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.

Thank you so much for everything that you have done with your involvment in 'Just yell fire'. I have a 13 year old daughter with a bunch of very close friends. As soon as we get our d.v.d. we will be having a pizza night with them all and watching "JUST YELL FIRE". The world needs more people like you.

My name is Ellie and I'm fifteen years old. Today I was reading a Tae Kwon Do magazine and ran across Just Yell Fire. So I went to your website and watched the movie. I think what you guys are doing is awesome and that girls need to know that its ok to fight back and don't be afraid if someone threatens you. I'm just a yellow belt in TKD right now. But I've already learned some important self defense and how to help others in a harmful situation. The video was great and I really appretiated that you guys showed different ways to defend yourself, in different situations. My mom and Dad have always taught me to walk with confidence and to alway pay attention to that gut feeling. I can usually tell when something doesn't feel right and I always try to avoid vulnerable situations. I think that the message you guys are trying to spead is extremely important and that every girl should see this video. Thank you so much.

I just happened to stumble across your website when I was on google, and the words "Just Yell Fire" caught my attention. Once I was on your website and saw what it was about...well words can't really describe how I felt! I live in the state of Georgia and I'm in 7th grade, but you'd be surprised to know about alot of the stuff that's happened at my school. Well one day I went to school only to find out that my best friend was almost raped that past weekend. And I was so scared for her because I myself have been in that situation before. And after seeing this...I have alot of respect for you (this coming from a 13 year old)

And I'm proud of you for going out and actually doing your best to make a difference in the world! Because all over the world girls are constantly being put into a position where their first natural instinct is to panic, and they don't know what to do. All they know is that they are being assaulted but with your help and inspirational video women can know that they can go out and not be scared because they automatically know now what to do if placed in a frightening situation like the one's in your video. Now thanks to you women can fight back without being scared that a man twice their size can overpower them. Because finally women have a system that will work everytime in any assault situation. And I would like to personally thank you for starting this non-profit organization "Just Yell Fire" for women in need all over the world.

Also I'd like to congradulate you for your awards. And it's funny, because most kids have a role model that's a celebrity, but I can honestly say that Dallas, you are my role model and I wish that I was able to make as big a difference as you! Oh and by the way, I'm definitely going to be telling just about everyone I know about "Just Yell Fire"

I received the DVD on Wednesday and we watched it right away. I loved how it explained, in detail, exactly what the girls were doing. You gave ideas I'd never thought of, such as pulling on the ears. I'd thought of the eyes, but never gave it much thought as to using more than one finger and concentrating on only one eye.

Thank you so much for the DVD. I hope your valuable message spreads all across the country! God Bless!

I am a legal advocate and health educator for my community. I see violence and abuse on a daily basis. Part of my jobs allow me to educate and I look forward to using your video to educate people. Thank you for making the video and fighting the good fight.

I am a Disabled Veteran and a grandfather of Sixteen. I would have been the proud grandfather of another little one, but I guess GOD wanted him to be in Heaven with HIM. I will see him later and what a joy that will be. I have eight granddaughters and eight grandsons. I would not take a million dollars for any of them. Maybe two million would do it. No just kidding. They all are the light in my life. One grandson is old enough and has finished Navy training and is a Corpman with the Marines and will be going to Iraq or Afghanistan in January or February. Please remember him in your prayers. His name is Frankie.
I want to thank you all for making this film. It is something that should have been made a long time ago. I wonder just how many young lives would have been different if this film had been made sooner. I pray all who watch this, will never experience anything bad and if in a situation will know what to do because of this film. May GOD bless and reward everyone who was a part of this film.

Do you two know how much you have inspired me? I'm a 13 year old in Salinas California. Nobody has tried to attack, kidnap, or rape me so far, but if it was to happen, I now know how to protect myself. You two have helped my friend though, she was walking home from school and she remembered to "just yell fire". Thank you two so much!!

Thanks for being a true inspiration

Thanks alot. You should be really proud of your daughter (I'm sure you are). She and her friend have probably saved lives of girls everywhere. I am going to show all my friends the dvd (I'm a mini distributor, LOL). It's very important to know how to defend yourself! I hope you can pass on my thanks to them and say I really admire what they are doing!

I commend you and all involved in such an important mission. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom who is very active in my community, I was a journalist for 12 years. Throughout much of my career I covered both the education beat and crime and public safety for daily newspapers such as the Oregonian, Seattle Times and various San Francisco Bay Area papers. I remember opening the top drawer of my desk at work one day only to realize I had accumulated too many photos of murdered or missing children. I have interviewed many families who have suffered from this loss and do not wish it upon anyone. I have to admit my experiences made me quite paranoid about the concerns regarding child abduction, rape, torture and all other unfathomable things people might do to any child. Although honestly, because of my experiences I truly believe folks can never be too careful these days. That is why this project hits close to my heart. Again my sincerest congratulations and gratitude to everyone who conceived, participated and are still involved with your Just Yell Fire project.