Comments

This is a comment sent in to our trainers Leila Rae Sommerfeld and Valerie Mainridge of Gresham, OR

Thank you again from our entire team! You and Valerie did such a fabulous job. Several of our volunteers commented at the end that your traiing was the best self-defense class they had ever taken - and several had attended classes in the past. you adapted your presentation to fit perfectly into our time constraints and skill level. You and Valerie brought such great energy and enthusiasm to our class. We especially appreciate you taking time on a Sunday. We feel empowered to continue to advocate for sexually exploited women in and around Portland.

We are so pleased to know you and your work. I hope this is only the beginning of our partnership.

My 17 year old daughter and I have watched your movie Just Yell Fire. It is an excellent movie and is very powerful. My daughter was a Victim of sexual abuse at age 10. I think your movie may have prevented that from happening.
Thanks again for putting this movie out to our young woman.

Just watched the trailer...goose pimples...looks like it is gonna be great...gave them my email for notification on when it is ready...thanks for letting me know about this

You are to be commended for your efforts in helping women and young girls to be better prepared when faced with the potential of being a victim of a violent attack! As a police officer of 34 years and a martial artist since 1962, I will encourage all of my students that I train to watch your DVD. Thank you.

Watched the DVD last night with my daughter. She enjoyed the insight and tips provided. She will be having some of her friends over to watch as well. She is talking about taking it to school and asking the counselor if she can show it to other female students!

Thank you so much for this project.

I am the media Specialist at Wittenberg Elementary/Middle School and I just downloaded your "Just Yell Fire!" for our School nurse. In watching the beginning to see if the download worked, I was instantly drawn in by how good it was. I watched the entire program and will be having my 17 year old daughter watch it tonight. Thank you for making available such a well done presentation on a very important topic. Our pre-teen and teenage girls need to hear repeatedly that they have the right to say "NO!" and that they can change their minds. They also need to know what to do if they find themselves in one of these situations.

I am a 13 year girl who attends middle school, and does ride the bus. My bus stop has one other girl, the same build and age as me. I am very weak, and don't play any sports whatsoever. For the past year, I have heard of many girls who were older and stronger than me get raped and taken away. Needless to say, I was frightened. What could happen to me?

My mom showed me and my little brother this video. After watching it, I emailed it to all my female friends and watched it over and over again to practice the actions used against a sexual offender. Thank you so much for letting everyone see this. Now I know that I have a chance against a 200 pound man or woman who tries to touch me. By the way, I thought the hair combing thing was brilliant, and the scoop kick was as well.

Just Yell Fire is the next best thing to having found a magic wand for protecting my family, and I mean that very sincerely. Thank you again for creating it!

I attended the 2009 International Student Leadership Conference, at which Dallas Jessup spoke to everyone and then conducted a workshop to teach us how to defend ourselves, which I also attended. Since her speech, I have become increasingly passionate in the fight against domestic violence. I have helped with projects and fundraisers for the past two years, and this year, I am trying to start a club at my school that focuses on raising awareness and raising money to help fight against domestic violence. I was wondering if there would be any possible way that Dallas Jessup could come and speak to our school briefly about the warning signs of a dangerous situation, and how to defend ourselves if ever caught in one. Also to talk about how she has changed the world with her film and book, and anything else she wishes to speak to the student body about. I am sure that our school would be honored to have her speak to us.

I had my daughter watch the film and now she wants every girl in her high school to see it. I know you work with schools, what is the process and how can I help my daughter bring "just yell fire" to her school and friends?