after pulse I remember seeing all the
images on TV and I felt helpless like I
wanted to help but I no idea how oh we
are so excited to tell you this story
last week we first introduced you to 12
year old Tessa Weiss right after the
pols tragedy she actually went to the
memorial looking for inspiration to help
our community heal and keeping those
images of pulse in her mind
Tessa later came up with a great idea
that would benefit the Orlando Police
Department in the end she helps even
raise money to help create a more
comfortable space for victims and
witnesses connected to crimes and we are
so happy to have Tessa Weiss join us now
on our show welcome you look beautiful
she is ready for this you've been
talking with the Orlando Police
Department for the last week or so and
you are just so well-spoken I have to
tell you that right off the bat it's
just exciting to hear you talk so let's
let you tell us a little bit about this
project for people who maybe haven't
heard about it yet thank you
rooms of refuge is my personal
organization that renovates police
interrogation rooms to be a more safe
and comfortable environment rather than
an intimidating one for victims and
witnesses of crimes tell their stories
that's amazing and I see I think we have
some video of what you've decorated this
room was just kind of blase and then you
made it into this so you have all this
beautiful furniture you have plants kind
of what was the idea the inspiration for
the colors and and the decor the reason
it's so yellow and bright is because I
didn't want the victim to feel
intimidated or because they're talking
about a tragic situation that they
probably didn't want to be in and so I'm
not going to put it all in black or red
or something that's very bold so yellow
is the perfect option because I also my
logo programs of refuge is a lighthouse
and the light coming from it so I wanted
to add a pop of light into their
brightness were you certainly our array
of sunshine here so tell us a little bit
about your reaction because I know you
went to the polls from Memorial right
after the tragedy how did you feel when
you were there I did not stay
too long because it was very
overwhelming I mean people died there
it's a pretty it's a bunch of emotions
so it's a bunch of emotions it's not
just one feeling right and then you kind
of got inspired though right create this
definitely the thing that inspired me
the most was probably seeing the just
the things on TV it really distribute
something in my mind so I wanted to make
sure that I helped and you certainly got
results how much money did you raise for
this room a little over twelve hundred
dollars from family and friends and also
a bit of Christmas money but mostly
birthday money too I love that your own
money I love that that's all the time
talking to kids in our area who you know
wanted to do something really important
with their own money and adults can
learn a really valuable lesson from that
too so you got some high praise from
Orlando Police Chief John Mina how does
that make you feel it makes me feel very
accomplished because chief Mina is so
brave and courageous especially coming
from someone like him right
yeah and though we did not set out on
this journey for recognition it makes it
all the better because then my
organization gets out there and people
know about it I reach out to a couple
other police stations but I've yet to
hear back from them so hopefully they'll
see this and maybe check their inboxes
and that's awesome and I bet a lot of
baby kids or their own summer break
they're probably watching right now and
they're thinking I'm 10 11 12 years old
there's nothing I can really do but
you're 12 what would you tell kids at
home who maybe want to make a difference
and just kind of don't know how I tell
them just research things research what
makes you passionate do be yourself
because I I didn't just search up
anything and be like oh oh oh I want to
make a difference right no you have to
find something that actually inspires
you half you have to find something that
rides something up in you and do you
have future aspirations to do more what
what do you what would you like to see
come of all this this is actually really
cool
because I want to be a journalist I love
researching and writing on current
events and I need a bit of practice
working with the teleprompter my mom's
trying I want to become a journalist I
hate to break it to you there Kirsten
but we're out of a job if she comes in
oh no doubt about that
and I saw at the end of the little video
it was the I think maybe the
surveillance camera or something like
that you were doing your happy dance you
were just twirling you were just being a
twelve-year-old what was what was going
through your mind where you're just
dancing in that room just happiness or
it's not just happiness it's excitement
and knowing that I'm going to be making
a difference like people are going to be
coming in that room and I'm going to be
helping rooms a refuge you will be going
places it'll help people who have been
through tragic things it makes me feel
excited happy and most of all just a
mixture of everything ready to keep
going mhm
she's got a lot going through no
absolutely that's a ways this year with
us we appreciate your time and your
mom's time yes it's like behind the
camera they're taking pictures proud mom
over there well thank you so much Tessa
thank you