September 2019

Truth Be Told is a program that gives women a voice. Whether it is through writing, speech or movement, the Talk to Me classes allow us to take what is buried deep inside and get it out into the open and heal.

I am equally proud that I did my 15 years in prison and never turned bitter. I am proud that I still love life through and after all the pain, and I wholeheartedly owe this to Truth Be Told. Through their healing classes and freeing talks, I learned peace in an unpeaceful place.

I believe the most important lesson I learned in my Truth Be Told experience is that I am worthy. I have something to contribute to society. I realized I can still be beneficial to my community and that I can do this by sharing my story, not hiding it.

I use the tools I learned in Truth Be Told in my everyday life. When I get down or discouraged, I go back to the lessons I was taught and the wisdom and encouragement Truth Be Told spoke into me. I also try to be a mentor and encourager to other people I have encountered along my way.

I am most proud of the fact that I have committed myself to a life of accountability. I obtained a bachelor’s degree in 2017. I am happy with the strides I have made, the friends I have, and the relationships I have built with my family, friends and coworkers.

The tools I learned in Truth Be Told help me balance my life today. These tools help me to have positive relationships and to surround myself with women who understand my struggles without judgment.

Truth Be Told is worth supporting because we graduates are real people, and we are making a real difference in our communities. We are women who are making the decision to refuse to be released back into our past circumstances.

I think what I am most proud of is who I am today and who I continue to become every day. Something that Truth Be Told taught me was that my past doesn’t make me who I am. I carry it with me as a reminder of where I have been, but I am not that person. I love me.

When I was first introduced to Truth Be Told, I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of their Talk to Me Movement program. It was really a no-brainer for me. I have always been a mover, but, up until recently, I didn’t know that it was a part of my spiritual connection.

I started taking dance classes at age 3 and continued into my early teenage years. I think I might even regret quitting dance more than going to prison. It was my outlet. It was my “voice.” However, Talk to Me Movement was my first exposure to authentic movement, where there is no music or choreography. Despite my nerves, I learned so much about my secrets and how they still hold space in my body. I discovered just how connected I am to the hidden emotions and energies of other women as well.