Katherine Tillit-Powell
President & Founder
Hello!
Hope you all are finding yourselves well. A little about myself...I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Both of my parents are from Lima, Peru. I have one older brother. I am married to my amazing husband, Tom, and we have two wonderful daughters together. I love my family and the Lord with all my heart and soul.
We've all experienced tough times in life, and well, I've definitely had my fair share. Growing up wasn't always peachy. I will spare you a lot of the details though and save them for another time because I can seriously write a book about it! So, I will proceed to tell you a somewhat shorter version of my testimony.
Before the age of 9, life as a young child was, for the most part, pretty good. But it was at the age of 9, when my world was turned upside down. It was then that I experienced a trauma that would be with me for the rest of my life. A trauma that I, quite frankly, would rather not discuss on here, but it did result in my mother divorcing my father. And although it took some time, it was only through God’s help that I was able to work through that trauma and eventually forgive my father.
During my elementary school years, I was pretty mellow. Well, I was super hyper as a kid, but what I mean is that I hadn't hit my rebellious stage yet. Once I got to 7th grade, when I was 12, that was when everything changed. Most of my 7th grade year was actually pretty awesome, however, things started to get a bit rocky towards the end of that year. I was always the one getting in trouble in class for not paying attention, talking and joking around with my friends. Although my grades weren't the best, I managed to get through the school year just fine.
It was during my eighth-grade year, when I was 13, when things got worse. I then began skipping school, smoking cigarettes, sneaking out at night, and running away. One of the times that I had run away for a couple of days, it was only by the grace of God that after relentless searching by mother and grandparents, that they just so happened to drive up onto a street where I was at and found me. I got in the car, and they took me home. The following day, my mom asked me if I wanted to hang out with my favorite cousin at her home. I was so surprised that she asked me that after what I had just put her through! I was also never really allowed to hang out at my friend's houses, let alone sleep over there, so, I was thrilled that she let me hang out with my cousin.
The next day, my mom had gone to pick me up from my cousin’s house. Upon entering the car, I noticed that my dad, brother, and grandparents were also in the car. I thought it was kind of strange seeing them all in there, but I didn't overthink it since we all hung out often. We then all went to go grab something to eat. After lunch, we headed over to my grandparents' house. We all got out of the car, started to head into the house, and then, like 5 minutes later, we all walked back out of the house and got back into the car and drove off. Now, I was confused. Something just didn't seem right. It was way too quiet in the car with the 6 of us in there.
Once we got onto the freeway, I finally asked, “Soo, where are we going?” There was a moment of silence, a very awkward silence. And then, the most dreadful words came out of my parents' mouth, "We are sending you away.” Uuum, come again? I thought. I was dumbfounded, utterly shocked, and devastated. All I wanted to do at that moment was jump out of the car. I probably would have had I not been sandwiched in between my grandparents in the back seat and driving on the freeway. But there was nothing I could do at that moment, but sulk. Then, it all came together. I realized that the reason why I was asked to go to my cousin's house the day before was, not to just "hang out", but it was so that my parents could pack up all my things.
So, now that I knew that I was being sent away, the question was now, WHERE? Another moment of awkward silence. And then my mom said, “You’re going to a program in Ensenada, Mexico.” MEXICO?!! Wow. Not only am I being sent away, but I am being sent away to another country?! The next 5 hours as we headed to Mexico were absolutely grueling. I couldn't help but think of all my friends. No one would know where I went. I couldn't even call them to let them know or say goodbye. I didn't know how long I would be gone for, nor did I know exactly what this place was like.
We finally arrived at the program’s location in Ensenada, Mexico. The facility was surrounded with concrete walls, 20 feet or more in height, and a big, wide, red wooden gate in the front. It looked as if we were off the beaten path somewhere in Mexico. As we walked up, the big, red wooden gates had started to open up. A couple of people began walking out towards us. They greeted us and gave me a few minutes to say my goodbyes to my family. The staff then asked me to follow them in. My family had been asked by the staff to step into their office briefly, but they did NOT allow them to tour the premises. Their excuse? It was too late. I believe it was like 5pm and the sun was still out. Was it a red flag that they didn’t allow them inside for a tour? Absolutely! I do wish my family had made more of an effort to go inside to see what this place was all about before leaving me there.
