About Chelsea, Founder & Project Lead:

My name is Chelsea Cirillo, and I am from East Stroudsburg, PA. I founded CC Compassion with a mission to strengthen Northeastern PA’s network of support for human trafficking survivors and community response to the crime. During my time as an intake specialist on the National Human Trafficking Hotline, survivors frequently conveyed to me their need for safe housing, clothing, transportation, mental health care, and legal support, yet constantly faced a system where shelter beds, trauma-informed counselling, and long-term support are limited or unavailable. My passion to bridge this gap with front line support comes from this experience.

I hold a Master’s degree in International Relations from American University, which has deepened my understanding of human trafficking as both a human rights issue and a complex global and community-level problem. My academic background has strengthened my ability to turn knowledge into meaningful action.

Beyond my professional work, I am an active volunteer in my community high through my church and a fellowship with Youth Infusion, a non-profit dedicated to empowering young people to make differences in their communities. I am excited to bring together my expertise and commitment to service to help end human trafficking and support survivors with empathy.