Heidelberg University will host “Finding Hope: An Evening with Elizabeth Smart” on Tuesday, Nov. 17, in Seiberling Gymnasium.
Along with a group of community sponsors, the Seneca County Violence Prevention Task Force is bringing Smart to campus as part of her visit to Tiffin. Following Smart’s presentation, Heidelberg’s Center for Survivor Empowerment is organizing resource tables with information about related community services and support.
Smart is an internationally recognized advocate, author and speaker whose remarkable story of survival has inspired audiences around the world. Abducted from her Salt Lake City home at age 14 in 2002, Smart was held captive for nine months before being safely reunited with her family in March 2003.
Rather than allowing her experience to define her, Smart has dedicated her life to helping others find hope, healing and empowerment. She founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011, advocating for child safety, sexual violence prevention and support for survivors. She has also helped advance national child-protection legislation, including the AMBER Alert system and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.
A New York Times bestselling author, Smart has shared her journey through her memoir, My Story, and her follow-up book, Where There's Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up. Through her advocacy and speaking engagements, she delivers a powerful message about resilience, the strength of the human spirit and the possibility of moving forward after unimaginable adversity.
This event is open to Heidelberg University students, faculty and staff, and members of the surrounding community. We invite everyone to join us for an evening focused on understanding the impact of trauma, supporting survivors, and learning how communities can come together to create a culture of safety, support, and empowerment.
Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with local Seneca County organizations and community partners through resource tables.
These organizations will provide information about services and support available to individuals and families in our community, including resources related to safety, mental health, advocacy, domestic violence services, healthcare, and other community needs.