One of the girls in the program, that was in a higher-level position, along with a staff member, had taken me to this trailer, which looked much like a classroom trailer. This trailer was the sleeping quarters of about 10-15 girls. This was also where the bathroom and showers were. They asked me to go to the bathroom, remove my clothes, and to put on the clothing they gave me, which was this over-sized, white, cotton t-shirt, along with blue, high-water sweatpants, and sandals. Yes, sandals. They took away our tennis shoes in order to keep us from trying to run away. I was to only wear their T-shirt, sweatpants, and sandals every single day. They inventoried through all my luggage and confiscated everything I had, except for my socks, undergarments, pj's, hairbrush, toothbrush/paste, facewash, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, stuffed animal, and Bible. So, they took away everything I brought such as my own clothes, tennis shoes, hairdryer, shaving razors, hair styling products, purse, make-up and accessories, jewelry, mirrors, nail clippers, tweezers, pager, cd player/cd's…You name it, they took it all away.
I was still incredibly confused as to what this place was. It took me a few days, but I then realized that what I got sent to was an all-girls boarding school, lock down facility, so-called behavior modification program, called Casa by the Sea. The name may sound nice, but this place was far from nice. It was part of a chain of facilities under the organization called WWASP (World Wide Association Specialty Programs). Just google it and you will see what I mean. In 2024, there was a Netflix documentary that came out about this program. The documentary was called “The Program”. If you have a chance, check it out. Additionally, Dr. Phil did a special episode on this program in 2013 called “Children Sent Away: Trapped and Tortured?”.
Upon my arrival at Casa, one of the upper-level girls was assigned to watch over me closely and inform me about all of the rules. One of those rules was that I was only allowed to talk to her and the staff members. As a new girl, I was not allowed to talk to, nor look at, any of the other girls in my group. If I had to ask the staff a question, I first had to get permission to speak by raising my hand. I had to be acknowledged by the staff first before speaking out. I had to get permission to sit, stand, and to even look left or right when we were in line. There was an all-boy’s facility on the other side of the property. If a boy walked to the dumpster, which sat in between both facilities, to throw out the trash, the staff would say to us, “Chicas, miran abajo!” Which meant, “Girls, look down!” If we were caught looking at the boy, we would get a Category 2 consequence and made to sit for several hours facing a wall. If we didn’t eat all the food on our plate, we would also be given a Category 2 consequence. The rules were so absurd that we weren't even allowed to crack our knuckles because they said that it was a "self-inflicted injury." If someone were to crack their knuckles, they would get one of the worst consequences, which meant being dropped from the highest-level position down to the lowest level position and having to start the program all over again. To give you an idea how devasting that consequence was, there were 6 levels, and after you reach the 6th level, you graduate from the program and get to go home. It takes YEARS to get to the 6th level. So, if you were on level 6 and were caught cracking your knuckles, you get dropped to level 1 and had to start all over again. There were some other crazy rules like, if you went to the bathroom, you were only allowed to have 3 squares of toilet paper if you went #1, and only 5 squares of toilet paper if you went #2. The shower water was either scorching hot or freezing cold. In one of the rooms, where we had our independent school study, there was a sliding glass door that looked out into the ocean. We would get in so much trouble if we were caught looking out that window. Still to this day, I never understood why we weren’t allowed to look out that window. The list of crazy rules just goes on and on.
None of the staff members there were licensed or certified at all to help troubled teens. Every single person in the program was forced to speak ONLY Spanish. Out of a couple hundred girls, I was the only one that actually knew Spanish. The staff members were stoked, but they also gave me more of a hard time if I was to speak out in English. There was a Spanish teacher there that taught everyone Spanish and that was how all the other girls ended up learning.
Throughout the 9 months that I was there, I wasn't allowed to step foot off the premises. I never saw my family once. I was only allowed to write them letters. And even then, all your letters were read by the staff before they were mailed out. They did that so that the parents didn't find out what was really going on at the program. I remember writing my mom a 5-page front and back letter about all the horrible things that they were doing there. She told me that she never received that letter.
When you reach your 3rd level, you get the privilege to speak over the phone with your parents for 15 minutes, once a month thereafter, but you were only able to speak to them with the staff member sitting right next to you. It took me about 7 months to get to my 3rd level.
The program had one goal in mind, and it was to make money, even if that meant lying to us and our parents, and mentally, emotionally, or physically abusing us. The horror stories of the program are endless. My parents spent over $18,000 in 9 months on this program. The program did a very good job in trying to brainwash us with the way they did things and the seminars that we had to attend there.
After 9 long months, my mom finally pulled me out of the program in August of 2000. The program tried to convince my mom to keep me there, but due to her financial situation and my grandfather dying from cancer, she pulled me out.
On September 10th, 2004, Casa by the Sea was raided by Mexican authorities, and shut down by the Mexican government after cases of abuse.
When I left Casa by the Sea, I got out in time for my freshman year of high school and was enrolled at a Catholic school. I was so scared of going back to that horrific program, so I tried to be on my best behavior, meanwhile, I was still trying to recover from the effects of the program. Unfortunately, my good behavior only lasted about 5 months and then my behavior got worse. I then started smoking pot and drinking alcohol.
