Kristen started her career at 18 working with her mentor Dr. Karen Irene Countryman Roswurm as a Prosperity Coach at the Institute for Transformative Emancipation, Center for Combating Human Trafficking. While at CCHT, Kristen worked to create survivor informed, survivor led services and was integral in developing programming that focused on holistic healing for victims and survivors of human trafficking. 

Following CCHT, Kristen worked as the Coalition for Juvenile Justice’s Training and Youth Partnership Assistant where she supported the Emerging Leaders Committee. The ELC is a committee made up of young people from across the country who have direct experience in the juvenile justice system and or a passion for juvenile justice reform.

Kristen also worked as a journalism intern and researcher for author/journalist Nell Bernstein where she researched youth advocacy and the movement to close youth prisons. She then went to work as the Community engagement bureau manager for The Wichita Beacon, a non profit newsroom.

Kristen graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and also has experience in advocacy, organizing and social justice. Kristen has lived experience in the Foster care, Juvenile Justice and Criminal Justice systems and is a survivor of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence.

In 2023 she co founded The Lost & Found Institute