For Shelly Repp, protecting the most vulnerable is more than a mission, it’s become her life mission. As the co-founder and CEO of the New Mexico Dream Center, Repp leads an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of human trafficking and providing critical resources for unhoused youth in Albuquerque.
“We provide aftercare services for survivors of human trafficking as well as services and resources for unhoused youth,” says Repp. “Those two populations are very tied together here, because we have active predatory trafficking happening among youth on the streets of Albuquerque.”
The New Mexico Dream Center was founded to confront that reality head-on. Its programs offer a safe place and the resources that young people need to recover, rebuild and envision a different future. From outreach and emergency support to long-term housing and mentorship, the organization works to interrupt the cycle of exploitation that leaves so many young people without options.
Repp, who helped found the center and continues to drive its vision, oversees everything from program development to finances. She emphasizes that human trafficking is more common than most people realize.
“It’s something our community hasn’t yet been able to address in a systematic way,” she says. “There are a lot of young people who are actively involved in trafficking situations without many resources.”
As the colder months approach, the New Mexico Dream Center is asking for the community’s help. There are several ways to get involved, whether through financial donations, volunteering or hosting supply drives to collect essentials for the youth they serve. “We’re going into the cold weather and holiday season; if anybody’s interested in hosting a drive for supplies that would be fantastic,” says Repp.
Those who want to give or volunteer can find more information on the organization’s website under the “Get Involved” tab. Volunteer orientation classes are typically offered a few times a year, with the next session scheduled for January.
Through compassion, advocacy and community support, the New Mexico Dream Center continues to be a beacon of hope for young people facing unimaginable circumstances.
To learn more, donate, or sign up to volunteer, visit nmdreamcenter.org.
Once you’ve been trained to notice something, you start seeing it everywhere. And once you see it, you can’t un-see it. What makes Shelley Repp extraordinary is that she took the extra step and decided to do something about what she was seeing. Shelley had an encounter with human trafficking that touched her own family several years ago. Through this experience, she became aware that unhoused youth are especially vulnerable, with one in three teen runaways being approached by a sex trafficker within 48 hours of leaving home. Through the Dream Center, Shelley and her team have helped hundreds of people get away from their traffickers and start their lives over.
Renee Grout, City councilor District 9
New Mexico Dream Center
126 General Chennault St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87123
(505) 900-3822