BCA is excited to announce a new speaker has been added to the 2019 Speaker Series Line Up! We are thrilled to announce Elizabeth Smart will be our special guest at the July 2019 BCA Hospitality Breakfast!
One of the biggest national abduction news stories of our time, the kidnapping and recovery of Elizabeth Smart captured the nation’s attention from June 5, 2002, when she was taken at knifepoint, to when the police safely returned her back to her family on March 12, 2003. Held prisoner for 9 grueling months, repeatedly threatened and tormented, Smart emerged a symbol of perseverance and strength when she triumphantly testified before her captor and the world about her very private nightmare.
Don’t allow Your Past To Dictate Your Future
A daily demonstration that there is life after a tragic event, Smart is an irrefutable model of perseverance in the face of unimaginable adversity. With bravery and wisdom far beyond her years, Smart captivates audiences with her story and insight on overcoming adversity, the importance and process of recovery, and not allowing one’s past to dictate one’s future.
MORE ON ELIZABETH
Through her traumatic experience, Smart has become a leading advocate for change related to child abduction, recovery programs and national legislation. The founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, dedicated to preventing crimes against children, Smart has also helped promote The National AMBER Alert, The Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act and other similar efforts. Her abduction and recovery continues to encourage broad vigilance and motivate parents, law enforcement and leaders worldwide to focus on children’s safety. Smart chronicled her experiences in the New York Times best-seller, “My Story”. She also worked with other abduction survivors and the U.S. Department of Justice to create “You’re Not Alone: The Journey From Abduction to Empowerment,” a survivors guide intended to encourage and help children who have gone through similar experiences. Smart also released her new book, “Where There’s Hope” in Spring 2018.