REBECCA BENDER INITIATIVE

Elevate Academy: a Rebecca Bender Initiative (RBI) was born from one survivor's desire to change the outcome for others like her. Founded in 2014 by survivor leader and national advocate Rebecca Bender, Elevate began with just five students on Skype and a bold vision: that every survivor of human trafficking deserves the chance not just to survive - but to thrive. Today, RBI leads the global movement for economic empowerment of survivors through its flagship program, Elevate Academy—the largest online school in the world designed by and for survivors of human trafficking. This survivor-led platform offers trauma-informed, career-focused training that equips students with the skills, confidence, and community to create a new future.

From life planning and leadership development to resume building and entrepreneurship, Elevate Academy’s coursework is tailored specifically to help survivors build sustainable careers and break generational cycles of poverty.

Since its inception, RBI has served over 1,600 survivors across 717 U.S. cities and 22 countries, offering more than 3,600 hours of free education annually. Beyond direct services, RBI has trained over 143,000 professionals—including law enforcement, corporate leaders, and frontline service providers—on how to respond to trafficking with trauma-informed excellence.

By elevating survivor voices and equipping professionals, RBI is reshaping not just lives - but entire systems.