In the great state of Texas

Last night we had the honor of speaking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Each time we visit this amazing campus we are impressed by the caliber of students, faculty and staff. Below is a link to the article (which includes a super expressive photo) in today's campus publication. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Thanks for your work Russ!
Program allows open discussion of sexual assault - News

Watch us on Dateline NBC this Monday

We have been sharing the exciting news about our appearance on an upcoming Dateline episode for weeks and the official airtime has been changed more than twice. We’re totally stoked that many of you are almost as excited as we are about our national primetime debut and apologize for all the confusion on the actual date and time of the program. We received a few phone calls and e-mails from folks who tuned into Dateline last night (the second “official air date) looking for the safety episode and instead they were introduced to a story about an angry farmer in Iowa.

The latest official scoop is that the Dateline story air-date has been moved to Monday, September 3 (Labor day) at 10pm/ 9 central. The network felt the holiday weekend time slot was a better choice. I can't think of a better way to spend Labor day evening, can you? Enjoy the 3 day weekend with a safety show finale!

So here’s the lowdown on the details of the show. It's an hour long program broken down into 6 segments of safety related issues- pick-pocketing, vacation safety, graffiti, date rape drugs, sexual assault and children staying home alone. Quite the mix of safety tips! We will be featured in the 4th and 5th segments that are of course related to our work. We are thrilled about this opportunity and excited to share our message with viewers throughout the country. Please share this info with your friends, family and co-workers and encourage them to tune in as well. The more people we can share our message with the better!

On the Road Again...

Our first gig of the semester was oh so sweet. We were happy to return to Sweet Briar College this year to share our message with the new freshman class. Sweet Briar is such a warm and welcoming campus. The students are awesome the administration is fabulous and the campus is insanely gorgeous. What a great start to what's sure to be a wonderful semester on the road!

YouTube Craze!

Okay, so we appear to be a little obsessed with YouTube at the current moment. Obviously we’re thrilled to be playing an active role in the online video trend and we totally appreciate the ease and instant viewing pleasure that YouTube has to offer. We hope you enjoy taking a peek at the videos that we posted this week.
Our enthusiasm for YouTube is strong and proud. With 3 YouTube posts under our belts, we’re ready for more! We are now proud owners of a Small Wonder, which is a very and I stress VERY simple to operate video camera. Martha Stuart introduced us to this fine peice of equipment. It was featured on her show last month as a fabulous toy for the technically challenged. Perfect for us! Stay tuned for video blogs from the road!
YouTube junkies,
K & B

Kelly and Becca talk about date rape drugs

Let's Talk About

Let's Talk at Elon University

Suddenly I See

So music is a huge motivator to me, it also serves as a way I can honestly express myself- when words and vulnerability escape me. So, when I find a song or artist that I love, it can almost consume me. Imagine repeat for hours on end.

I know what your thinking, her poor husband. But he gets it is all the quirks that make me, me and subsequently creates our crazy little we.

But I digress...

So the obsession he is currently "sharing" with me is the song, "Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall. It is my new anthem for women taking back their power. It is my unofficial signature song for Unite for Change. It is a song men can play to show the women they love how much they get them. It makes me want to dance, say hello to strangers and save the world.

All before lunch.

Check it out, it is currently my profile song on myspace myspace.com/beccatalksaboutit and see if you can help but move.

In love-

Becca

Summertime Culinary Delights

Being home for the summer is giving us time to enjoy our family, friends and the chance to do some really cool stuff in the community. This week we got a group of girlfriends together to discover our inner chef and get our cook on. Becca arranged for us to have private cooking class with two super talented and totally cool chefs in Tampa. We sliced. We diced. We boiled and baked. Look out Food Network the Kelly and Becca posse is turning up the heat!

WORD UP

I recently came across an article online that totally blew my mind! "A Nebraska Judge bans the word rape from his courtroom." WHAT?! Can an accuser really be prohibited from using the word rape on the witness stand? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Last fall, Judge Cheuvront granted a motion by defense attorneys barring the words rape, sexual assault, victim, assailant, and sexual assault kit from the trial of Pamir Safi—accused of raping Tory Bowen in October 2004.
My mind was racing at high speed as I read this article. I try very hard to view both sides of every story fairly in every situation. I am not a judge, attorney or part of any legal team (I've never even served as a juror) so my opinion of this language ban set forth by a Judge in Nebraska is from the perspective I naturally relate to in this situation, as a rape survivor. As I read the story I can't help but feel an aching pain for any survivor in this situation. In my opinion, asking them to avoid such words is almost like asking them to avoid the truth. What message are we sending by creating an even more complicated legal process? Not being able to use words that describe sexual intercourse without consent in a rape trial seems unrealistic. Could you imagine a murder trial taking place without ever using the words murder, slain, autopsy or victim?
I'd love to hear what you think! Check out the article at http://slate.com/id/2168758/

Kelly

No more Paris PLEASE!

