Un-Edited Testimonial Letter

Marla Y. Empowering Letter – 14-year-old
young lady who auditioned to be a singer in Bullies Be Gone! Project Video
Production.

Dear Mr. Johnson, I have recently heard about this whole production.
To me this is a big deal because I have actually been bullied through kindergarten and
all the way to the fifth grade. I didn’t have any friends and the worst part; it was because
of my singing. While singing this song in the video I have realized my life is a million
times better than it was before.

All those kids that bullied me don’t have what I have and what this is, is respect and
confidence. After singing the song you wrote I broke down crying thinking to myself my
determination and self-confidence got me to these auditions, and I am proud to be who I
am.

I don’t care if I make it or not. (talking about the audition) because either way I will
always be who I am, and I also will always have respect.
I would like to thank you so much for this opportunity of proving to myself and everyone
else that we can all be better people and guiding us to the better side of earth.
Sincerely,

Marla Y., Age 14
P.S. The words in the song really got me! – WORDS CAN EMPOWER AND HEAL!

JOURNAL FOR LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS
Liane Brouillette, Professor, School of Education
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697-5500 – March 4, 2020

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE PROFESSOR’S TESTIMONIAL LETTER

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to recommend Al Johnson’s “Bullies Be Gone! Project” workshop for
teachers.

For the last three years, Al Johnson has presented his anti-bullying workshop to
aspiring teachers in my Arts and Human Development class at the University of
California, Irvine. Having been a special education teacher for 25 years, he is keenly
aware of how vulnerable middle and high school students can be to intimidation and
abuse by peers. His presentation builds awareness of how attitude, words and posture
can be used to discourage mistreatment when adults are not present.

Critical to these sessions are poems Al Johnson has written to exemplify the attitude
with which a student should respond when surprised, intimidated, or confused by the
aggression of peers. Students learn how, without using force, to utilize words and body
language to confidently disengage from a confrontational situation. At the same time, students learn
to be alert to threats in their environment. Using true stories, Johnson warns students of
the danger of being constantly intent on one’s cell phone while walking down the
sidewalk or across the street.

The aspiring teachers in my class have repeatedly expressed their appreciation for a
workshop on helping students who may have been bullied and who are looking for ways
to avoid continued victimization. Rehearsing how students may respond to common
forms of aggression helps them to develop non-violent responses they can fall back on
when others try to intimidate them.
Best regards,

Liane Brouillette, Professor
liane.brouillette@uci.edu

Testimonial Letter for Mr. Al Johnson

“It is with pleasure and great enthusiasm that I write this Testimonial for Mr. Al Johnson.
I have known and worked with Mr. Johnson on numerous projects for over 31 years
evolving around the vital issue of Building youth self-esteem, Safety for youth and
community members, Martial Arts-Self Defense Classes and workshops, Stranger
Danger Project and most recently the Bullies Be Gone project.

Mr. Johnson is renowned for his ability to positively connect with persons of all ages. I
have witnessed this firsthand in many settings from workshops with California Park and
Recreation Society, Local Schools, Staff Trainings, Children and Adult Classes etc. Mr.
Johnson truly puts his passion for sharing his Knowledge and Skill into practice in his
captivating work that engages participants on many levels of learning. It is truly an
honor and a privilege to work with Mr. Al Johnson, on all issues impacting the wellbeing
of the community.

7-3-2017 Idris Jassim Al-Oboudi, nineteen86 to Feb-2017 Supervisor, Manager and
Acting Director of The City of Manhattan Beach parks and Recreation Department
Currently City of Carson Director of Community Services / Parks and Recreation”
Idris Jassim Al-Oboudi

City of Carson
Director of Community Services /
Parks and Recreation
http://recreation.carson.ca.us
Executive Director of the Carson Community Foundation
WWW.CARSONCF.ORG