By Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
The Gingerbread House Children’s Advocacy Center held its annual Partners in Prevention Luncheon on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino in Shreveport, bringing together community leaders, advocates, and supporters in a powerful event dedicated to raising awareness and support for child abuse prevention and intervention.
This year’s keynote speaker was Jessica Buchanan, an author, humanitarian, and former hostage whose story of survival and strength has inspired audiences worldwide. Buchanan shared her harrowing experience of being abducted by Somali pirates in 2011 while working as an education advisor for a non-governmental organization. She was held for 93 days in brutal conditions before being rescued by the elite Navy SEAL Team Six, under the direction of President Barack Obama.
Buchanan’s emotional presentation focused on resilience, courage, and the power of choice in the face of fear and uncertainty. She encouraged attendees to find strength in adversity and to use their personal experiences to make a difference in their communities.
“When you are at the end of your rope. Hope comes in to save the day,” said Buchanan.
Her talk, inspired by her TEDx Pearl Street presentation “Change is Your Proof of Life,” left the audience deeply moved and motivated.
Named by Newsweek as one of the “150 Women Who Will Shake the World,” Buchanan has become a leading advocate for resilience and healing. Today, she continues to give back by serving as an ambassador and fundraiser for the Navy SEAL Foundation, which supports the families of active-duty and fallen SEALs. She also volunteers as a family liaison for Hostage US, a nonprofit organization that assists former hostages and their families during and after captivity.
The Partners in Prevention Luncheon serves as one of the Gingerbread House’s most important annual fundraising and awareness events. Proceeds from the luncheon help support the organization’s mission to reduce the trauma experienced by child abuse victims and to promote prevention education throughout Northwest Louisiana.
The Gingerbread House Children’s Advocacy Center has long been a pillar of hope in the region, providing forensic interviews, counseling, and advocacy services for abused children and their families. Through partnerships with law enforcement, child protection agencies, and the judicial system, the organization works to ensure that children receive the care, compassion, and justice they deserve.
This year’s luncheon brought together hundreds of attendees from across the region — including civic leaders, local businesses, law enforcement, and educators — all united by a shared goal of protecting children and building safer communities.
The event not only highlighted Buchanan’s message of endurance and recovery but also underscored the vital importance of community collaboration in preventing child abuse and supporting survivors.