relations Committee, and the Foster Care Review Board Advisory Committee. Judge McCormick earned her Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh. Judge McCormick lives in Ingham County with her husband Joseph and has two adult children, Olivia and Ryan.
Jonathan Walden, of Detroit, is a Michigan State Police Detective Sergeant and serves as the designee of the Director of the Michigan State Police. As a Detective Sergeant, he is assigned to the Second District Special Investigation Section where is an active member of the Metro North Post Detective Bureau and the Trafficking and Abduction Group (TAG) where a majority of his caseload involves investigating human trafficking, sex crimes, violent crimes against children, exploitation, and child sexually abusive materials cases.