In a world with so many news worthy events to report on, good and evil to speak of (I prefer the good), and stories around the globe worth sharing, WHY must we continue to hear about Paris Hilton in the headline news?! Recently on MSNBC reporter Mika Brzezinski shared my opinion. Thank you Mika. Even if this was a planned charade I still thank you for taking a stand!
Follow the link to check out what went down.
http://view.break.com/322090

News you can use!

Kelly and I have a funky fresh newsletter that we want to share with you. It will arrive via e-mail about once a month and will be chock full of information, tips and basic news you can use. Too good to be true? Not at all my friends. Follow this link and it will be headed your way.............http://www.mailermailer.com/x?oid=34029t

If loving you is wrong...we don't want to be right!
xoxox-
B

Dinner with our mentor!

Dinner with a friend that you really like and rarely get to see is such a special slice of time. Sunday night Kelly and I dined with our dear friend T.J. This is especially important because as with many influential people in our lives, they often wear many hats in how they affect who you are and what you have become.

Years ago, while students at The University of West Florida a simple twist of fate brought T.J. into our lives and it is safe to say it has never been the same since.

It was T.J.'s program that inspired us to tell our story, it was T.J.'s mentoring that helped us craft our message and it is T.J who's amazing speakers agency (CAMPUSPEAK http://www.campuspeak.com/) now represents us. Reflecting on all T.J. has done for us reminds me how incredibly generous one person can be if you are willing to reach out to them.

Many of us have dreams that seem impossible to attain. Many of us fear rejection so we never put ourselves out there. When I get nervous or afraid, I often think of T.J., someone we held in such high regard was also someone who took time to help our dream become a reality. One of the most amazing parts about having dinner with T.J. was as we talked about the future, our families and our newest hopes and dreams I thought about our history and the way life gives you opportunities to achieve your greatest hopes and ambitions- if your willing to be brave and ask for it.

Always-
Becca

Go Charlie!

We're happy to see that Charlie’s laying the smack down! Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed five crime bills this month including an extensive measure aimed at Internet predators who attempt to lure children and a law making it easier for police to track known sex offenders. The Florida cyber-crimes unit will expand from 6 employees to 56! This will allow them to set up investigative offices across the state, to work with police in catching and prosecuting sexual predators who use online chat rooms or social networking sites to find minors. Creepy predators BEWARE!
For those of you who are interested in the details, here’s the quick and dirty. Legislation to strengthen Florida’s sentencing laws for sexual offenses include the following bills:

Senate Bill 1004, the Cyber Crimes Act, which requires known sex offenders to register all e-mail addresses and instant-message names with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It also makes it a crime for Internet users to misrepresent their age when talking with children online, or to solicit minors for sex.

SB 1604, which tightens registration criteria for sex offenders.

SB 988, requiring special markings on driving licenses and license tags for sexual offenders, so police will know their status during a traffic stop and can check on their registration and compliance with reporting requirements. It also sets consistent standards for checking the background of employees working for contractors on school grounds.

Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?!
Kelly

A Healing Moment

I am empowered. I am courageous. I am hopeful. I am determined. I am a survivor. I am incredibly proud to be all of these things, but there are sometimes vulnerable moments in my life when I am forced to remind myself of who I have become by silently repeating the words over and over in my head: strong, empowered, courageous, resilient, determined.
Survivors of sexual assault often have triggers, flashbacks or nightmares. It has been years since I was assaulted and I still at times have feelings of fear, guilt, confusion, anger, and sadness. This is totally normal! Just the other day, I came across something that reminded me of the night I was assaulted. Feelings of pain and fear instantly filled my heart and my mind quickly drifted to a very dark place. I acknowledged what was happening and without even thinking about it, I noticed that I was repeating the words, strong, resilient, empowered, thankful, courageous and determined to myself. (Yes, I talk to myself and you know what “they” say, it’s a sign of intelligence. I am super smart!) Repeating the words and focusing on the positive really helped me to work through this painful and sensitive reflection of my past. I try very hard to turn these moments of reflection into opportunities for healing. Perhaps I’ve been watching too much Dr. Phil, but it works for me.
If you’re a survivor of sexual assault, it’s important to find something that works for you, whether it’s positive self talk, kick-boxing, yoga, journaling, calling a friend or making an appointment with your therapist or a counselor. Our hearts have an amazingly powerful way of healing we just have to learn how to listen to them.
Kelly