- Kris Crawford
Caged 360 Magazine - Fighting For A Cause
An Interview with Knock Out Dog Fighting
On Monday July 26th, a few of the ladies of Knock Out Dog Fighting took time out of their day to work with some of the young girls at a Boys & Girls Club on the East side of San Jose, California. Knock Out Dog Fighting volunteers Kris Crawford with her pit bull Tahoe, and fitness expert Mona Liza "MO" Reyes spoke to the young girls about self-esteem issues, embracing their greatness, and finding their inner-strength and purpose.
The Knock Out Dog Fighting youth intervention program identifies the underlying reasons kids and young adults are abusing or fighting dogs and provides resources and intervention programs to address those issues. Team members work on the ground level to help under-served and at-risk youth make better choices, develop empathy for animals, self-respect and healthy lifestyles.
Studies show that while girls and boys experience a decrease in self-esteem during junior high school years, girls' self-esteem tends to drop more over time. Low self-esteem can lead to school failure, substance abuse and other at-risk behaviors, including violence towards people or animals. We work with this age group because the key years before and during adolescence are critical in girls' development and many carry behaviors and beliefs from this time into adulthood.
In order to have the courage to stand up and fight for those who have no voice, these girls first must have the courage and self-confidence to do it for themselves.
Our presentation consisted of nutritional information and a mini fitness camp put on by Go Team MO fitness expert and Knock Out Dog Fighting team member Mona Liza "MO" Reyes. She was fun, engaging, inspiring and she MO'tivated the girls to accept the possibilities that lie within each of them. MO, along with helpers Elaina Maxwell, Nichole Brinkman and Leslie Hurlburt Wilcox, showed the young girls, most who come from low-income families, how to stay physically fit without having a gym membership.
Being physically fit not only increases physical strength it also increases inner strength. It instills self value, a positive body image and self acceptance.
MO is passionate about what she does and it shows! She is giving the young girls in our community the tools to achieve their full potential and become strong, self-confident women! She MO'tivates them to be MO better!
Knock Out Dog Fighting's goal is to inspire young girls to become physically fit and develop a sense of individualism, leadership, and self-confidence so they can say no to peer pressure and at-risk activities and are prepared to join us in our fight to stop cruelty and abuse....and we're having a blast doing it!
Kris and Tahoe
Mona Liza "MO" Reyes
Kris and Tahoe
Nutrition Discussion
Click HERE to see more photos from the presentation
