Who We Are

Jenny Pruett
Founder/executive director

Jenny, the long time owner of the flagship business, Juice 'n Java Cafe in downtown Cocoa Beach, FL, sold the business in 2022 to dedicate her full attention to fighting human trafficking. She is grateful for her time at Juice ‘n Java and credits the cafe to being the place where the Freedom Fighter movement was conceived and birthed. For Jenny, once she learned about the scope of human trafficking and its victims she says she couldn’t ‘un-learn’ it and a flame deep inside her was ignited.

She began with the belief that she could contribute something she was already doing, which was roasting coffee, to make a difference in the fight against sexual exploitation. She began roasting and selling ‘Freedom Blend Coffee’ as a way to fundraise for her very first Freedom Hike. This is still true today as she inspires to do something they love and dedicate it to Freedom.

The ‘I am a Freedom Fighter’ movement quickly caught fire to those around her and Freedom Fighter became a non profit 501(c)3 in 2019.

Jenny has taken her passion and used it to ignite an army of freedom fighters across the globe and to actively engage in the crisis at hand of human trafficking.  She loves the outdoors, sharing it with others and spends her summers training and participating in endurance hikes to raise money and awareness to the cause. Jenny is also dedicated to peoples personal freedom in their own lives and spends time pointing them to the freedom that Christ died to give us. She’s a light in the darkness and burns passionately for the freedom of others.

Brenda Grochowski
board Chair

Brenda Grochowski has lived in the Cocoa Beach area since 1998 and met Jenny through her morning breakfast ritual at Juice n’ Java for many years (usually after dropping the kids off to school). Jenny introduced Brenda to I am a Freedom Fighter a few years ago, and she has been a full supporter and volunteer on many occasions since then.

Now that her children are college age and beginning their adult life, Brenda has decided NOW is the perfect time to be more involved in this mission, is committed to increasing education of this horrible exploitation and use this platform and work with this team for the opportunity to grow awareness and save lives.

Brenda has organized several community events and fundraisers over the years in Cocoa Beach, is active in her community and schools, works as Director of Business Development for Vesta Property Services and intends on putting her work ethic, experience, ideas and passion to good use for I am a Freedom Fighter!

Larry Hall
Vice Chair

Larry first met Jenny in a working relationship back in the early 2000’s. After not seeing Jenny for several years, they were reacquainted when they ran into each other at Juice ‘N Java Cafe. S hortly after, Larry learned about  Jenny’s mission to fight Human Trafficking and wanted to help. At first volunteering at the annual Thunder on the Beach boat races, Larry started to commit to more ways to help and eventually became a Board Member. Larry now serves as the vice executive chair on our board of directors.

Larry has been an entrepreneur for decades, coached Little League for almost a decade, was a volunteer for several years with fundraising events through the American Cancer Society ( Relay for Life ) and also served as a Board Member at his church. Larry brings all these past experiences to Freedom Fighter in an effort to help fight this horrendous crime

Gail Connell
Secretary

Gail met Jenny at Juice ‘n Java and has been involved with I am a Freedom Fighter since the beginning. She is currently working towards her degree in Human Services and is specifically specializing in Domestic Violence and Abuse. Her number one goal is to become a substance abuse counselor and serve her community. Her heart has led her to want to work with organizations that support and help women and children and ultimately led her to I Am A Freedom Fighter.

Gail believes she was given a second chance in life and chooses to make a tangible difference in the lives of others. She is passionate about using her real life experience of watching women in less than desirable situations struggle to not understand the option of choosing themselves and their safety and help them recognize coercion and abuse and choose freedom.

Gail continues to be a champion for I am a Freedom Fighter and knows the work they do will change the lives of so many people. She completed her first Freedom Hike in the summer of 2023.

Coral Johnson
Merchandise and Sales

Coral worked for Jenny at Juice ‘n Java for many years and has been a part of I am a Freedom fighter since the beginning. She is a passionate and dedicated advocate against human trafficking, has devoted many hours of their life to raising awareness and fighting against this heinous crime. With nearly 9 years of being informed and gaining experience through trainings and endurance hikes to raise money and awareness to fight trafficking, Coral has a deep understanding of the issue and its devastating impact on individuals and communities.

With a strong voice and unwavering determination, Coral continues to push for systemic changes and demands justice for the countless victims of human trafficking around the world.