Hear stories from some of our most inspirational voices — you!
Pictured: Paula recording at WFSU.
Listen: Week of December 19, 2019
Transcript
What inspires you from WFSU Public Media? Here's this week's Voices That Inspire. My name is Paula DeBulles Johnson. I'm a wife, mother, friend, daughter, and community advocate. I created the Capitol City Youth Development Corporation because of my commitment to youth. It was working in the juvenile justice system. And the thing that alarmed me was that girls were starting to commit crimes at the same rate as boys. And I couldn't figure out why they were committing crimes. They were almost equal to boys. So I asked some girlfriends of mine after I did a little research. I said, look, I want to do a girls conference. And they were like, what? And I said, I want a conference for girls. We have no money. A one-day conference. Let's talk to them about the things that are important to us, the things that help us make it. We had 300 plus girls show up on the campus of Florida and in university. And that was our first conference. So the conference was all about girls. I established the Capitol City Youth Development Corporation next year. We did another couple of conferences. And then we expanded. My family keeps me inspired. They're the great motivators for what we do. That's giving back to the communities through our service, through our training, giving of our time, gifts, and talents. Our girls are really our North Star. I just want people to know personally that our gifts are truly not our own. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. And I want people to remember that, especially as we think about this holiday season. We may give to a favorite charity. We may spend some time with older people that may not have family, but remember our young people. There are a lot of things that they need beyond toys. I am Paula DeBole Johnson. I work with Leon County Government. And I also am the founder and executive director of the Capitol City Youth Development Corporation. You're listening to voices that inspire.
Paula DeBoles-Johnson - Remember Our Young People - There Are A Lot Of Things They Need Beyond Toys
Paula DeBoles-Johnson is committed to youth. She created the Capital City Youth Development Corporation. While she worked in the juvenile justice system, Paula observed that girls were beginning to commit crimes at higher rates. She wondered why, but also wanted to tackle the issue. Along with her friends, she decided to create a conference for girls to talk to them about the things them help women make it. This first conference helped her to develop more programs and to expand her efforts in assisting youth. In thinking about our own influence during the holiday season, she wants us to remember that our young people need many things beyond toys.