Gina DeJesus was abducted in 2004 while walking home from school in Cleveland. She and two others, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight, were held captive for nearly a decade at the hands of their abusive captor. Their story of abduction, survival and hope is known throughout the world.

Inspired to help others, DeJesus and her cousin, Sylvia Colon, started a foundation to provide assistance and support to families who are enduring the nightmare of a loved one gone missing.

On May 1, DeJesus and Colon will be at BGSU Firelands for a panel discussion. DeJesus will share her story, including the moments that gave her hope during her years in captivity. Colon will discuss the ordeal from the perspective of the family desperate to find her, and they will share the inspiration behind the unique victims’ response team they formed to help families cope when a loved one is abducted or goes missing.

The evening will include a presentation by Newburgh Heights Chief of Police John Majoy who is the chairman of the Northeast Ohio AMBER Alert Committee, and Christopher Minek, supervisor of the Cuyahoga Emergency Communications System, about the types of missing person alerts used in Ohio, including AMBER, Endangered Missing, and Missing Adult.

The event is free and open to the public.