Our Board

Broadcast Television Engineer

John has been working in the broadcast field for the last 30 + years. His background includes technical engineering and production. He served 30 years as a volunteer fire fighter and retired with the rank of Captain. While on the fire department he served on numerous committees from apparatus purchasing to turnout gear and equipment purchases. He also served two years on the Board of Directors for the fire department. He graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting. He joined Free2Hope as their first Chairman. His wife, Amy Leenerts, started the organization with nothing but a passion to help educate and stop Human Trafficking. He joined the board because he saw a need to help Human Trafficking victims and help his community. He’s honored and proud to serve on Free2Hope’s board knowing we can make a difference. 

 Police Training Officer

Louisville Metro Police Department

DeAris primarily serves as a Police Training Officer, while also holding the position of Part-time Health and Safety Officer, with the Louisville Metro Police Department. DeAris is a graduate of the University of Louisville (Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice), Xavier University (Master’s in Criminal Justice), Walden University (PhD in Criminal Justice). DeAris has a passion for generating honest discussion around the relationships between law enforcement and minority populations, while also preparing new officers with the skills and tools necessary to succeed safely and effectively. Ultimately, through honest conversations and the efficient training of new officers, DeAris hopes to change the image of law enforcement and create more positive, healthy relationships with the public. DeAris currently holds active Kentucky Peace Officer Certification from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council and active memberships with the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, the American Criminal Justice Association, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the Southern Criminal Justice Association. In his spare time, DeAris enjoys traveling the globe, especially the Caribbean and other places with beaches.

Executive Director at Kentuckiana AIDS Alliance 

Paige  got to know Free 2 Hope founder Amy Leenerts through her work as an HIV Prevention Specialist and educator after meeting her at a drop in center. From then on Paige stayed in touch with Amy and developed strategies for assisting the client base Free 2 Hope serves. It was a very organic progression for Paige and Amy to get to know each other better and while supporting individual missions in public awareness, identify ways in which Paige could work more directly with Free 2 Hope resulting in a board nomination.

In addition to her work with Free 2 Hope, Paige serves as the Senior Vice President of the Kentuckiana AIDS Alliance; is a member of Team Friendly Louisville; volunteers with the Kentucky Care Coordination Program during their monthly mixer for women living with or affected by HIV and teaches two to three programs per year of Healthy Relationships, the Centers for Disease Controls evidence based course on navigating life with a positive diagnosis and positive outlook.

In her precious free time she plays a wicked game of dominos and makes wonderful soups.

More info to come

More Info to come