We provide informative seminars, conduct research, and create curriculum applicable to all levels of education and forms of human trafficking. Through our research we examine the causes, impact, and issues surrounding this crime and the victims. It is through this process that we are able to equip society to tackle issues relating to human trafficking.​ 31:8 Project was formally registered as an organization on September 15th, 2015. Although we work with many other groups throughout the United States and world, our current focus is on combating human trafficking in North Dakota and the Midwest.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Stacy Schaffer

Founder and Executive Director

Stacy is the Founder and Executive Director of 31:8 Project. She has based her work in advocacy on the ideal that no one person can do everything, but everyone can do something. Stacy is the coordinator for the Demand Reduction Program and an adjunct professor at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND.  She currently serves as Coordinator for the United States Region on behalf of the Rotarian Action Group Against Slavery, the Rotary District 5580 Human Trafficking Committee Chair, member of the Farwest Rotary Club, and board member of the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations. She’s a regular contributor to organizations such as the ND Human Trafficking Task Force and Tipi Wakan Ministries.
With a passion towards serving others, Stacy has dedicated much of her time advocating for human rights. This pursuit has influenced her education, career, and community work.
Stacy graduated with a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. Prior, she received her Bachelor's Degree in Social Behavioral Sciences from the University of Mary. In 2011, she was crowned Miss ND International and represented a platform on combating human trafficking. She launched 31:8 Project in 2015 to rally the general public to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Stacy was awarded the ND Emerging Leader Award for her work in the non-profit sector and was selected as one of the Bismarck Tribune's “20 Under 40”. Stacy was the 2018 University of Mary's Bell Banner Alumni of the Year, and has been recognized as one of Bismarck's Hidden Hometown Heroes. Stacy often credits her motivation, work ethic, and determination from growing up on a farm near the town of Wishek, ND. Stacy hopes to inspire individuals across the state to join 31:8 Project on the journey to help end modern day slavery, starting right here in North Dakota.

Amy Hollar

Chair

​For Amy, servant leadership is the cornerstone of her educational and personal philosophy. She is an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Mary and is active in campus organizations, including the UMary Board of Student Publications and the UMary Professional Development Committee. Amy earned her BA in Communication at the University of Mary and her MA in Communication from the University of Nevada. Amy volunteers with Junior Achievement of Bismarck-Mandan and other community groups.

Carole Barrett

Vice-Chair

Carole has centered her life’s work on education and social justice, focusing on those in vulnerable communities. She holds an MA in English, a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning, and has served as a Fulbright Scholar. She is a professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Mary. Carole has worked with a number of institutions including the St. Francis Indian School, the University of South Dakota, United Tribes Technical College, the Indians Into Medicine Program, and the North Dakota Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commision on Civil Rights.

Corey Schick

Treasurer

Corey is a Certified Public Accountant in Bismarck. Practicing publicly, his major focuses are small and big business consulting, planning, and income tax preparation. He has a wealth of experience in the accounting and tax procedures involved in operating a charitable organization. In 2009, Corey graduated from Dickinson State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and minors in Banking & Finance as well as Entrepreneurship. He then successfully completed the CPA examination in 2012. Corey is married with three children.

Dierdra Horner

Secretary

Dierdra is dedicated to creating an environment where at-risk youth can succeed. A graduate of the University of Mary with a Bachelor's in Social Work, her professional career has included working with agencies such as Charles Hall and Youthworks. In addition to her role as a Police Youthworker with the Bismarck Police Department, she is a member of the North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force. As an advocate and liaison between youth and law enforcement, schools, and the community, Dierdra works towards building and sustaining positive relationships within the juvenile justice system.

Alisha Weston

Alisha’s greatest passion is to help those who have struggled through life’s hardships find healing, experience unconditional acceptance, and pursue their Christ-designed potential. She is the Care Pastor at Bismarck’s Evangel Church. Alisha earned her BS in Psychology in 2011, followed by her MA in Professional Counseling. When’s she’s not in her office creating leadership curriculum or providing counseling services, you can find her curled up with a book, watching a documentary, or traveling. Alisha is married with two children.

Josh Ulmer

Josh was raised in North Dakota where his family’s company, Ulmer Auction Service, gave him insight into the farming and ranching industry and allowed him to travel the state. He attended Bismarck State College, earning an Associate’s degree before graduating from Dickinson State University with a degree in Business Administration. Josh is a Business Banking Officer at BNC National Bank in Bismarck and active in several community groups. Josh's wife, Erica, and his sons, Crosby and Ryan, inspire him to continue creating a community where safety is a priority. and his wife, Erica, are passionate about creating a community where safety is a priority.

