Photography by Kenny Walters

Jessica Buchanan, kidnapped by Somali land pirates and held for ransom, recently celebrated the anniversary of her rescue by releasing the now New York Times Bestselling book: Deserts to Mountaintops: Our Collective Journey to (re) Claiming Our Voice. The anthology is a collection of stories by Jessica, as well as other women, about survivial, reclamation and self love. The event, held at ALX Community - Atrium, included beverages and book signing opportunities with many of the authors. All proceeds from the evening's book sales was donated directly to the Scholarhip Fund of Alexandria to support a young woman purusing a college degree in writing.