Bob Rodgers Named New President and CEO of Street Grace

ATLANTA, July 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Street Grace board has elected Bob Rodgers the new president and chief executive officer of Street Grace. Rodgers will lead the faith-based organization in its resolute mission to end domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) in Metro Atlanta and throughout the United States.

"After extensive interviews with a number of candidates and a great deal of prayer, the board search committee unanimously selected Bob as our next leader," said Norwood Davis, board chairman of Street Grace. "Bob will move Street Grace forward with tremendous focus and momentum and tackle the ongoing issue of DMST with courage and vision."

Previously, Rodgers was president of Richmont Graduate University, effectively serving in this position since 2012. He led Richmont into an era of institutional and financial growth, including the successful opening of a new campus in Atlanta.

"I am extremely proud to be assuming the Street Grace leadership role," said Rodgers.  "The DMST issue is very close to my heart. It is a horrific thought that up to 400 girls – many just 10-14 years old – are being sexually trafficked in Georgia every month. I've been involved in this cause in a volunteer capacity for many years and am honored and grateful for the opportunity to work alongside business and community leaders full-time to end this injustice."

Rodgers will be only the second president of Street Grace, which was founded in 2009 by leaders of Atlanta's faith community in response to the rising presence of commercial sexual exploitation of children in the city. Rodgers follows Cheryl DeLuca-Johnson as the CEO of Street Grace.

"The entire board joins me in thanking Cheryl DeLuca-Johnson for her inspirational leadership of Street Grace since 2009 and the remarkable heart that she has for children and solving DMST," Davis said.

"While we've made encouraging progress with our network of 80 churches, 50 community partners and 2,000 volunteers, there is still much work to be done to see lasting results and protect all children from sex trafficking," said DeLuca-Johnson, who will conclude her significant Street Grace leadership in July to spend more time with her family. "Bob's experience, leadership and passion will continue to mobilize our community to fight this horrible injustice and exploitation, and I look forward to enthusiastically supporting him in this new capacity."

About Street Grace 

Street Grace is an Atlanta-based, faith-driven organization collaborating with faith, business and community leaders providing a comprehensive path to end Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) in Metro Atlanta and throughout the United States. DMST is sexual activity in which there is a promise of the exchange of something of value to a child or another person(s) for sex with that child.

Street Grace mobilizes community resources – financial, human, and material – to fight DMST through awareness, empowerment and engagement.

SOURCE Street Grace