Due to the change in my behavior, my mom thought it would be best for me to change schools. So, she enrolled me at my local public high school. I was so excited though because I was able to see all my old friends. I also ended up making some new ones as well. Unfortunately, my friends there were also not the greatest influences, and I unfortunately began to experiment with some other drugs.
My mom then began to seek resources in order to help me get back on a good track. I attended two meetings of the ACTION family counseling program which was held at that high school. At one point, my mom spoke to the man who founded and led the ACTION program. She began to talk to him about our current situation and he then recommended that she send me away to what would become the 2nd program.
One night, at the end of my freshman year, at 2 o'clock in the morning, two big-looking people from an escort company came to my house, got me out of bed, and gave me five minutes to say my good-byes to my family. I was then put in a van, flown to Pensacola, Florida, and driven to the program's location in Jay, Florida. I was told by my mom that I would be there for 1 month, but I was kept there for 2 years and 2 months. This program was called Victory Christian Academy. It was also an all-girls boarding school, lock-down facility, behavior modification program. It was somewhat similar to the first program, however, it had some differences. This was a Christian program. Which, for me, was nice since they taught a lot about God. It was still tough being there though, away from your family, friends, and basically your whole life, again. I couldn't call or see them when I wanted to. I could only write to them, and even then, all of our letters were still read by the staff prior to it being mailed out.
When I arrived at this program, it was like déjà vu. The staff members took me to the bathroom so that I could shower and give them my clothes and tennis shoes. I was made to wear a big yellow shirt, knee-length skirt, tights, and heels. They inventoried though all my things and confiscated everything. The rules were very pretty similar to the first program, but again it still had some differences.
While newly there, I kept thinking about when my mom told me that I would be there for one month. My gut feeling and previous experience was telling me that I would be there for a lot longer. Because of this, I was desperate to speak to one of the staff members about how long I’d be there for. I finally got the chance to sit down with one of them to talk. I asked her how long I would be there for. And that was when she told me the devastating news. She said, “The program’s contract is for 1 year.” 1 year?! Oh my God, this can’t be, I thought. I was incredibly devastated. I cried and cried. I was angry. I felt deceived. All the emotions that I had felt from when I was sent to the 1st program, was now multiplied tenfold. The feelings of being helpless and trapped.
A few days after my arrival, all I kept thinking about was how I could possibly run away. I just couldn’t bear the thought of staying there. So, one day, I was helping set up the dining area for dinner. I kept on eyeing these double glass doors leading to the outside. I waited, looked around to see if anyone was looking, and BOOM! I bolted right through those doors. I ran as fast as I possibly could in my big yellow shirt, heels, knee-length skirt, and tights! Within seconds, 5 girls started running after me. I had made it to the street and realized that there was absolutely nowhere I could go or hide. We were in the middle of nowhere. There was nothing but cotton fields!
Shortly after, the girls and some of the staff members caught up to me. I didn't want to go back inside. I ended up getting brought back in by the same escort guy that picked me up from my house. The escort guy and his mother-in-law, who was the program director’s wife, sat me down and asked me what in the world I was thinking. I sat there quietly, shrugged my shoulders and said, “I didn't know.” I was still so angry that I was at the program.
The first 6 months of being at Victory, I did not take seriously at all neither followed the rules. After being at the program for 6 months, my family was allowed to come visit me for a few days. I was so excited that they were coming! A few weeks before my visit, a friend of mine at the program was planning on running away and asked if I wanted to join her and one other girl. I told her “No way!” But I said that I would not tell anyone of their plan. One day, the two girls followed through with their plan, but they were caught the following day. Someone at the program had told the staff that I knew about their plan. As a result, the staff reprimanded me for not having told them about their plan to run away and was therefore given the same consequences as the girls that had tried to run away. They even cancelled my 6 months visit with my family! I was absolutely devastated. I could not bear the thought of not being able to see my family. THAT became my turning point. I got down on my knees and prayed for God to help me to do what is right.
I was 15 1/2 during that time at the program and it was then that I realized that I was there for myself and not for anybody else. I needed to stop trying to please my friends and instead start trying to change my life around for the better so that I could go home. I prayed for God to forgive me of my sins and to take a hold of my life; to save me; to be my Lord and Savior. One month later, at 7 months of being at the program, I reached the highest position and maintained that position for the remaining year and a half that I was there. I became one of the most trusted girls there.
