Mission Statement
Igniting Embers serves as a guiding force in the relentless fight against child abuse, grooming, and
exploitation. We aim to combat these injustices by igniting change through education,
empowerment, and advocacy. Our every effort is dedicated to kindling awareness and action, transforming
communities into formidable agents that safeguard our children.
As long as shadows exist to harm our children, we will burn brighter, fight harder, and never back down.
The blue flame in our logo…
is known as the hottest part of the fire, symbolizing our initiatives’ intense potential and transformative power a testament to our goal of sparking change one ember at a time.
By igniting these embers of change in communities nationwide, we aim to build a widespread movement that drives significant, lasting shifts.
Our Vision Is Clear…
To ignite a spark in every community so powerful that it eradicates abuse and exploitation, ensuring a safe, nurturing environment where every child can thrive, free from harm
MEET OUR TEAM
Founder
Tanya Goodwin
Tanya brings a wealth of experience from her 15-year tenure in various instructional settings, including public and private school systems and the Bureau of Indian Education. Her extensive understanding of the educational landscape and its unique challenges has been the cornerstone of her career. Her journey took a pivotal turn when she joined Her Song, a part of the Tim Tebow Foundation, as a curriculum specialist. There, she embarked on a mission to combat human trafficking.
In collaboration with the globally recognized anti-trafficking organization A21, Tanya played an instrumental role in revamping a K-12 human trafficking awareness and prevention curriculum designed to educate and empower children. This initiative, a first of its kind, supported the Florida Department of Education’s Child Trafficking Rule 6A-1094124 amendment, declaring every Florida school a “Child Trafficking Free Zone.” It mandates annual trafficking education for students across all grades, establishing a model for the nation.
Under Tanya’s guidance, the curriculum launched in Duval County, the 20th largest school district in the U.S. and the sixth largest in Florida, and became a vital component of the educational frameworks in school districts across Michigan, Texas, and Florida, significantly enhancing awareness and prevention of human trafficking. But Tanya’s commitment extended beyond curriculum development as she traveled nationwide, training educators and school staff to ensure its successful implementation.
With her foundation firmly rooted in educational reform and the fight against human trafficking, Tanya now channels her energies toward empowering communities to make a significant difference.
Her mission centers on the belief that real and lasting change in child abuse and exploitation begins locally. By engaging community members in proactive measures and collective advocacy, Tanya is driven to turn personal insight into collective momentum—where awareness leads to action, support becomes accessible, and lasting change takes root.
Every child deserves to grow up safe, seen, and empowered. Her mission is to ignite a spark in every community so powerful that it eradicates exploitation, ensuring a safe, nurturing environment where every child can thrive, free from harm.
Board Member | Secretary & Director of Media Relations
Ashley Andrews
Board Member | Vice President & Director of Community Engagement
Shilah Goodwin-Miller
Shilah’s journey is deeply rooted in both elegance and purpose. She held multiple titles in the Miss USA and Miss America organizations, where she became a fierce advocate for those who could not speak for themselves.
Her advocacy carried her to the halls of the Florida Capitol, where she worked alongside legislators to help pass the Jessica Lunsford Act—strengthening protections for children across the state.
These formative experiences didn’t just hone her public voice and poise. They ignited a lifelong passion for justice, protection, and empowering the next generation.
Now serving as the Vice President and Board Director of Igniting Embers, Shilah brings that same tenacious heart and visionary spark to the forefront of youth advocacy. She leads bold, trauma-informed initiatives that confront dating violence and human trafficking prevention with compassion, innovation, and impact. Her work isn’t just about education—it’s about transformation.
A powerhouse community builder, Shilah masterfully blends strategic vision with heartfelt outreach, uniting educators, families, and partners into one unstoppable force for change. Whether designing prevention programs, speaking to at risk individuals about confidence and safety, or coordinating statewide campaigns, Shilah’s mission remains clear: to ensure every child feels seen, protected, and empowered.
Through every challenge she meets with unwavering resolve and every story she helps rewrite with hope, Shilah proves that leadership rooted in love can set the world ablaze with purpose.
Community Impact
Churches
691 members
We've educated 691 members across 6 church groups about grooming, trafficking, and exploitation, striving to safeguard our children from these crimes.
Schools
25,172 Educators
Our initiative has reached 302,805 students and 25,172 educators across 4 districts in 3 states, fostering safer educational environments and empowering individuals to combat child grooming and trafficking.
Parents
12,190 Parents
We've trained 12,190 parents on identifying and preventing grooming and exploitation tactics, empowering them to protect their children and build safer communities.
Prisons
1,600 incarcerated women
We've spoken to over 1,600 incarcerated women, raising awareness about trafficking risks for them and their children. Additionally, we support trafficked victims in prisons, aiding them on their journey to healing and empowerment.
Get Involved
Make Donation
Donating money to anti-human trafficking organizations provides crucial support for their efforts to combat exploitation and assist survivors. Your financial contribution enables organizations to provide essential services such as shelter, legal aid, counseling, and rehabilitation programs for survivors.Read More
Volunteer
Volunteering plays a vital role in the fight against human trafficking. By dedicating your time and skills, you become an essential part of the solution. Whether you're raising awareness, assisting survivors, or advocating for policy change, your efforts make a tangible difference. Read More