Tuesday, April 29, 2025

THE LASTING IMPACT OF EMPOWERMENT SELF-DEFENSE

 



In a survey of 97 women who completed IMPACT Self-Defense —ranging from a few months to over 30 years ago—participants shared powerful stories of transformation. Across generations and eight IMPACT chapters, women reported feeling more confident, aware, and empowered, not only in everyday life but also during high stress moments.

1. The Power of Noticing: Awareness Skills for Safety
Participants emphasized that the training heightened their ability to see and evaluate their environments and relationships in new ways. From recognizing unsafe situations to identifying unhealthy relationship patterns, participants said they had a greater awareness of themselves, others, and the environment.

After learning in class how to recognize a dangerous/manipulative person, I realized the relationship I was in at the time was an unhealthy one. I am now in a different one where I feel happy and safe.”


2. The Power of Words: Verbal Skills for Confidence
One of the core lessons of IMPACT is the value of using your voice. Women learned to set boundaries, de-escalate confrontations, and advocate for themselves and others with confidence and clarity.

The discovery of my voice has probably been the most significant. I speak up now for what I want and know that my opinion matters. IMPACT has taught me how to say ‘no’ and the freedom to say ‘yes.’”


These verbal skills promote assertiveness in everyday interactions, whether at home, work, or in public spaces.

3. The Power of My Body: Physical Skills for Action
From learning to escape dangerous situations to projecting confidence, the physical techniques taught in IMPACT include not only striking and kicking but also breathing, strategic movement, and confident body language and are supported by a deep belief in being worth fighting for. Participants shared stories of using these skills to prevent harm or fight back when necessary.

The person I was with decided that he was going to wake me up in the middle of the night by choking me. He was very angry and was going to kill me. I wish I could say I remembered to do the leg hook, but I didn’t. What I did remember is you never stop fighting, you never stop trying to free yourself and protect yourself.”


4. The Power of Using My Feelings: Acting Even When I’m Afraid
IMPACT training equips participants to act effectively even in unsettling or threatening situations. Participants described feeling fear while simultaneously knowing what to do to protect themselves.

I felt like I was in a split screen experience, the part of me that was scared and the part that knew what to do.”


 The ability to project calmness and take action was empowering in high-stakes situations and in everyday life.

5. The IMPACT lasts
The long-term effects of the program are profound. Whether participants completed the course a few months prior or three decades ago, they reported confidence, assertiveness, and a deep belief that their safety, well-being, and voices matter.

I believe that my IMPACT experience has made a difference in my life EVERY DAY since I took the program over 20 years ago. IMPACT changed my life. I’m grateful every day.”


IMPACT-trained women did not engage in self-blaming or risky behavior and used their skills to prevent and interrupt aggressive behavior. From walking confidently down the street to navigating relationships and workplaces, the skills learned in IMPACT last a lifetime.

Martha Thompson, PhD

IMPACT Chicago Lead Instructor, 1988-2020


Based on: Martha E. Thompson “Empowerment Through Feminist Self-Defense: The IMPACT Lasts.” Violence Against Women 29(14):2915-2940. doi: 10.1177/10778012231197576. 


Thank you to Mona MacDonald at Mona MacDonald Design for the infographic.


Sunday, April 6, 2025

THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING 2024 DONORS!!!

Sending a giant YES to IMPACT Chicago’s 2024 Donors: you are so very appreciated, and we’re so grateful to be part of your circle. Full speed ahead into 2025!

(Tuition and grants cover about 65% of the costs of the Core Program and IMPACT for Teens. Donations cover the rest.)


Modupe Akinola - in support of Denise Loyd's leadership!
Michele Alogna
Janet & David Altman
Lisa Amoroso - in honor of our amazing staff!
Jeanette Andrews - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Arden Austin
Rose Baker
Judy Balazs
Ellyn & John Bank
Dolores Bjorkman
Susan Blessing
Sheila & Steve Carson
Janaah Coates
Nancy Cohen
Dori Conn
Dee Costanzo - in memory of Adrian Costanzo
Cyd Curtis Bates - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Phyllis Daniels - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Ray Daniels
Cynthia Dimmitt
Deanna Dunagan Giving Fund
Maureen Dunn
Arthur Ellis
Margaret Evans
Michael Feit
Charlotte Ford - in honor of Deb
Laurie Fuller
Eileen Gelblat - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Tess Given
Kim Goldbaum
Robyn & Tijuana Gray
Margit Henderson
Anne Hickey
Valerie Jenkins
Deborah Kelly
Robert Koon
Rita & Ted Lammot - in honor of Deb
Debbie Lee
Denise Lewin Loyd
Ryan Libel
David Leib & Anne Gendler
Marie McCullough
Ann Mier
Chris & Jena Mier
Debra Mier
Robin Mina
Lauren Montero
Michelle Montero
Misty Moody
Lyn Moran
Clara Orban
Katie Palmer
Rachel Pildis
Lisa Pines
Ann-Christine Racette
Mariana Reichman - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Don & Judy Rosedale - in honor of Katie Skibbe
Loriann & Roger Safian
Laura Sanders
Jennifer Schmieg Gould
Tracey Shafroth
Katie Skibbe
Adrienne Smith
Gayle Stephens
Dave & Lori Taylor - in honor of Deb
Eva Templin
Jennifer Tescher - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Martha Thompson
Marge Tomasik - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Michelle Trudel
Natalie Vassall
Carrie Villa
Amy Wallin
Joycelynn Watkins-Asiyanbi
Donna Wilkens
Liz Wrocklage-Gonda
Gina Yoga
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Anonymous - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund


Please let us know if we have made any errors. Thank you!

