(NewsNation) — Natalie Wilson and Derrica Wilson joined forces 16 years ago to “help bring awareness to the missing individuals that are typically overlooked.”
“We started sounding the alarm that people of color are disappearing at an alarming rate around the country,” Natalie Wilson told kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart during a “Banfield” special report Tuesday. “Typically, they did not receive any media coverage, law enforcement resources or community engagement to be found.”
The pair founded the “Black and Missing Foundation,” which aims to provide an equal opportunity for all that are missing. Natalie Wilson said they’ve “made great strides” but “still have a lot of work.”
Smart applauded the Wilsons for their work and said she’s “not sure there’s another missing child” case that has ever gotten as much attention as hers. Smart was 14 years old when she was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City bedroom in 2002. She was found nine months after her abduction.
Smart credited police and media attention for helping bring her home.
“If every child received the same amount of attention, we would have so many more children home,” Smart said.
Derrica Wilson said the foundation is not only raising awareness, but it’s helping connect law enforcement to resources.
“Media applies pressure to law enforcement to dedicate more resources, and that’s what it takes. It takes all of us,” Derrica Wilson added.