Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Candy.
Hi Dawn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
People often ask how I became the Executive Director of Hands of Justice. The truth is, my path here was shaped by a deeply personal journey—one I never anticipated, yet one that ultimately revealed my purpose.
Our family’s encounter with sex trafficking began in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our 17-year-old granddaughter had recently come to live with us, along with her two younger sisters. As the world shut down, our home became crowded, tense, and filled with the stress of forced isolation. Over time, my oldest granddaughter became increasingly withdrawn and angry, spending most of her time locked in her room on her phone. Friends told me she was acting like a typical teenager, but something in me knew better.
When our community began reopening, she ran away. Law enforcement returned her several times, but eventually she began staying with family friends—and then she simply disappeared. No phone. No contact. No explanation. I filed a missing persons report, praying for answers.
Around this time, I attended a local event on human trafficking. Listening to survivors share their stories, a devastating clarity washed over me: this was what was happening to my granddaughter. Soon after, it was confirmed—she had been taken into Houston and trafficked on Bissonnet, a well-known corridor for exploitation. I reached out to law enforcement, prosecutors, and every nonprofit I could find, desperate for help.
Occasionally, she would text me or her mother from different numbers, just enough to let us know she was alive. Investigators explained traffickers often changed numbers to avoid detection. Each message reminded me to hold onto hope.
We prepared for the day she might be recovered. I contacted residential programs, knowing Texas had limited services for victims her age. At one point, when authorities located her, I followed the advice of advocates and requested she be taken to a youth shelter for her safety. She ran within hours. A week before her 18th birthday, a U.S. Marshal found her, but through miscommunication and system gaps, she was released without our knowledge. It was heartbreaking—she had been so close to safety.
We later learned she had been groomed online by a “Romeo pimp”—a trafficker who posed as a caring boyfriend, offered her attention and independence, and used her vulnerabilities to lure her in.
There is no guidebook for families walking through something like this. The guilt is heavy, the fear relentless, and the silence from others can feel isolating. Through every moment, I held onto the faith that God would bring my granddaughter out of that situation. And He did. She is no longer with her trafficker and is slowly beginning her healing journey. She is not yet home, but she is safe, and I am giving her the space she needs while reminding her—always—that she is deeply loved.
This experience opened my eyes to the overwhelming need for education, advocacy, and supportive aftercare for survivors and their families. No family should have to navigate this alone.
I became Executive Director after serving on the Board of Directors since 2021, when I was asked and selected to step into the role as our founder chose to transition out of leadership. I accepted because our family’s experience revealed the urgent need for survivor-centered support. Because what happened to us should not happen to any family. And because I believe, with everything in me, that survivors deserve hope, dignity, and a future filled with possibility.
This is how I got here.
This is why I serve.
And this is why I will continue fighting—for survivors, for families, and for a community where justice and healing are possible.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. The journey of supporting survivors and building Hands of Justice has been filled with challenges, many of which are systemic and deeply entrenched. One of the biggest struggles has been the lack of residential safe houses for survivors. In Texas, resources for youth and adult victims are limited, leaving families scrambling to find safe, secure places for recovery. Even when safe housing is available, it is often short-term, and survivors frequently face the risk of returning to unsafe situations.
Funding has also been a constant challenge. Programs that provide counseling, career readiness, mentorship, and ongoing support for survivors require resources, yet securing sustainable financial support is a daily effort. Without funding, we cannot fully implement the programs survivors need to heal, rebuild, and thrive.
Another struggle is the gap between safe housing and stable employment. Survivors need both to fully reintegrate into their communities, but opportunities are scarce. Without a safe place to live and meaningful work to support themselves, survivors remain vulnerable, and their healing is delayed.
On top of these systemic issues, there is the emotional weight of the work. Supporting survivors while witnessing the failures of the system can be exhausting and, at times, disheartening. Yet every challenge reinforces why our work matters. Each obstacle reminds me that survivors need advocates who will fight for them, not only in the moment of rescue but through every step of their recovery.
In short, the road has not been smooth—but the struggles have shaped our mission, strengthened our resolve, and deepened our commitment to ensuring that no survivor faces these battles alone.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve always been passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, and giving back to my community. In 2008, I founded I Promote You, a strategic marketing and promotional products company, and over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of helping businesses grow, build their brands, and connect with their audiences. In 2020, our company earned HUB certification from the state of Texas, and I achieved my Master Advertising Specialist certification, both milestones that strengthened our ability to serve clients with creativity and expertise.
As a 30-year resident of Montgomery County, I’ve also devoted myself to supporting local nonprofits, raising awareness, and helping fund their missions. My leadership has extended to organizations like the Montgomery County Association of Business Women, the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, and Hands of Justice, where I have worked to create meaningful impact in our community.
Beyond my work in business, I am a speaker and the author of Beyond Overcoming: The Journey to What’s Next, where I share my personal insights on resilience, transformation, and hope. For me, every professional achievement is intertwined with a commitment to serve, inspire, and empower others along the way.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I love starting each day with Audible, listening to books that inspire growth and reflection. Some of my favorites are Brené Brown, Mel Robbins, and Simon Sinek—their insights on leadership, resilience, and personal development always give me a fresh perspective. I strive to improve a little each day, both in my work and in my life, and these resources help me stay motivated, focused, and grounded.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.handsofjustice.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handsofjustice25/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Handsofjustice107.14
- LinkedIn: Hands Of Justice H.O.J.
