The Vision of The Cornerstone Project
Why? About five years ago, I felt a nudge to use my recovery and restoration from sexual trauma to empower other survivors to become thrivers. As I wrestled with what that meant and how I would pull that off in our tiny community, I knew it was bigger than where I lived and that it was a need that could be heard across the US and the world.
I started doing research, on statistics of human sex trafficking, and the statistics are staggering. Human trafficking is the second largest, growing criminal activity in the United States. Help for those that escape and survive the horrors of sex trafficking, have little in terms of resources for housing or/and programs to help them regain their footing. In my research I discovered that over 40% of the victims are male, and the average age is 12 years old. I learned that young women enter at an average age of 14, and that without a 12+ month restorative supportive program there is a greater than 88% recidivism rate. I know through my own journey and struggles with self-esteem, focus, decision making and direction due to my own sexual trauma as a child that the process is multi-faceted: this is a journey and there is not just a onetime fix. I am also aware that individuals coming out of Human Sex trafficking have even more layers of trauma and they need the support of safe, consistent housing coupled with restorative programs.
I wanted to share my journey of restoration, the hope that I now have through my relationship with Jesus Christ. One of the greatest blessings we have is to love others and to help them walk their own path. The goal in founding the Cornerstone Project is to love on others, and share hope. Cornerstone will provide, with a group of like-minded individuals, a program and housing for survivors that last 12-18 months in length. This approach speaks to the mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and educational needs of those traveling this road. Participants are not required to be a Christian or become a Christian, and all cultures, backgrounds and people will be served. How else would we show the love of Christ?
I am asking you to consider how you might be used in such a program, and how you can serve others through this process. We can all play a part, whether it is volunteering, giving financially, being a prayer partner or even maybe a staff member. Won’t you join us in sharing the hope and love to those we are seeking to serve.
Blessings,
Michelle Johnson
Founder
27% of sex trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline number were instances of familial trafficking. 2018 Fact Sheet
Meet Our Board of Directors
Anne Franklin
Treasurer
Anne was born and raised in Texas, vacationing in Colorado as often as possible. She and her husband, Michael, moved to Pagosa Springs full time in September 2020. She is mom to four adult children and grandma to six. Anne has a long history of leading and teaching in churches, Bible Study Fellowship, working with children and discipling young women.
Anne first became aware of sex trafficking through a speaker at a MOPS meeting and hearing a podcast featuring a survivor. Since then, she has become more educated on this issue and is honored to serve on the board of The Cornerstone Project as a way of combating this issue and helping people recover.
Audrey Hockman
Audrey has been working in the healthcare field for the past 25 years providing services as a counselor, health educator, and administrator to children, adolescents, and adults. She is also a military veteran and believes this experience has given her a deeper appreciation and understanding of cultural diversity.
Audrey has been licensed as a Mental Health Counselor since 2013 and has a passion for wellness! She counsels from a compassionate, holistic perspective, promoting health and healing through mentoring, encouragement, and unconditional positive regard. Instilling hope and helping individuals fully realize their God-given potential plays an integral part in Audrey’s practice.
She holds graduate degrees in counseling and public health and maintains certifications as a National Certified Counselor, Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor, and Health Education Specialist. As a volunteer, Audrey has served with the American Red Cross-Services to the Armed Forces, Counselor with Compassion Washington in Tacoma, a non-profit organization that supports survivors of human trafficking, and is currently involved in a healing ministry with her church.
Outside of her work, Audrey enjoys God’s beautiful creation through hiking, kayaking, biking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and spending quality time with friends and family!
Bryce Baca
Vice Chair
Bryce Baca is passionate about poverty alleviation and seeing communities transformed through the saving power of Jesus. He currently lives in Pagosa Springs with his wife Natalie where they enjoy hiking, skiing, riding bikes, and reading books. Bryce has served in a a variety of leadership roles in non-profits and churches. He is excited to be serving alongside an incredible group of people and believes the mountains of southwest Colorado are the perfect sanctuary for the Cornerstone community.
Denise Chaney
Denise Chaney is a wife, mom, designer, artist and musician. As a native to Colorado, Denise enjoys spending time outdoors with her family in the beauty of the mountains. She also has a passion for helping women discover their God-given gifting. As a member of the board, it is her hope that she can help the Cornerstone Project build creative programs that will equip the women we serve to grow in their unique giftings.
Jon Johnson
Member/Founder
Jon Johnson is a Colorado native, a lover of Abba Father, his bride, and their blended family of five grown kids. He is also an active servant to the amazing local community.
Jon was born in Colorado, raised in Pagosa Springs, lived in Arizona for a few years and returned to Pagosa about thirty years ago to raise his kids. He’s worked in the hospitality industry, owned a contracting business and for the last 18 years has been a Realtor. He enjoys the outdoors and any adventure with his wife, as long as it doesn’t require travel more than a few hours away. He obsesses over all vintage and automotive related things. He feels blessed to know just about everyone in the local area and enjoys helping our community grow and prosper through multiple board involvement and event planning efforts. Jon believes serving Jesus is the most satisfying thing he does and it is his clandestin motivation behind every connection he makes. He is incredibly excited to support Michelle and the board’s passionate desire to grow and vitalize the efforts of the Cornerstone Project. He is expectantly watching to see how God might use, stretch and grow all involved as they seek to watch Him work and use the Board in His almighty plans to bring hope, healing and a dynamic new direction to all whom the Cornerstone Project is able to serve.
Michael Franklin
Michael has worked in a variety of leadership roles at several technology companies – mostly in the semiconductor sector. He has also served as an elder and a deacon in his church and also has helped with a few church plants.Michael is thrilled to serve on the board of directors for The Cornerstone Project. He believes we have a huge opportunity to serve and equip survivors of sex trafficking to live the full lives for which they were always intended.
Michelle Johnson
Chair/Founder
Michelle Johnson currently lives in SouthWest Colorado with her most amazing husband, Jon Johnson, and her two awesome dogs. Michelle has served on many non profit boards over the past 30 years, and most recently the chair for Aspire Medical services. Michelle is the CEO for TCI and oversees a varied portfolio of businesses in four states across the US. Michelle loves Jesus and believes in sharing His love through action. Michelle has five grown children through a blended family, and enjoys road biking, the outdoors, travel and the next fun thing!
Nicole Cotts
Secretary
Nicole works as the Client Services Director at Aspire, a local non-profit organization that provides prenatal care, education, and support services for families with young children. She holds a BS in Social Work and brings years of experience in adoptions doing options and birth parent counseling as well as connections, volunteer coordination, and administration at her local church. Nicole has always had a heart for those in hard places. She finds incredible joy in connecting with others in a deeper way and pointing them to Jesus and His amazing love for them. Nicole and her husband Billy have three active boys. They own a local business, and when not busy there, they enjoy lifting weights together as a family, traveling to all their boys’ sporting events, being involved in their church worship team, and “doing life” with their large extended family.