Founder and Executive Director, Created Gainesville
Alison Ungaro’s definition of fierce centers around hope, optimism, determination and courage. She envisions it as a teachable spirit that never settles on “arriving,” but is always looking for ways to become better and more of what the world needs.
“Fierce is compassionate, kind, strong, vulnerable, bold and open to constructive criticism,” she said. “This journey is best shared with others while offering an open heart and hand.”
For the past twelve years Ungaro has embodied these traits by turning her passion for human trafficking prevention and survivor care into a nonprofit. Created Gainesville was started to support people that have been sexually exploited or trafficked. Since 2012, they have reached over 3,000 women and 7,000 youth, given over 175 awareness presentations and held 18 prevention classes.
The founder strives to guide victims to not let the past call the shots for the future, but to allow it to teach and serve as a marker of progress and transformation. Her goal is to make an impact with those that are most at risk of being missed, marginalized, oppressed, misidentified and underrepresented.
Ungaro works hard to balance life with her husband and five children with her mission of helping people. Raising her family and striving each day to be her best self for them is her greatest accomplishment. She hopes to inspire others to know that “love” is a powerfully fierce weapon to work with and that you can be brave, driven, creative, opinionated and still loving.