Debbie Buechler

Debbie's motto of "be the better person" is exemplified through her work ethic as a volunteer and committee leader for 31:8 Project events. Debbie is always quick to offer her experience and time to help others show their best side. She currently works at Bismarck's Uniform Center, assisting police officers and members of law enforcement agencies, medical care employees, and corporate office teams look their best. Debbie is married with two adult daughters and three grandchildren.​

Rwatie Matsika

Rwatie Matsika is an ardent advocate for human rights. Rwatie has over fourteen years of experience as a career diplomat, including over eight years of service in Washington D.C. Rwatie has an interdisciplinary academic background rooted in social sciences and legal studies. He is a certified human rights and anti-human trafficking consultant currently working for the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights. Rwatie currently serves as the Labor Trafficking expert for the North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force. The father of four daughters, he credits his parents for inspiring his belief in democracy and the rule of law and his passion for public and community service.

Shaun Schatz

Shaun was introduced to 31:8 Project through his profession as a Law Enforcement Officer. He began his working career in the Architecture Industry having earned his Associates degree in Architectural Technology. In 2014, Shaun changed direction and entered Law Enforcement. He currently is an employee of the Watford City Police Department and assigned to a Federal Taskforce. When he's not working, Shaun enjoys competing in triathlons and duathlons in the summer and hunting with his dog, Kaide, in the winter.

Joe Kittell

Joe Kittell joined First Western Bank and Trust as a Business Development Officer in May 2022. He previously worked at the University of Mary as the Director of Undergraduate Admissions where he helped the University grow their largest incoming class of all time. Prior to his role Director Admissions, Joe was the Head Men’s Basketball Coach for six seasons at the University of Mary, with Kittell as head coach, the Marauders men won 65 games. He led the Marauders to their first NSIC semi-finals appearance in 2016 and picked up his 100th career win during the 2019-2020 season. Off the floor, Kittell received the 2017 Samaritan’s Feet Barefoot Coach of the Year, an award honoring his volunteer work and awareness raised for the organization.
Before the University of Mary Joe was the Head Coach at Lake Region State College for two seasons and was an assistant coach at Gillette College (WY), Colorado State University, North Dakota State College of Science, Mayville State University and North Dakota State University.  Joe and his wife, Emily - a Special Education Teacher for Bismarck Public Schools - reside in Bismarck and are parents of: Miles, Cooper, and Ella.  Joe grew up in Minot and Garrison and graduated with his undergraduate and graduate degree from North Dakota State University.

Betty Weber

Betty Weber was raised on a farm in southwest North Dakota. She attended Dickinson State University, earning her undergraduate degree in Business Administration. For the last 16 years, she worked in the banking industry. Most recently she was a Personal Banking Officer with BNC National Bank.
​Betty and her husband, Brent, currently reside in Bismarck. She recently made the decision to press pause her career and is delighted to be staying at home with their son, Gus. Since first being introduced to 31:8 Project, Betty felt compelled to be active in helping with their mission.

Murray Sagsveen

Legal Advisor

Murray Sagsveen is the legal advisor to the board of directors. He has advised, and served on, many nonprofit governing boards for more than 35 years including the American Academy of Neurology, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations, and Luther Seminary. He retired as a brigadier general judge advocate in the Army National Guard in 1996 but was recalled to state active duty as a major general in 1997 for the Red River flood in Grand Forks and in 2001 for the Souris River flood in Minot. In 2013-2015, he served as the chief of staff for the interim chancellor of the North Dakota University System. He now volunteers as the synod attorney for the Western North Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which also allows him to provide legal assistance to 160 Lutheran congregations in western North Dakota. ​

STAFF

Laura Buchholz

Administrative Assistant

Laura brings well-honed customer service skills to 31:8 Project after working in that field for a variety of industries. She also has a commitment to deepening her understanding of human trafficking, particularly here in North Dakota, and is also giving her energy to building the 31:8 Project Bravery Backpack program.
 
She graduated from Texas A&M University – Kingsville with a bachelors in Marketing, which comes in handy with selling 31:8 Project merchandise and keeping their social media up to date. A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, nicknamed “The Sparkling City by the Bay,” Laura grew up spending time at the beach. She misses living close to the ocean but loves exploring the great outdoors with her husband. They have an Australia Shephard/Heeler named Lively who fits her name well.
 
Laura feeds her creative spirit by developing new artistic skills.  Most recently that has included learning how to create one-of-a-kind bracelets. She is also an avid reader with a 20-book goal for the year, and enjoys a daily dose of her favorite vintage tv series, M*A*S*H. 

Tyler Merkel

Marketing

With nearly 15 years in the fields of marketing, academic advising, recruitment, sales, and most importantly, serving people, Tyler has a passion for enabling others to succeed. He completed his A.A.S in Computer Support at Bismarck State College and B.S. in Biology from the University of North Dakota. His past positions include working at the North Dakota Youth Correctional Center in Mandan, ND and Sylvan Learning Center in Grand Forks. Tyler recently launched his own business, Merk's Marketing LLC, which focuses on employee recruitment marketing, talent acquisition, general marketing, and social media.

