She captured the nation's attention after being kidnapped and held captive by a Salt Lake City street preacher for nine months at age 14.
Now, at 23, Elizabeth Smart is finishing her senior year at Brigham Young University and heading up her own foundation created to help protect children from the same fate.
On Friday, she and her father, Ed Smart, will continue her efforts in Atlanta, where they plan to speak to parents, educators, students and community leaders about the importance of empowering children to protect themselves.
The Smarts were scheduled to speak at 8:30 a.m. at the Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross and then at 12:30 and 2 p.m. at Pace Academy in Atlanta. The afternoon talk at Pace is sold out.
Keep Georgia Safe, the nonprofit safety organization founded by Atlanta attorney Gary Martin Hays, is hosting the event.
Elizabeth Smart said that empowering children to help them avoid abduction and make better choices should be a priority.
“It can’t be after the fact," she said. "That’s why I’m coming to Atlanta to help bring attention to radKIDS."
radKIDS is considered the nation's leading personal safety empowerment program for children aged 6 to 12. It provides hands-on learning on how to recognize, avoid, resist and escape violence, bullying, abduction and harm.
Smart was abducted in 2002 from her Salt Lake City home -- with a knife held to her neck. She was rescued after someone spotted her with abductors Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee, in Sandy, Utah, in March 2003.
Mitchell, who was hired by Smart's family to fix their leaky roof, was sentenced to life in prison in May. Barzee received a 15-year sentence.
Last week, in advance of her trip to Atlanta, Smart responded to questions via email.
Q: I would imagine your advocacy on behalf of children forces you to relive those months when you were held captive. How difficult is that?
A: I have felt so blessed to be home that I don’t want any child to have to live through what I went through. It comes down to creating awareness and change. Like most people, it’s not my favorite topic, but we can’t pretend these kinds of things don’t happen. If I can stop just one child from my experience, it will be worth it.
Q: What has life been like for you since being reunited with your family?
A: Life has been wonderful and I certainly have become aware of many challenges others face. God, family and friends have allowed me to move on with my life and there is so much to look forward to.
Q: How difficult has it been to readjust?
A: Every victim has to find their own way. None of us are the same. I think the biggest adjustment is having people know who I am and I don’t know who they are. I have been so grateful for the prayers of so many I know they helped bring me home.
Q: Tell me about your organization and what you hope to accomplish?
A: The Elizabeth Smart Foundation[.org] was started to bring hope and stop victimization through prevention and supporting law enforcement in one of the greatest saves in our country. I wish I had better known what I could have done to avoid the nightmare I lived through, and what many others don’t live through. We talk about what parents can give their children education, material things, what’s more important than preparing them for some of the bad things that can happen.
Q: What two or three things all parents and children can do to help keep this from happening to them?
A: Enroll their kids in a radKIDS class. Be prepared not scared by learning about predatory behavior at the JoyfulChild.org. Support Keep Georgia Safe and visit our websites for up-to-date information on how to keep children safe.
Keep Georgia Safe
8:30 a.m. Oct., 14, $10, Greater Atlanta Christian School Fine Arts Building, 1575 Indian Trail Road, Norcross, GA 30093. 770-243-2000. www.keepgeorgiasafe.org
Complimentary tickets to Greater Atlanta Christian parents who pre-register and use their personal code.
