Amanda Sparks has been a member of the Allies family since 2017. She began her journey with us as a volunteer mentor in 2017 and has continued in that space since. In 2019, she started coaching other mentors and mentees through their journeys. In 2020, Amanda became the Fundraising Manager and has held that position for the last 2 ½ years.

Earlier this month, Amanda transitioned from fundraising to become the Allies Mentorship Coordinator. We are excited for Amanda to serve in this new role, where she can devote her time, expertise and heart to cultivate healthy and healing relationships among mentors and mentees.

While working at a fair trade organization in 2013, Amanda learned about human trafficking. An artisan group the company partnered with was being featured in a documentary on sex trafficking survivors. Amanda watched the documentary. After crying through the whole thing, Amanda knew she had to get involved… But how? 

Amanda’s friend had been volunteering in their church’s jail ministry. Amanda called her immediately and asked how to get plugged in to the ministry. She began volunteering twice a month for a couple of years, but felt a strong calling to build relationships. 

In 2016, Amanda was working at an anti-trafficking event where Jessica Evans (Allies Founder), was speaking. After hearing Jessica’s presentation, Amanda knew Allies was where she needed to be. She spoke with Jessica about volunteer opportunities and committed to attend the next New Mentor Training. The next training, however, was delayed due to lack of commitment from others and another training would not be scheduled until the next year.

Amanda thought she may look for something else, but other opportunities did not present themselves as anticipated. Amanda kept feeling Allies was where she was supposed to be. In the beginning of 2017, Amanda was interviewed, trained and invited into the Allies Mentorship Program. 

Since then, Amanda has forged beautiful friendships with those we serve as well as others who also serve them. She and her original mentee were paired for about 2 years. Although she is no longer a part of the program, they connect a couple of times a year. Her second mentee recently graduated to the Allies Alumni Program. She has been a part of Amanda’s life for over three years now. She has also coached a half a dozen young ladies and their mentors during her time as a coach. Of those, three have graduated to the alumni program and a fourth is doing so next month. 

Amanda’s greatest joy in working at Allies has been being a part of each girl’s successes. The successes have included accomplishments such as graduating high school, getting a car or moving into their first apartment. They also include things like calling her when they’re depressed, looking her in the eyes and smiling for the first time, opening up to her about everything happening in their life… These are each successes to which Amanda is thrilled to be a part of. 

Because of her passion and love for each of these girls, Amanda jumped at the opportunity to work more closely with other survivors and their teams going forward. Although there is a lot to process for this new position, Amanda is up to the challenge and knows that it is God who led her here and brought her to this point. 

Amanda’s husband, TJ, is also passionate about anti-trafficking efforts. He works behind the scenes encouraging her in her work daily, praying for Allies and the youth we serve and helps out as he is able. Their son, Hunter, also supports Allies as he can from afar. As a Master at Arm/Navy Dog Handler, the certification he is committed to receiving is for sexual assault. 

Amanda wants to encourage you to listen to God’s calling. Take tiny steps to get you where He wants you. Be patient. He’s working all things for His good and preparing you for that in the waiting. He just may be calling you to do more here at Allies.