Grace Loeb

Intern

Grace and her husband, Preston, live here in Bismarck. She is currently a senior studying Psychology and Christian Studies at Charleston Southern University, a private Christian university in South Carolina. She was motivated to pursue Psychology due to her passion for helping others, especially victims of abuse or trauma, individuals in crisis, or anyone that needs a helping hand.
She greatly enjoys finding ways to make others happy by working with them to figure out problems or simply by making them laugh with a ridiculous joke. After college, she hopes to work with other local organizations and law enforcement for the purpose of raising awareness and helping those impacted by human trafficking and abuse in their lives.

Meet Leslie! She has been a dynamic person involved in 31:8 Project over the course of a number of years. Whether it's a fundraiser, open house, or general event - you will likely see Leslie a part of it! 31:8 Project is thankful for her gracious support, and her extended family that is also willing to help on so many levels! Here's why she decided to get involved with 31:8 Project and what she likes most about volunteering.
How long have you been volunteering with 31:8 Project? I was connected with Stacy (the Executive Director) a little over 5 years ago through a mutual friend. I am humbled to say that we have stayed connected and it is incredible to see how much 31:8 Project has accomplished over the years!
Why did you decide to start volunteering with 31:8 Project? Over 10 years ago, my church had a speaker come in and talk about how human trafficking was happening not just overseas, but locally. I started serving with a local ministry fighting human trafficking in North Dakota. I remember seeing the article about Stacy launching 31:8 Project and knew we needed to connect. It took some time for us to finally meet, but we did, and I was in awe of Stacy's knowledge, experience, connections, passion, vision, and kindness. I could tell this was not some fleeting passion project for Stacy. That's when I knew she was someone I wanted to serve under for as long as she would have me. I admire Stacy's long-term capacity to navigate the complexity of the anti-trafficking world. She continues to come up against barriers and find breakthroughs. Because of 31:8 Project, I have hope in the fight against human trafficking in North Dakota.
What is your favorite 31:8 Project event you have volunteered for? I love volunteering with 31:8 Project at the Pumpkin Patch every year as well as volunteering at training events/summits. When we used to do the kayaking fundraiser, I loved volunteering with items leading up to and the day-of the event. I genuinely enjoy being of service whenever they need someone and filling whatever role they need filled. Whether it is taking pictures, capturing footage, editing said pictures and footage, checking people in, setting up, cleaning up, making phone calls, assisting with graphics, or serving food, no job is insignificant when it benefits 31:8 Project and the work that they do!
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? In this moment, I hear the simple, yet echoing advice that was repeated to me in my younger years that has stuck with me: Do something tangible. To me, this has always meant that if I truly care about something, then I need to take action. I think a lot of us get our heartstrings pulled in different directions, depending on the day or week, or what's coming through our social media feed. So when your heartstrings get pulled, are you actually getting out of your comfort zone to make a difference? When you hear about youth being trafficked, most would agree that something needs to be done and that's as far as we get. You might feel something, but what does it matter if you don't do something? This life is a tremendous responsibility. We create generational ripple effects. Your actions will impact the future trajectories of all those around you. You may not see it now. You may not ever see it in this lifetime, but what you are doing is of eternal significance. The tangible thing you do can be as simple as sealing envelopes or making a phone call, or as grand as donating a large sum of money and volunteering countless hours each week. Doing something is better than just feeling something.
What is your place of employment? I work for the State of North Dakota as an auditor with the agency division of the State Auditor's Office. I have been with the Auditor's Office for over 2 years.

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Meet Paige and Trevor! These two are always willing to take time out of their busy schedules and volunteer with 31:8 Project. We are so grateful for their continued help and support! Here's why they decided to get involved with 31:8 Project and what they like most about volunteering.
How long have you been volunteering with 31:8 Project? Since the March 2020 Spare Trafficking Bowling Fundraiser.
Why did you decide to start volunteering with 31:8 Project? Who doesn't like to go bowling?!?! After our first event, we were hooked. We found out 31:8 Project was a great organization, and the mission is something we find important to support t better our community. We are very grateful that we found 31:8 Project.
What is your favorite 31:8 Project event you have volunteered for? Paige likes the Spare Trafficking Bowling Fundraiser and Trevor enjoys helping 31:8 Project at Papa's Pumpkin Patch.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? The fruit of your success is a direct result of the sum of your inputs. Effort and patience can lead to great things.​
Paige works at Kroll's Diner and Trevor is a Financial Advisor with Thrivent. We are truly thankful for their help in speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves! FUN FACT: Paige and Trevor just got engaged! CONGRATULATIONS!