Comments

I just wanted to say that what you're doing is an absolutely AMAZING thing. I am one of the Managers at the Build a Bear Workshop in Annapolis MD and I discovered your organization after flipping through a preview of our upcoming Huggable Heroes calendar. While it's always great to see kids helping other kids, in 6 years a BABW, none of the organizations ever REALLY hit home with me...but your's definitely did. I am 23 now, but when I was 16...I had a boyfriend that brutally attacked me. I feel like knowing more about how to fight back might've not only prevented the first incident, but things I went through for two and a half years with this boy after the fact. A film like your film would've really been a great thing to see in school...or anywhere really. So, while this isn't a strong enough word by any stretch of the imagination, kudos on what you've done and continue to do here!!!

I just used some of your organization's history in my end of course sum up for my word processing and computer tech classes. My overall message this year has been to encourage my middle school aged students to use the tools being learned to find their voice and to be heard.

After I send this email out I plan on purchasing your book to use in future classes.

Thank you for being such a great role model to my students who are told by society and by education in general to sit down and be quiet far too often.

Sincerely,

Calvin

Matheson Junior High

I used to be a Juvenile probation officer, working with girl offenders. I've tried to tell the girls not to put themselves in dangerous situations, but a few haven't been so lucky and I've sat through a few rape exams with them. Over the years, I've told the girls that if they can't get away, leave their DNA behind - a finger nail, hair etc. I think this video will be a great new tool that we will use in our girls' circle group. Now, I'm working with foster kids and hope to share this with some of the older teens on my caseload. Good luck in all your endeavors and I'll share the information on the link with my co-workers.

Hi. Awesome job on this video. In fact, I think it�s so important that I want to organize an evening of instruction for my 11 year old daughter and her friends.

I am interested in becoming a certified trainer for Just Yell Fire. I gained my Master's degree in Library Science last May with an emphasis in children's and youth services, and hope to find a job soon as a public librarian. With the amount of contact I will have in that field with young and teenage girls, as well as contacts with schools and other libraries, I would like to find out how to become involved and help promote your program.

I have been training in aikido as a self-defense art since June, and will be testing for my first rank soon. The more I learned in aikido, the more it made me aware of how girls and women in America are socialized about violence. Movies, television, and popular media seem to promote the belief that girls and women cannot win or escape in a situation where we are under attack by a man. Recognizing this made me interested in finding out what programs were already available to promote girls' and women's self-defense. I discovered Just Yell Fire by Googling "women's self-defense". I was thrilled to find that someone has begun a movement to counter that socialization early in women's lives, beginning with teaching the girls who are most at risk that they CAN defend themselves and escape an attacker, even if their attacker is much larger. I myself am only 5'1", and the techniques that eliminate an attacker's advantage of greater height are also especially applicable to me.

I live in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and I would like any information available on training for certification for Just Yell Fire, either locally or in neighboring states if necessary. Many thanks to you, Dallas, and everyone else involved with Just Yell Fire for your caring and hard work.

We want to thank you both so much for the JYF Program on May 7th in Albion. The students loved being a part of the program and learning how to protect themselves. I heard back from many of the 5th grade girls about watching the movie with their parents and that they feel better knowing how to stay safe. I also heard back from a few parents thanking us for offering a program like this to our students. Our staff is looking forward to being trained in August with you and we hope that all of our girls from 5-12 grade will be offered self-defense and we can generate more discussion about this important topic. Thank you for also meeting with the girls for lunch, signing books and being so understanding.

While working out at the gym today, I saw your organization's segment on the Montel Williams show. On the TV next to the one showing your segment was a news report on Fox News showing an 18 year old girl that was just abducted from a Target in KS. My daughter was working out at the gym with me. I would like to request one of your DVD's for her. I want her to have the information that she needs to help her know what to do if she ever finds herself in that kind of situation.

Thank you for my DVD. I have received it and I LOVE IT. It came just before Christmas. Great Job girls!!! I want to use this as a training video for my daughters and their friends. It covers a lot of different areas of concern and being a part of the Law Enforcement/ Security community for the last 20 years I agree totally.

I have truly been inspired by this organization and hope to start a chapter of the program in my high school when school resumes.

I just saw your story on Montel Williams and it brought tears to my eyes! I was 15 when I was raped! I only wish I saw this video 20 years ago. I live in a gated community with security guards and a few months ago, someone was able to get into the community and attempt a rape. You are never too safe or protected...no matter how much security there is. This video is not only a great resource to young girls, but to a 35 year old victim of a rape that happened 20 years ago. How many WOMEN don't know how to protect themselves? Sorry for the rant, but the segment on Montel brought out all those feeling that I had as a 15 year old virgin. I want to give a copy of this dvd to any female I come across. There are so many teenage girls here that can benefit from this very much needed video. I can't really donate anything, maybe help with the shipping costs, but what I can do is spread the message that we don't have to be victims and that we can learn to defend ourselves. Please let me know what you would need from me to make this happen. I am in Central Florida. Again,Thanks for bringing this to the forefront,