Elizabeth Echevarria
Founder and CEO, Living in Liberty and Repurposed
livinginliberty.org | repurposedpgh.com

The daughter of an Army officer who often moved throughout her childhood, Elizabeth Echevarria, who has called Gibsonia home since 2008, was first exposed to the seedy world of sex trafficking when a visiting missionary from India shared insight into her work with Project Rescue in Calcutta.

After hearing her speak, Echevarria, who completed ministry school at the Reach Northeast Ministry School through Allison Park Church in June 2010, felt compelled to do something. Two years later, she founded Living in Liberty, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring dignity, healing and freedom to victims of commercial sexual exploitation by helping them start a new life in a safe, secure and loving community.

“Our street outreach teams connect with hundreds of women annually through our care centers in four locations,” Echevarria says. “Each team visits women on the streets and offers practical assistance and connections to social services.”

Living in Liberty is supported by Echevarria’s other venture, the Repurposed thrift store in Ross. Besides providing clothing and housewares to women served by Living in Liberty, the store, which gives survivors job training and a safe workspace, also is home to Sozo Boutique, a fair trade shop filled with items made by survivors of trafficking worldwide.

“We are supported by 20 staff members and over 150 volunteers who work in our safe home, street outreach, awareness and prevention and the Repurposed store,” Echevarria says. “The organization has continued to grow in its volunteer supporters and the funding it receives from various organizations such as churches, individuals and businesses.”

After graduating in May from Slippery Rock University with a master’s degree in social work, Echevarria’s focus now is on creating a new facility that will better serve survivors.

“The new facility will have 10 tiny homes around a central community center where we incorporate a variety of non-traditional therapies that work well for our women,” Echevarria says. “These include animal-assisted art therapy, music, gardening and dance therapies.”

Thus far, the nonprofit has raised $500,000 for the multimillion dollar project. Echevarria’s hope is to have the rest of the funds in place for the nonprofit to get started on the project by the end of 2024.

“We are working to identify and secure the property and hope to do so this year,” she says.

For 15 years, Pittsburgh Magazine has spotlighted exceptional businesswomen within our pages and at quarterly networking events. Join us for a vibrant conversation with our four inspiring honorees and a keynote speaker at our Women & Business Awards.

Our next in-person event:

When: Thursday, July 25, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: CityLine Event Center
Ticket Price: $40, with $20 benefitting The Children’s Institute

Get tickets here.