Martha
Thompson
IMPACT
Chicago Director and Instructor
2012 is IMPACT Chicago’s 25th
anniversary. In July 1987, Joe Connelly, the founder of Chicago Model Mugging
(the precursor of IMPACT) and Lonna Brooks, the first lead instructor trainee
in Chicago, formed the Self-Empowerment Group (a nonprofit) to support Model
Mugging in Chicago.
In November 1990, I interviewed Joe
Connelly about the founding period (August 1986-October 1988) of what was to
become IMPACT Chicago. I summarize the key people, main activities, major
issues, and key decisions. Below the summary are excerpts from my interview
with Joe.
Key People
Joe Connelly was the key person
during the founding of what would become IMPACT. He negotiated with leaders of
Model Mugging and he provided the funds for his and Lonna Brooks’ instructor training,
some of the funding for other instructors, and the founding of the
Self-Empowerment Group.
Other important Chicago people during this
time period were Lonna Brooks, the first lead instructor trainee in Chicago;
Dianne (Dee) Costanzo, the first certified lead instructor in Chicago; Theo
Pintzuk and Carole Isaacs, who took the first Model Mugging course (Theo later
served on the Board); Martha Thompson (who took the course in May 1988); and a Business Advisory Board (Norm Axelrod, Dennis Detzel,
Elliot Rubenstein, and Dennis Conroy).
Main Activities
Joe’s main activities during this
time were negotiating with the Personal Empowerment Center (PEC), Model Mugging
of Monterey (MMOM), and Matt Thomas (the originator of Model Mugging) to offer
courses in Chicago; to send people for training, and to recruit for classes.
The Chicago people who participated in training during the founding period were
Joe, Lonna, Dee, Carole, Martha, and Bill Stobierski. Fifty women were trained
during the founding period. The California trainers in Chicago were Judith Roth (August 1987 and May 1988), Mark Morris (August 1987), and Tom Elliot (May 1988).
Key Issues
How to create an effective,
efficient organization with a commitment to offering the program to as many
women as possible?
Are we teaching self-defense or empowerment? What is their relationship to each other?
Are we teaching self-defense or empowerment? What is their relationship to each other?
Key Decisions
·
Establish a not-for-profit not a for-profit.
·
Decline to sign a royalty agreement with Matt
Thomas (this decision was based on having no guarantee of services).
August 1986
Joe heard about Model Mugging from
friends in California and read an article about it in Black Belt Magazine.
December 1986
Joe talked with Julio Toribio and
Danielle Evans, Model Mugging of Monterey, about training to be an
instructor.
February 1987
Lonna Brooks, the first lead
instructor trainee in Chicago, took the Basics course in Monterey.
March 1987
Joe attended the first national
Model Mugging Instructor Training in Colorado.
April/May
Joe established a Business Advisory
Group. The group suggested a for-profit organization and outlined an investment
proposal. Joe decided to pursue a nonprofit group to keep the course of
the cost low and the focus on the program rather than investment returns.
June 1987
Lonna worked with a pro-bono
attorney to apply for nonprofit status. Joe and Lonna established a Board of
Directors and scheduled the first class for August.
July 1987
Lonna attended Instructor Training
in Monterey.
Joe and Lonna formed the Self
Empowerment Group (SEG)—the nonprofit organization supporting Model Mugging in
Chicago--the official beginning of what would become eventually become IMPACT
Chicago.
August 1987
The first Chicago area class was
held at (then) Hillcrest Community Center with 13 women. Judith Roth and Mark
Morris came in from California to teach with Joe as a co-teacher. Dianne (Dee)
Costanzo, who would become the first fully certified female instructor in
Chicago, was in this course.
September 1987
A second course in Chicago was
scheduled for November. A demonstration was held to recruit students. Joe
continued his training by guest instructing in Boston.
November 1987
The Board of Directors expanded
membership.
The November class was canceled
because of lack of enrollment.
January 1988
The Personal Empowerment Center
(PEC), a national nonprofit for Model Mugging, was formed. It was created by
the originators and established to protect their interests and to promote the
program. Irene Vander Zande (who would become the founder of KidPower) was the
Board President.
January/February 1988
Dianne (Dee) Costanzo and Carole
Isaacs attended Instructor Training in Monterey. Most of their fees and
expenses were paid by SEG, which had received a loan from Joe. Carole received
additional support from the then defunct group Chicago Women’s Uprising and Dee covered the remainder of her expenses.
April/May 1988
Dee, Carol, and Theo Pintzuk recruited
for the two classes scheduled for May.
The week courses were to begin,
MMOM unexpectedly asked for full payment for instructor fees. Joe borrowed
money to cover the balance. Two classes were held; one with 15 and the other
with 7. Judith Roth from California and Joe taught the larger class with Dee
co-teaching and Carole assisting. Lonna taught, with Judith’s supervision, the
smaller class. Martha Thompson and Margaret Vimont, who would later become
certified lead instructors, were each in one of the May 1988 courses.
June 1988
A fundraiser was held to raise money to send Bill to
instructor training. Carole and Joe approached Martha about working with them
to develop a curriculum for universities and colleges.
July 1988
Martha Thompson and Bill Stobierski went to Monterey for
Instructor Training. Bill’s expenses were covered by SEG and Martha covered her
own.
August 1988
Joe, Lonna, Dee, Martha, and Bill set dates for two classes
in the fall. Martha negotiated with North Park College for a location for the September and October courses and actively recruited for the
classes. Carole went on leave.
September 1988
The first class in Chicago taught totally by a Chicago team
was held at Mundelein College. Lonna was in charge of the bookkeeping and
organizational finances. Lonna and Joe taught the course with group
facilitation assistance from Dee and Martha assisted. Bill was the guest
instructor. Martha continued to recruit for the October class.
October 1988
Lonna and Joe again taught with Dee providing facilitation
support. Lynn Fernandez and Sue Albertson assisted. Lynn and Sue suggested
class assistant training be developed. Bill and Martha came in for the final
two classes (at that time the class was offered in 5 hour, 5 day sessions).
Bill was the guest suited instructor and Martha was an observer.
Acccomplishments
By the end of the Founding Period, a nonprofit organization had been established, 5 courses had been offered (August 1987, 2 in May 1988, 1 in September 1988, and 1 in October 1988) with a total of 50 graduates and Chicago had an instructor team of 2 suited instructors and 3 lead instructors in different stages of instructor training.
By the end of the Founding Period, a nonprofit organization had been established, 5 courses had been offered (August 1987, 2 in May 1988, 1 in September 1988, and 1 in October 1988) with a total of 50 graduates and Chicago had an instructor team of 2 suited instructors and 3 lead instructors in different stages of instructor training.
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