112th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee Recognizes the Retirement of Derri Smith, End Slavery Tennessee's Founder

Senate Joint Resolution 200 sponsored by Senator Dawn White

NASHVILLE, TN. - Derri Smith, founder of End Slavery Tennessee (ESTN), has been recognized upon her retirement for her history of public service by the 112th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. The resolution, sponsored by Senator Dawn White, adopted unanimously in the Tennessee Senate on March 11, 2021 and concurred unanimously by the Tennessee House of Representatives on March 15, 2021.

Derri Smith, a graduate from Abilene Christian College with a bachelor’s degree in Education and a Psychology minor, began her professional career as a classroom teacher in Dayton, Ohio, in the 1970s and 1980s. In her early work, she launched an anti-human trafficking initiative among 1,200 workers serving in 62 countries. Smith lived six years in Europe serving the needs of refugees and persecuted people.

Smith served as the first Director of End Slavery Ministries for two years before founding ESTN in 2012, after feeling called to serve local victims. In 2016, Smith co-founded the Tennessee Anti-Slavery Alliance, and later, considered a subject matter expert, was called to testify at a U.S. Congressional hearing which effectively shut down Backpage.com, a leading website used to sell and purchase sex.

Smith received the Trafficking in America Service Award in 2012, the Tennessee Human Rights Commission’s Outstanding Service Award in 2016, was a featured speaker at the 2015 TEDxNashville and was named Most Admired CEO and a Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal in 2018.

Upon retirement from ESTN in 2019 as CEO, Smith stayed involved through her leadership on the Board of Directors, the annual advertisement campaign and as Executive Producer of ESTN’s official podcast, Someone Like Me, first season. Due to health challenges, she officially retired from all responsibilities in February 2021, but her impact remains a legacy and inspiration at ESTN and all who are committed to ending trafficking in our communities.

Senate Joint Resolution 200 recognizes Smith’s contribution and devotion through her years of public service stating, “Derri Smith exemplifies the spirit and allegiance to family and community that are characteristic of a true Tennessean.”

ABOUT END SLAVERY TENNESSEE. End Slavery Tennessee provides specialized case management and comprehensive aftercare for human trafficking survivors and strategically addresses the problem through advocacy, prevention and training of front-line professionals.