3/8/13 - Since becoming a victim of kidnapping in 2002, Elizabeth Smart has since established herself as a childâs safety advocate and speaks about her experience across the country. Many were captivated as she recounted her ordeal at the Johnson Center at Cleary University in Genoa Township yesterday for the Livingston Economic Club Luncheon. Smart was 14 years old when she was taken from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah and was held prisoner for 9 months by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. Smart now promotes the National AMBER Alert and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. She is also the founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation which educates the public and lawmakers about child abductions. Smart tells WHMI her target audience for educating and prevention is elementary school children. Smartâs positive take on a tragic situation moved many audience members and said she was grateful for what had happened because it had brought her where she is today. In her presentation, she included the best advice that she had ever received, which came from her mom the day after she returned home from her 9 month ordeal. Smart says her mom told her the best punishment she could give the man who kidnapped her is to be happy. Kim Martin, the Assistant Director of Marketing at Cleary University, was an audience member and tells WHMI her experience listening to and meeting Smart was unforgettable. Cleary University sponsors the Livingston Economic Luncheon series to students in order to enrich the Livingston County Community. Smart, who is now 25 and married, told the audience, âYou never know who youâre going to impact.â (DK)
↧