Youth Testimonials

In June 2007, YoBo Productions, Inc. was invited by The Los Angeles County Probation Department to present Silly Women ~ The Conference in a girls' correctional facility. Even though our audience was between the ages of 13 and 17, we did not change our presentation format. We ended the presentation with our usual question and answer segment, and to our shock and amazement these young ladies asked the same questions as the women 30 years their senior!

At the beginning of our session, the officers acknowledged the Top Fifteen young ladies on the merit ladder, which is a weekly recognition. The Top Fifteen were rewarded with snacks. Unbeknownst to the young ladies, we had brought gifts and treats for the entire group, so we began our session by flipping the script. We decided to recognize all the young ladies who had NEVER made it into the Top Fifteen. They were first in line to get treats from us, only if they were willing to take us up on a challenge to make it into the Top Fifteen.

Three of the young ladies have sent letters regarding Silly Women ~ The Conference and we are sharing those with you below. And the best news is ... [drum roll, please] ... TWO OF THEM MADE IT INTO THE TOP FIFTEEN!!!!!

On behalf of those precious young ladies, let me say thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU to everyone who donated items for the young ladies. If you want to make a tax-deductible donation toward the gift bags, just say the word! We also need toiletries (shampoo, lotion, bath gels, etc.) Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Letter from Miracle (age 16)

Hello Ms. Gail and Mrs. Yolanda,

How are y'all doing? Well me, I am doing better than I have been doing in a while. But before I go any further, I would just like to say thank you.

For about 6 months now I have been living in the past. I have been holding on to the hurt and pain of the past, and not looking at the blessings God has put right in front of me. As a result of not being able to let things go, I always end up inflicting pain on the ones who love me the most. I open up to strangers because they don't really expect anything from me. I run from my problems searching for something I have yet to find. Your issue of your magazine "Let It Go" has helped me tremendously. I realize that I need to let go of my bad attitude, the past, and being ignorant when it comes to opening up and changing my ways.

I appreciate y'all for what you are doing for our generation. Thank you for helping me realize what my family and probation staff have been instilling in me since I have been here. I love everything about the way you reach out to your people. Again, thank you and I can't wait to see you again.

Oh yeah, by the way, I made Top Fifteen on the merit ladder. I am number twelve. And every week I have made it a priority to get better and better.

Sincerely,

Miracle (age 16)

Letter from R.C. (age 15)

To Whom It May Concern,

Well, I know I've been number sixty-six in the merit ladder. And you're wondering how I got to the Top Fifteen.

Last Saturday when the speakers came, they motivated me to do better and show everybody that if I put my mind into doing what I have to do, I will accomplish my goal. So I told myself that I was going to show everybody in this facility that I could do what I have to do. So I've been running my program. And that is how I got to the Top Fifteen.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

R.C.

Letter from Jasmine (age 15)

What I received from last week's program (Silly Women) was that some women and even men look at everyone else's actions, before they take time to look at themselves. They can sit around and talk about everyone else but won't even acknowledge the fact that they have problems too. I also learned that we all have choices. Whether we make the right choice is up to us, and every choice has a consequence. It could be good or bad.

Another thing I learned is that you have to love and respect yourself if you want someone else to love and respect you. You have to know who you are and what you want, to be truly happy and accomplish things in life, because nobody can love you the way you love yourself. I also learned that you don't have to be married to be happy. This is pretty much what I got from the program.

Jasmine (age 15)

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