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING DONORS!!

Huge gratitude to IMPACT Chicago’s 2023 Donors: thank you, thank you, and thank you. We can do what we do… because of YOU. Here’s to a fantastic 2024!

(Tuition and grants cover about 65% of the costs of the Core Program and IMPACT for Girls. Donations cover the rest.)

Anonymous - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Marianne Abel-Lipschutz
Jeanette Andrews
Janet and David Altman
Lisa Amoroso
Nate Tracy-Amoroso
Julie Aubry
Arden Austin
Ellyn & John Bank
Cyd Curtis Bates - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Dolores Bjorkman - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Susan Blessing - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Mary Jo Bolduc
Rachel Bolduc
Sheila & Steve Carson
AC Christensen
Janaah Coates
Nancy & Ira Cohen
Dee Costanzo - in memory of Adrian Costanzo
Julie Dorfman & Jerry Herst
Jillian Fraser
Laurie Fuller & Erica Meiners
Eileen Gelblat - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund
Tess Given
Jennifer Gould
Robyn & Tijuana Gray
Summer Hall
Amy E. Harmon
David Haverkamp
Margit Henderson
Valerie Jenkins
Kasey Klipsch & Angela Sherrill
Susan Landwer
David Leib & Anne Gendler
Denise Lewin Loyd
Lauren Linthicum
Debra Mier
Rian Mirly
Amanda Nero
Anthony & Shiyu Nitsos
Clara Orban
Katie Palmer
Rachel Pildis
Lisa Pines
Don & Judy Rosedale - in honor of Katie Skibbe
Loriann and Roger Safian
Laura Sanders
Tracey Shafroth
Katie Skibbe
Martha Thompson
Marge Tomasik
Carrie Villa
She’s Birdie - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Please let us know if we have made any errors. Thank you!

Friday, April 14, 2023

THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!!!



So many thanks to the wonderful folks who volunteered for IMPACT Chicago in 2022. We’re grateful and honored that you’re part of our circle!  


(If we have inadvertently left you off the list, please let us know).

Admin Team
Aaron Christensen
Amy E. Harmon*
Katie Palmer
Katie Skibbe
Adenike Thomas
Elizabeth West

Board
Lisa Amoroso
Tara Brinkman
Bruce Brio
Maple Walker Lloyd
Denise Lewin Loyd
Deb Mier
Katie Skibbe

Class Assistants
Lisa Amoroso
Abby Grott
Amy E. Harmon
Deb Mier
Robin Mina
Katie Palmer
Nina Svirinovska
Michelle Trudel 
Elizabeth West

Instructors
Rob*
Bruce Brio (retired)
AC*
Katie*
Rachel*
Mark Nessel (retired)*
Ben*
Martha Thompson (retired)
Margaret*
Nat Wilson (retired)
Victor*

Social Media
Rachel Marro
Katie Palmer
Nina Svirinovska

What Is IMPACT & Other
Lisa Amoroso
Amy E. Harmon
Mindy Hilt
Deb Mier
Kristen Reid
Nina Svirinovska
Elizabeth West

Website
Lisa Amoroso
Amy E. Harmon
Nate Tracy-Amoroso

Workshop Leaders
Lisa Amoroso*
Tara Brinkman*
Amy E. Harmon*
Rachel Marro*
Deb Mier*
Katie Skibbe*
Margaret Vimont*

*Paid part-time staff who also volunteer

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING DONORS!!!






A mighty and heartfelt THANK YOU to IMPACT Chicago’s 2022 Donors! We know that everything we do is possible because of the generosity of people like you… and we’re so grateful that you’re part of IMPACT Chicago’s circle as we move into 2023.

Tuition and grants cover about 65% of the costs of the Core Program and IMPACT for Girls. Donations cover the rest.



