International Women's Day Raleigh

Meet our panelists...

Cathy Gomes is a chemical engineer turned social entrepreneur. A proud daughter of immigrants, Cathy started her first company, 700 Rivers, when she realized that her opportunity to grow up in America allowed her access to higher education – a right that is denied to many women in Bangladesh. Her passion lies in helping women gain access to better job opportunities, a safe work environment, and dignified work. 700 Rivers now employs women in Bangladesh that have escaped conditions of human trafficking and sweatshop labor to handcraft all-natural soaps, lifestyle, and textile products made from eco-friendly materials. Cathy’s goal is to employ women across the world with fair wages, create eco-friendly products, and help send more girls to school.

Cary Heise is Founder and Director of Designed For Joy. The idea for Designed For Joy came after years of building businesses and international mission work. In 2017, DFJ was launched, modeled after the work platform she'd experienced around the world with fair trade artisan groups. Designed For Joy is creating jobs for vulnerable women right here in Raleigh. 

Angela Padgett is a stay-at-home mom turned anti-trafficking advocate. After hearing stories several years ago about the many women and children around the world trapped in modern-day slavery, she knew she had to do something. That's when she began her involvement with International Justice Mission, a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence. Today she leads the IJM Raleigh Volunteer Team as they seek to engage individuals and churches around the Triangle to join in the fight to end human trafficking.

Britney Travis loves to live deep. She is passionate about empowering women both locally and internationally. Her heart broke for victims of sex trafficking while spending time in Southeast Asia and she began volunteering locally in Charlotte, NC. Her path then led her to Belize, where she led a nonprofit to empower and nurture young women. Britney is now back in her home town of Apex and is working to support restoration for survivors, and supporting her team in Belize. Currently, she is excited to help build a network of those engaged in fighting this epidemic.

Kathy Nunez is a previous case manager at a local anti-human trafficking program. She is currently exploring the possibilities to collaborate with local agencies in their labor outreach efforts throughout North Carolina. Kathy hopes to bring trafficking awareness to the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic this fall, by partnering with a local church to serve their vulnerable populations. Kathy’s dream is to enhance all that she has learned in seven years and continue to serve victims of human trafficking.