Brenda Myers-Powell

Myers–Powell co-founded The Dreamcatcher Foundation (TDF) together with social worker Stephanie Daniels-Wilson in 2008. The organisation wants to fight human trafficking in the Chicago area. TDF prevents trafficking by helping at- risk youth educations and empowerment programs. Kim Longinotto released a documentary, Dreamcatcher, showcasing its work in 2015.

Myers–Powell has been married once and has four children, one adopted. Myers–Powell has been married to Keith Powell since 2004. She has three daughters and a son.

Myers–Powell said that she saw prostitutes working on the street and getting paid for what was done to her. So she decided to run away and make money the only way she knew how. Myers–Powell subsequently became a prostitute for 25 years. In June 1973, two pimps abducted her from the Mark Twain Hotel on the Near North Side, raped her and locked her into a hotel room until she agreed to work for them from there on. She tried to escape several times but wasn't able to do so for six months. Later on she was prostituted out by other pimps. She became addicted to drugs and also helped her pimps procure other young girls for the life. Myers Powell was shot at five times and stabbed 13 times by clients during her time as a prostitute.

Brenda Jean Myers–Powell (born April 18, 1957) is an American activist and advocate against human trafficking. Myers–Powell, a human trafficking survivor is the co-founder of The Dreamcatcher Foundation, a nonprofit which aims to fight human trafficking in the Chicago area.