In August of 2007, while filming her latest documentary, "Tapestries of Hope" in Zimbabwe, Filmmaker Michealene Cristini Risley and her young assistant were imprisoned in Zimbabwe as American spies, were subjected to harsh and filthy conditions, and narrowly escaped torture and death. Without receiving any help from the U.S. State Department and with Humanitarian lawyers barred from helping the women, a fan and former war correspondent from Facebook used his connections at the CIA which affected the women's immediate release. 

Through her production company, Fresh Water Spigot, Michealene is currently working on a number of features and documentaries including one on Betty Makoni, founder of Girl Child Network in Zimbabwe, titled TAPESTRIES OF HOPE. In August of 2007, while filming TAPESTRIES OF HOPE, Michealene and her assistant were interrogated, incarcerated, and deported from Zimbabwe. She currently speaks around the country on issues of rape and abuse of children globally. Michealene released her first co-authored book This Is Not The Life I Ordered in March 2007, which has sold over 30,000 copies.