2108 Ticonderoga Dr
San Mateo, CA, 94402
April 26th, 2010
Reverend Glenda Hope
249 Niagara Avenue
San Francisco, 94112
Dear Reverend Hope:
This letter is in regards to the interview we conducted on April 12th, 2010. I would like to personally thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to speak with us and answer our questions. I understand that you are a busy person, and I can't express how grateful I am in having the privilege to speak with you. Both my partner, Nolan and I could have never finished this project or be as inspired as we are about this topic without the information that you have provided to us. Needless to say, I learned a lot of eye opening things about prostitution and about the misconceptions, lack of awareness and the social stigmas that keep this extremely serious issue in the shadows.
There were many things that I learned during our conversation, including the reality and perspective that women who are involved in prostitution, which helped me truly understand where they were coming from and what kind of environment they were brought up in. Prior to this realization, I honestly thought that most prostitutes did this voluntarily, to make ends meet, so to speak, but I would have never guessed that it was because of their situation and because they had no choice and were exposed to this type of lifestyle so early, that it was embedded and internalized into their very own lifestyle.
I would have never truly understood where they were coming from without our interview. Thank you so much and I hope all will be well with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Patrick E. Domingo
Belmont , CA 94002
Nolan McPeek-Bechtold
2656 Comstock Circle,
April 27, 2009
Reverend Glenda Hope
249 Niagara Avenue,
San Francisco, CA 94112
Dear Reverend Hope,
Thank you very much for allowing me to interview you last Monday, April 12. I feel like I gained a unique perspective in the hour and a half that my partner, Patrick Domingo, and I spoke with you. Prostitution is such a misunderstood justice issue. Unlike many other horrible injustices in society, people are fully aware of prostitution and its presence in San Francisco, but know very little about the lives of the women on the streets.
Everything you said opened up my eyes slightly more to the issue. I was especially amazed by the process the women must go through to change their lives. I always assumed it would be hard to change initially, but over time it would become easier. I never considered the true challenge of switching to a completely different life style. I was also shocked by the lives the prostitutes live. The drug addictions and the physical abuse are terrible. Their lives are so different from my own that it is hard to imagine what they think and how they feel.
The strength you spoke of that prevails in all women who escape prostitution interested me the most. Even in my privileged life I have experienced times when I wanted to stop and take the easy path, but my desire to succeed has always pushed me to put my head down and work. It is clear that these women possess this strength on an incredible and inspirational level.
Thank you again for taking the time to meet with Patrick and I. You are truly an expert in your area and a source of inspiration. I hope you can continue to raise awareness and represent the prostitutes of San Francisco.
Sincerely,
Nolan McPeek-Bechtold
Student, Junipero Serra High School
