Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Kelsey Smith Foundation presents Safety Awareness Seminar at MCC-Blue River

The Kelsey Smith Foundation will present a Safety Awareness Seminar at Metropolitan Community College-Blue River at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13. Guest speakers at the seminar will be the foundation’s own Rep. Greg Smith and his wife Missey, parents of the teen Kelsey Smith whose tragic abduction and death made national news in 2007.

The Kelsey Smith Foundation began as “Kelsey’s Army” in 2007 when she went missing. The group was dedicated to finding the young kidnapping victim; however, when her demise was confirmed, Kelsey’s Army reorganized to become the Kelsey Smith Foundation. The group’s new mission is to do everything in its power to insure that Kelsey Smith is the last person to ever meet with such an unfortunate end, by educating people about safety measures that could potentially save their lives.

As the daughter of a police officer, Kelsey Smith was not the most likely target of abduction. Furthermore, she was taken in broad daylight from a seemingly safe area in the public parking lot of a Target store. The abduction took only nineteen seconds, and Kelsey was missing for four days before her cell phone provider was finally convinced to locate her electronically. Her body was found using the cell phone data. This apparently impossible scenario illustrates just how unaware we all are of threats that
 loom constantly around us.

Kelsey’s father and mother, Greg and Missey Smith who will be guest speakers at the April 13 seminar, are adamant that they will answer absolutely any question about Kelsey’s abduction or about safety measures that could be taken in order to insure that the tragic events that befell their daughter are never repeated. It is now their ambition to be the last family to ever lose a child this way.

Rep. Greg Smith’s background as a police officer gives him a wealth of expertise in the area of safety. Since Kelsey’s 2007 demise, Greg has become a teacher, further honing his skills for sharing and illustrating his valuable knowledge and experience. Greg was recently elected to the Kansas House of Representatives, and his stop at this Seminar may be his last local appearance before heading to Topeka to represent his constituency.

Because April is both Child Abuse Awareness and Sexual Abuse Awareness Month, this is an exceedingly appropriate time to give full attention to the issues to be discussed at the Kelsey Smith Foundation’s Safety Awareness Seminar. The seminar will be of great value to all young people because college age males are actually in a higher risk group to become victims of violence than are females. Come to the seminar to take responsibility for your own safety, and bring your college age friends and children.

For further information on the Kelsey Smith Foundation visit KelseysArmy.org.

Safety Awareness Seminar presented by Kelsey Smith Foundation, open to the public, FREE admission, Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the gym (Arts and Sciences 100) at MCC-Blue River

For further information contact faculty member Kimberly Glackin

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the MCC-Blue River Counseling Office at 816.604.6400. Advanced notice is required for some accommodations.

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