Leadership Team
Courtney Ross Escobar
Co-CEO
Courtney Ross Escobar is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and New England Law Boston. Prior to becoming an attorney, Courtney spent eight years at Public Consulting Group, Inc. as a compliance and operations management consultant for state and local governments. In 2010, Courtney established her own business law practice, Ross Escobar Group, focused on assisting startups, nonprofits, and small businesses with legal needs from conception to compliance. In 2016, Courtney merged her practice with Doucette & Associates, Ltd. where she continued to provide small to medium-sized businesses and non-profits with legal counseling and operations support.
In 2019, Courtney joined LIFT as Chief Operating Officer and Legal Counsel, helping expand LIFT from startup phase to a fully operating 501(c)3 organization. In 2017, Courtney was a recipient of the Worcester Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty Award. Courtney is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New York.
Audra Doody
Co-CEO
Audra is a fierce and tireless advocate who has worked alongside countless prostituted women. Audra facilitates support groups in the community, runs educational programs for incarcerated Survivors, and assists with exit planning and case management to connect women still in the life with the relevant community resources they need.
Audra has spoken on panels with the Massachusetts US Attorney’s Office, World Without Exploitation Youth Summit, and Bucks Coalition Against Trafficking. Audra also works with the Worcester District Attorney’s Office to ensure that survivor voices are heard. Audra resides in Worcester, where she fights to ensure Survivors get the recognition and respect they deserve.
Desiree Demos
Vice President of Operations, Survivor
As a Survivor of exploitation and with a history of substance use disorder, mental health disorders, homelessness, and incarcerations, Desiree knows that real systematic change comes from the work being done by the folx who have been trapped inside those systems. She is a fearless leader and impassioned advocate working to end the residual harm impacting survivors from being penalized for their own gender-based victimization.
Desiree’s work in direct service motivated her to grow into a role where she could utilize her lived experienced to build out programming for Survivors that not only provides safety and access to basic needs, such as housing, employment, and medical care, but improves their quality of life through policy change and community. Desiree’s belief is that it is not enough to fight only for basic human rights. For that reason, she works diligently to create pathways for survivors that lead to self-worth, self-empowerment, and success.
Alina Bluto
Senior Director of Programs and Community Engagement
Alina Bluto uses her personal lived experience with both exploitation and recovery from SUD to provide hope and accountability for the Survivors at Jana’s Place. Alina facilitates groups on exiting the life of prostitution, addressing trauma, and other topics relevant to early recovery. Alina also supports Survivors as they navigate the complicated and complex systems they rely upon for resources, such as social benefit agencies and local healthcare systems.
Alina attended Springfield Technical Community College for liberal arts/general studies and has worked in the field of addiction recovery for over two years. Alina is an outspoken advocate, Survivor, and activist. Through her example, she shows Survivors every day that they too can exit the life and experience long-term recovery.
Lori Ciprari
Vice President of Human Resources