Anonymous

Jeanette Andrews - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Janet and David Altman

Lisa Amoroso

Nate Tracy-Amoroso

Arden Austin

Ellyn Bank

Leigh Behrens - in honor of Karen Staib Duffy

Joe Bianco

Dolores and Glenn Bjorkman

Susan Blessing

Mary Jo Bolduc

Aaron Christensen & Michelle Trudel

Sheila & Steve Carson

Nancy & Ira Cohen

Alison Cowen - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Cheri Erdman

Margaret Evans

Jennifer Freda

Laurie Fuller & Erica Meiners

Eileen Gelblat - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Tess Given - in honor of Margaret Vimont

Jennifer Gould

Robyn & Tijuana Gray

Amanda Byler Gregory

Amy E. Harmon

Debborah Harp

Margit Henderson - in honor of Martha Thompson

Valerie Jenkins

Moniqucoe Landsberger

Cynthia Lawrence

David Leib & Anne Gendler

Denise Lewin Loyd

Priscilla Martin

Carmen Maso - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Margaret McGrath - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Debra Mier - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Anthony & Shiyu Nitsos - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Clara Orban

Liz Pfau - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Mary Pierce - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Rachel Pildis

Lisa Pines

Ann-Christine Racette

Don & Judy Rosedale

Loriann & Roger Safian

Laura Sanders

Tracey Shafroth

Michael Skibbe - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Linda Stawicki

Marge Tomasik - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund

Carrie Villa

Elizabeth West - supporting The Dianne Costanzo Fund



Please let us know if we have made any errors. Thank you!

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING DONORS!!!


We’re shouting it from the rooftops – huge thanks to IMPACT Chicago’s 2021 Donors! Your generosity is a driving force behind our ability to return to in-person programming, and to continue to offer sliding scale admission as we do so.


Tuition and grants cover about 65% of the costs of the Core Program and IMPACT for Girls. Donations cover the rest.


Janet and David Altman

Lisa Amoroso

Bettie Ashbee

Arden Austin

Ellyn Bank

Dolores and Glenn Bjorkman

Patricia Broughten

Sheila & Steve Carson

Nancy Cohen

Cassidy Coles

Susan Conover - in honor of Karen Staib Duffy

Dee Costanzo - in memory of Adrian Costanzo

Cyd Curtis Bates - Dianne Costanzo Fund

Kevin DeJovine - on behalf of Mary Jo Bolduc

Tom Duffy - in honor of Karen Staib Duffy

Maureen Duffy - in honor of Karen Staib Duffy

Margaret Evans

Laurie Fuller & Erica Meiners

Celina Garcia - in honor of Karen Staib Duffy

Eileen Gelblat

Tess Given

Jennifer Gould

Brian & Gretchen Grad - in honor of Karen Staib Duffy

Robyn & Tijuana Gray

Amy E. Harmon

David Haverkamp

Margit Henderson

Nancy Hornak

Loretta Jackson

Carol Jennings

Susan Landwer

David Leib & Anne Gendler

Gary Lenhoff - in honor of Karen Staib Duffy

Maple Walker Lloyd

Mary Loftus

Denise Lewin Loyd

Rachel Marro

Carmen Maso

Margaret McGrath

Debra Mier

Tim Morell - in honor of Karen Staib Duffy

Clara Orban

Lauren Perez

Liz Pfau

Rachel Pildis

Lisa Pines

Ann-Christine Racette

Beth Raffety

Loriann and Roger Safian

Janette Scott

Tracey Shafroth

Mary Silverman - in honor of Karen Staib Duffy

Katie Skibbe

Linda Stawicki

Martha Thompson

Marge Tomasik

Helene Turner

Nan Upin - in honor of Karen Staib Duffy

Carrie Villa

Amy Wallin

Elizabeth West

Donna Wilkins

Ashley Willett


Please let us know if we have made any errors. Thank you!

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!!!


So many thanks to the wonderful folks who volunteered for IMPACT Chicago in 2021. We’re grateful and honored that you’re part of our circle!


(If we have inadvertently left you off the list, please let us know).


Admin Team

Aaron Christensen

Amy E. Harmon*

Rehana Manejwala

Katie Skibbe

Elizabeth West


Board

Lisa Amoroso

Tara Brinkman

Bruce Brio

Maple Walker Lloyd

Denise Lewin Loyd

Deb Mier

Katie Skibbe


Class Assistants

Amy E. Harmon

Robin Mina

Madison Rieck

Elizabeth West


Instructors

Rob*

Bruce Brio (retired)

AC*

Katie*

Rachel*

Mark Nessel (retired)*

Ben*

Martha Thompson (retired)

Margaret*

Nat Wilson (retired)

Victor*


Social Media

Arden Austin

Dana Dunham

Rachel Marro

Kim Ruhana


What Is IMPACT & Other

Lisa Amoroso

Ellyn Bank

Bruce Brio

Amy E. Harmon

Mindy Hilt

Maple Walker Lloyd

Denise Lewin Loyd

Deb Mier

Elizabeth West


Website

Amy E. Harmon

Lisa Amoroso

Nate Tracy-Amoroso


Workshop Leaders

Lisa Amoroso*

Tara Brinkman*

Amy E. Harmon*

Rachel Marro*

Deb Mier*

Katie Skibbe*

Margaret Vimont*


*Paid part-time staff who also volunteer