Letter from Carolyn

I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to introduce to you the Ortralla LuWone Mosley Foundation, Inc (dba. Trella's Foundation).

The journey for this foundation cannot be told without making you familiar with why it was founded. I founded Trella's Foundation in 2005 honoring the memory of my daughter Ortralla "Trella" Mosley. On March 28, 2003, Trella's life was ended at the hands of her sixteen-year-old ex-boyfriend in the hallway of their high school. This was Texas' first on-campus homicide related to teen dating violence. Trella was only 15.

This horrific murder created a public outcry and in 2007, the Texas State House of Representatives passed House Bill 121 which requires all schools to be educated in regards to prevention and awareness of teen dating violence/abuse (TDV/TDA). Prevention policies, legal options and support for teens and their families dealing with teen dating violence/abuse must be taught in every independent school district in the state of Texas.

Since its incorporation in 2005, Trella's Foundation is the first progressive teen dating violence/abuse outreach program in the state of Texas and is serving over 50,000 teens. We are committed to help educate and inform teens of teen dating violence/abuse, within Austin and a 50-mile radius surrounding Travis County.

This organization mobilizes community resources through it's partnerships with The Travis County Sheriff's Office, Safe Place and by collaboration with the Love of Christi.

The Passion of the foundation comes from the love I have for my daughter. Losing my youngest daughter to teen dating violence/abuse, caused me to give the love that I shared with Ortralla to the community. The love I have for all my children has been a gift in my life. After loosing one "shiing star", the need of sharing this love with others, is the passion that I placed into the foundation to share with the world.

Using my voice in the community for social and political change I am serving as the Texas State Action Leader for MADE (Moms and Dads for Education to stop teen dating violence), participating as a member of the Victim Services Association, and serving on the advisory board for Theater Action Project in Austin. Most importantly, through Trella's Foundation, I developed a curriculum that has been approved by the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) and is being taught in their 9 halfway houses across the state of Texas. Our (Preventing Teen Dating Violence and Building Healthy Relationship) curriculum is also accepted by the Texas School Safety Center and placed on their web-site endorsed for instruction in all independent school districts across the state of Texas. Currently, I am pursuing a degree in Social and Criminal Justice and Psychology.

As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation's mission is to empower teens to choose healthy relationships through education, advocacy, and support; to enable teens to become survivor's of and advocates for, the prevention of teen dating violence/abuse; to mobilize community involvement through social and political change and outreach; to provide a safe haven for teens in abusive relationships; and to prevent the loss of life. As Founder/Executive Director of the Ortralla Foundation, I have one vision: a world where all teens choose healthy relationships, where love is learned and lives are saved.

Our services include: National and local speaking engagements in regards to the Prevention and Awareness of Teen Dating Violence/Abuse, Community Events, Counseling, Teaching a Curriculum on "Preventing Teen Dating Abuse and Building Healthy Relationships" (certificates given upon completion of the course, and graduation ceremonies), Teaching Parenting and Hygiene, First Call for Help (Crisis Liaison) for teens in active abusive relationships who need immediate assistance, School assemblies (Rally for Abuse Prevention), and Teens sessions. (Girls, Boys, Gay, Lesbian)

At present, our target population for the Ortralla LuWone Mosley Foundation is all female youth, specifically tweens/teens in the age range of 12-19 years, regardless of their socioeconomic status, academic achievements, personal life-style/fashion, religion or ethnic background, with or without parent/guardian, sexual orientation and school attended.

To all I give Love and to Love I give my all.

Sincerely,

Carolyn D. White-Mosley
Founder/Executive Director
The Ortralla LuWone Mosley Foundation Inc.
Office: (512) 299-2953
Email: cmosley@ortrallafoundation.org