Yes, the rules at the program were absolutely absurd and they were very controlling of what you can, or can't, say and do. Yes, I missed out on 3 more crucial years of my childhood, missing out on my 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th birthdays, holidays, and life events. Yes, I strongly believe that no child should ever be sent to these types of places because I believe there are other healthier methods in helping a troubled teen. However, I can honestly say that if God hadn't intervened in my life at the time of the 2nd program, I would either be dead or in jail.
In August 2003, shortly after I turned 17, my mom pulled me out of the program, just in time for my senior year of high school. At that point my relationship with my family was great, as it still is today, thanks to God. A year or so after graduating from high school, I obtained my Real Estate license and continued to work in that business.
Things seemed to be going fairly well, but unfortunately, they ended up taking a drastic turn in 2008, shortly before I turned 22. That was when I hit the Hollywood party scene. It started out with me going out once or twice a week to going out 7 days a week! While I was out, I began to drink. As time went on, I not only drank socially but I also started experimenting with drugs again. During that time, however, I felt God trying to tug at my heart. I knew that what I was doing was wrong. I took a real hard look at myself in the mirror, and I couldn't believe what I had become. After all that I went through, what the heck was I doing?! I thought. I was disgusted at what I saw.
In August 2008, a couple of weeks after turning 22, I went out to a daytime pool party at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Marina del Rey. I had some drinks while I was there. A couple hours prior to driving back home, I stopped drinking to sober up. It was about 9pm when I felt sober enough to take the 45-minute drive back home. About 25 minutes into the drive, I caught myself starting to doze off. I did everything I could to try to keep myself awake like rolling down the window and playing loud music. I even called a friend of mine at that time and asked if I can take a power nap at their house before driving any further. Right before I was about to exit the freeway, I dozed off again, but this time, I ended up clipping a car on the freeway. My car spun out of control, and I ended up crashing into center divider. I completely totaled my car. Miraculously, I walked away without a scratch and no one else was hurt. THANK GOD.
I managed to pull my car over to the shoulder in order to give my insurance information to the person whose car I clipped. About 15 minutes later, the police showed up at the scene. They started to take down the report and asked if I had been drinking. I told them that I did drink earlier in the day. So, they gave me a breathalyzer test and, well, I failed. I got slapped with a DUI and taken to jail that night. This experience would soon turn out to be another major turning point in my life. I took what had happened very seriously and, over the course of the next few years, really tried to make the changes necessary in order to better my life.
In 2013, I participated as a contestant in Joyce Giraud’s Queen of the Universe pageant, representing France. In case you were wondering, my ancestors were French and someone else had already been chosen for Miss Peru that year, soo that's why I was chosen for France. In 2015, however, I was chosen to represent Peru in same pageant. Anyway, the pageant opened my eyes to a whole new world; the world of charities and helping the less fortunate, something of which I was very passionate about. I have always known that God had a reason for why I went through what I went through. I've always had the desire in helping troubled youth and the less fortunate. Therefore, I went in search of volunteer programs whose focus was to help the less fortunate and/or troubled youth. I then became a part of the homeless outreach team at the church that I was attending at the time. For the next year or so, I remained a part of that team. I also started volunteering at the Midnight Mission on Skid Row and also joined other volunteer opportunities. Helping and serving others is one of the most amazing and fulfilling feelings in the world!
One night, towards the end of 2013, I headed to a Sunday night church service. I pulled into the parking lot, parked my car, and just sat there thinking and thinking, trying to figure out what, after all that I had experienced in life up to that point, would the Lord want me to do in life that would make a positive impact. I knew that it had to be something in the realm of helping the less fortunate and/or troubled youth. I had thoughts of building my own homeless shelter, but then I realized that there was just no way that I could do that considering my financial circumstance. Before stepping out of my car, I prayed for God to give me clarity as to what His plan was for me in this life. I walked into church and, as I sat there, the light bulb went off in my head. I thought, well, since I can't really afford to build my own homeless shelter, how about bridging that gap between homeless people and shelters by reaching out to the homeless on the streets and transporting them to a shelter where they can find rest and begin to rebuild their lives! So, with that vision in mind, in March 2015, Rise Up LA officially became incorporated as a non-profit organization. There is still a lot of work to do, but it's all about the journey.
I have always believed in and loved the Lord, but as you know, I didn't always walk in His footsteps. Throughout the years, I learned and grew more and more in the Christian faith. I'm still learning and growing! Thanks to God's amazing grace, forgiveness, love and mercy, I am forgiven and redeemed! Just like the lyrics of this song goes, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I am found. Was blind, but now I see." I give God all the glory in helping me transform my life around for the better. I don't live my life with any regrets because if it wasn't for all the trials, tribulations, hurts and heartache that I've experienced, I wouldn't be where I am at today.