The Henry Ford and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights Host Jessica Buchanan During National Day of Courage Feb. 3, 2014
Dearborn, MI (PRWEB) January 27, 2014 -- As part of this year’s National Day of Courage, The Henry Ford, in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR), will host humanitarian aid worker and author Jessica Buchanan on February 3, 2014 at 10:30 am inside Henry Ford Museum. Buchanan will share the inspiring and courageous story of her kidnapping by Somali land pirates in 2011.
On October 25, 2011, while on a humanitarian mission in Somalia, Buchanan and a male colleague were kidnapped at gunpoint and held for ransom by a band of Somali land pirates. For the next three months, she was terrorized, held outdoors in filthy conditions and kept on a starvation diet while her health steadily deteriorated. On January 25, 2012 Buchanan was rescued by SEAL Team Six.
The National Day of Courage commemorates Rosa Parks’ singular act of courage that helped sparked the modern Civil Rights movement. At Henry Ford Museum, home to the Rosa Parks Bus, the National Day of Courage is also an occasion to explore how her courage continues to resonate today.
After her presentation, Buchanan will lead a youth panel and audience Q&A session at 11:20 am. Immediately following, she will sign copies of her and husband Erik Landemalm’s memoir Impossible Odds, which details her kidnapping and his efforts to secure her rescue.
All programming will take place inside the Museum Plaza. Field trip groups grade seven and up are welcome to take part in the day’s events. Subject matter and format may not be appropriate for younger students. To view the curriculum connections for this year’s event, visit http://www.thehenryford.org/education/erb/CurrConnDayOfCourage2014.pdf. For more information on National Day of Courage activities visit http://www.thehenryford.org/events/dayOfCourage.aspx or call (313) 982-6001.
About The Henry Ford:
The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan is an internationally-recognized cultural destination that brings the past forward by immersing visitors in the stories of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation that helped shape America. A national historic landmark with an unparalleled collection of artifacts from 300 years of American history, The Henry Ford is a force for sparking curiosity and inspiring tomorrow’s innovators. Nearly two million visitors annually experience its five attractions: Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre. A continually expanding array of content available online provides anytime, anywhere access. The Henry Ford is also home to Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school which educates 485 students a year on the institution’s campus. For more information please visit our website thehenryford.org.
About the Michigan Department of Civil Rights:
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is charged with investigating and resolving discrimination complaints and works to prevent discrimination through educational programs that promote voluntary compliance with civil rights laws. The Department also provides information and services to businesses on diversity initiatives and equal employment law.
Melissa Foster, The Henry Ford, +1 (313) 982-6126, [email protected]
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