An open letter from our Founder:

Dear Ladies:

When my father realized I was standing there, he told me to go back to the living room and sit down…that this was between him and my mother. Of course I did no such thing because I was going to protect her! I stood there in disbelief and watched while my mother cried and screamed and tried to fight back. She was yelling at us to leave the kitchen. She didn’t want us to get involved. We didn’t listen and got into the middle of the fight. My brother and I tried to pull my father off with no luck, while my sister cried out, “Why are you doing this?!” You would think that he would have stopped his erratic behavior with all of us involved, but not a chance. He had to “teach my mom a lesson.” See video. After this incident, I believe that I became affected by his behavior. My dad never realized the extent of the damage he caused, but neither did my mother. You see, my mother had developed what I now call “Concrete Shoes.”

     The sad thing is that this wasn’t the exception in my neighborhood, this was the rule. My family, like most others, looked the other way when we saw violence occurring in other families. We adopted the “bystander apathy” syndrome when it wasn’t our business, but it truly was our business because it was happening, in our own home. Since our community was riddled with domestic abuse, gossip and discussion of other people’s situations soon became second nature. My mom always tried to put up the facade that life was perfect to everyone outside of our family. It was far from it. For years, she was the best leading actress with no academy award to show for it. She placed little value on herself, and no one else was there to raise her worth. She never knew love the way it was meant to be.

     These early experiences sparked a passion in me to help women. It’s not just about abused women; I want to see ALL women lead the lives YOU want to live. My mission truly began when I created a bookmark titled “A Girl’s Promise” for my three daughters. These bookmarks were made as a reminder for how young girls should lead their lives.  I don’t want my girls to look back and still have to ask the questions, “Who am I?” and “Who was I going to be?”  I want to see them soar! 

     I realize that it’s tough for all people, but women are exposed to so many things that devalue and degrade them in our society. Images of women who are supposed to be the ideal – thin, tall, and pretty – are in magazines and on television. You are belittled by the words used to describe women in songs where derogatory and insulting lyrics are topping the charts. This atmosphere can often lead to “Risky Business” for our younger generation.

    I am committed to helping you learn to value your most prized possession...YOU!  Many times women are part of the problem without even realizing it. You don’t recognize your value or have any sense of self-awareness. You hold yourself in low esteem and it has to stop!

    Please hear my heart and understand that you are a part of it. Change can only happen if the commitment comes from both of us. Let’s walk together through a journey to wholeness. You are a jewel. You are beautiful. You deserve to become complete and heal all of the broken places.  I hope you choose to take that first step.

From the bottom of my heart,

Leon

Home | Contact Us | Donate

© A Girls Promise, LLC