Seeds of Justice

In January 2026, the federal Trafficking Survivors Relief Act became law, creating new pathways for survivors of trafficking to seek record relief, expungement, victim advocacy, and restoration rather than continued punishment for crimes connected to their exploitation.

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At Where 2 Or More Gather and the Petals of Hope Safe House Coalition, this mission is deeply personal.

The story behind our Petals of Hope Seeds of Justice program began decades ago when survivor advocate Nancy Alvarez, then 13 years old, first encountered founder and CEO Adela Giessen while she was assigned to the Long Beach Police Department Community Policing Team.

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Adela and her partner, Corporal Mahakian, responded to a daytime truancy party where middle and high school students were ditching school and drinking alcohol during school hours. Nancy was among the students detained. She was not arrested. Instead, she was placed into LBPD’s Community Policing gang and violence prevention program for “at-risk” youth, allowing the Community Policing Team to monitor her attendance, grades, behavior, curfew, and conduct regular check-ins at home and school.

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What no one knew at the time was that Nancy was being trafficked by her own mother.

Years later, Nancy revealed that although she had maintained good grades while enduring horrific abuse, she intentionally allowed her grades to drop, began ditching school, and started drinking alcohol after seeing Adela and Corporal Mahakian on campus — hoping someone would recognize her cry for help.

Someone did.

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The intervention and warning of unannounced law enforcement visits scared Nancy’s mother enough to stop trafficking her. Nancy’s attendance improved, her grades went back up, and she eventually graduated at the top of her class.

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Nancy’s story could have been very different. Many children, teens, and young adults never disclose their exploitation until years later. Some are criminalized for behaviors connected to the abuse, coercion, addiction, fear, and survival they endured alone.  That is why this law matters.  And that is why Seeds of Justice exists.

 

Today, survivor advocate Nancy Alvarez helps lead the Seeds of Justice program alongside Adela Giessen, helping survivors navigate the legal system with dignity, faith, advocacy, and hope.

Seeds of Justice provides:

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• Victim restitution advocacy

• California Victim Compensation guidance

• Expungement and record relief referrals

• Court accompaniment and trauma-informed advocacy

• Transportation assistance to court and legal appointments

• Identity recovery and legal documentation support

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This work is strengthened through partnerships with compassionate legal professionals and volunteer advocates, including Raquel Cruz, Esq., Hagquist & Eck, LLP, and other volunteer attorneys committed to helping survivors rebuild their lives.

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At Petals of Hope, we believe justice is part of God’s character and part of our calling as believers.

 

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.” — Isaiah 1:17

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…” — Proverbs 31:8-9

“For I, the Lord, love justice…” — Isaiah 61:8

 

Although many attorneys generously donate their services pro bono, survivors still face overwhelming barriers such as transportation to court hearings, filing fees, replacing identification documents, and navigating intimidating legal systems alone.

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