The Power of "Yes."
By Kimberly Dougherty
Most lawyers like me are no strangers to feelings of overwhelm. Add a heaping of personal obligations such as our families, friendships, philathropic and community pursuits, and professional development, our already full plates can easily become overflowing and unmanageable.
Despite this reality, I am a proponent of saying, “yes.” It’s a mindset shift and one that I encourage my professional colleages (and others) to consider. The power of saying “yes” refers to embracing all opportunities and being open to new experiences. Saying “yes” can positively impact our overall wellbeing, and can lead to a more fulfilling life. To be clear, saying “yes” is not agreeing to unhealthy behavior or blind acceptance. Instead, it is giving intentional and thoughtful consideration to possibilities. I have found that when I start from a position of “yes,” I discover barriers that I may have unknowingly placed around myself, therefore stunting my personal or professional growth. Defaulting to a position of “no” stagnates us.
As a member of MATA’s Wellness Committee, I know how important it is to help my colleagues discover approaches to greater balance and mental wellness. To prove my point, I’m sharing a professional victory derived by saying “yes,” even though the timing was inopportune and beyond difficult.
Here is my story of proposed Maryland House Bill 497:
This past February, I was asked to provide written and remote testimony via video on a proposed law brought forth in Maryland.
HB497, also titled the Preventing Abduction in Youth Transport Act, would prohibit the practice of youth transport companies legally kidnapping and restraining kids to take them to troubled teen programs.
The request arrived very last minute, and during an overscheduled and busy week filled with court and filing deadlines, and several depositions. My initial inclination was, “I don’t have time to fit this into my schedule.” Surely other legal advocates in Maryland will testify in support of the bill, right?
As I thought about the potential impact of the bill, I paused. The proposed bill would regulate transportation companies that profit from the $30 billion, unregulated “troubled” teen industry. If passed, it would also provide civil remedies for violations of those regulations. Absconding transportation companies aligned with the transport of children being sent to troubled teen facilities, enter homes in the dead of night and rip unsuspecting teenagers from their beds, physically restrain them with bonds or chemicals, and transport them against their will to a “troubled” teen facility often located states away.
Legislative reform has been a defining cornerstone of Justice Law Collaborative. As lawyers, we uphold the law, however, the law also requires amendments and updates to mirror an ever-evolving and modern society. My team and I actively pursue new legislation when applicable to protect the rights of individuals and to further safeguard the justice system. HB 497 signaled another moment in which my experience as a troubled teen industry lawyer, background in social work and social justice, and work in legislative reform seemed relevant and much needed.
I thought about the horrifying experiences our clients, who have come to us seeking justice after surviving experiences within the troubled teen network, have endured. I heard their voices in my head and knew I had to say “yes” to Delegate Vaughn Stewart’s request for help.
Saying “yes” to testify in the Maryland legislature on troubled teen industry bill
On a dreary February morning, I woke extra early. On a razor-thin deadline and against the clock, I wrote and submitted my testimony in support of HB 497.
A few days later, the hearing began. Delegate Stewart addressed the issue and explained how the bill was necessary to ensure the safety and protection of children. The legislators in Maryland were shocked and outraged that such conduct was happening within their state. Live testimony was provided by two survivors and one local child safety organization, followed by remote testimony.
Alongside us all was Paris Hilton, celebrity heiress and troubled teen industry survivor, who has been instrumental in efforts to spotlight the dark side of the troubled teen industry. Her testimony and experiences have proven pivotal in the creation and passing of the federal Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, which was signed into law in December 2024.
Paris provided heartbreaking testimony regarding her experience of being ripped from her bed in the middle of the night, physically restrained, handcuffed, blindfolded, dragged screaming and confused into a van, and transported many states away to a facility where she (and countless others) experienced physical, sexual, psychological and medication abuse, isolation, and other harms. This happened to her. To Paris Hilton. It also has and continues to happen to hundreds of other young adults who have fallen prey to the troubled teen network. Listening to her and the other survivors was heart-wrenching.
The legislature then called for my testimony. What was most surprising was that I was the only attorney to testify.
My testimony included studies concluding that absconding transportation companies are committing acts akin to child abuse, kidnapping, and false imprisonment. As a lawyer with years of experience litigating these cases, I shared my perspective on the need not only for the regulations sought, but for civil remedies for violations of those regulations to ensure survivors the ability to attain justice and accountability. Currently, there are none, and regulations have limits…IF they are even enforced. I also shared my appreciation to the brave survivors who publicly shared traumatic experiences and who answered Delegate Stewart’s call to testify in support of the bill.
Testifying in the Maryland legislature on HB 497
Results: The power of “yes” = legislative victory
After exiting the hearing, I proceeded with my hectic week, and returned to being deeply entrenched in case work and other responsibilities. In April of this year, I received an email from Delegate Stewart. He wrote to tell me that the Maryland bill (HB497) was passed into law, thus becoming the second law passed in the U.S., that regulates these types of absconding transportation operations.
Delegate Stewart’s letter said: “I’m so excited to share this victory with you. The law will protect children and youth in our state from harmful transportation practices and empower survivors and their families to seek justice through the legal system. Even though it only targets one aspect of the broader troubled teen industry, it is a critical first step towards a future in which no Maryland child must endure its abuse. Your advocacy and testimony were invaluable in raising awareness of this critical issue, and we could not have crafted this legislation without your perspective and feedback. I truly appreciate your dedication to this cause.”
Saying “yes” to Delegate Stewart was not only important to me professionally, but doing so now provides greater safety for the young adults and children lured in by troubled teen facilities. Saying “yes” can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal or professional growth. It teaches us the importance of embracing the unknown, challenging assumptions, and tapping our own potential, pushing us out of our comfort zone.
So when asked by a colleague to go to an event or grab coffee; by your kids to join them outside or to Chipotle; by a friend who wants to go for a walk; or a request from a potential client to discuss a case that may seem challenging at first blush, consider first saying “yes” as you will never know the power …until you use it.
Media:
WMAR https://www.wmar2news.com/local/paris-hilton-testifies-in-maryland-general-assembly-committee
Read more here: The Power Of Yes: Why The Yes Mindset Leads To Innovation And Creates Great Leaders