A Room Full of People Finding Their Voice

Standing Up for Self and Others
Photo credit: Kathleen Grant 

IMPACT Chicago wasn’t planning on a late December workshop. In fact, late December is a notoriously difficult time to schedule, well, ANYTHING. But something unexpected happened: the requests for self-defense training were through the roof. IMPACT believes in our broader mission to teach people self-defense in a world where living with dignity and in safety can be hard to come by, and that’s how we knew we needed to respond. We offered a free workshop to all on December 20. Next one: January 11, 6:30-8 pm at the JCFS Knapp Center, 3145 W.Pratt. 

            
There is nothing that will warm you up faster than a room full of people finding their voice and learning their first physical tools. The attendees brought many things with them: their fear, their feeling of powerlessness, and their desire to be able to not only protect themselves, but to learn how to support someone else in need. They wanted to know how to help.

Workshop Leader Deb leads a knee drill
Photo credit: Kathleen Grant

            While IMPACT’s main program teaches gender-based self-defense from sexual assault, we have found that the principles behind our empowerment model can apply much more broadly. For some, the last few weeks have shone a light on a powerlessness they weren’t aware of in our society; for others, it was a feeling they knew all too well. In the workshop, we were able to come together as a community, to begin to have conversations about what this new climate means, own our fear, and start to take our power back.  

Molly Norris

IMPACT Chicago Instructor

Instructor Molly demonstrates a powerful voice
Photo credit: Kathleen Grant

Thank you to IMPACT Chicago instructors, staff, and volunteers for making this workshop possible: Lisa Amoroso, Kathleen Grant, Rachel Marro, Deb Mier, Molly Norris, and Martha Thompson. Thank you to all those who participated!

I'm Going to Dive Right In

In celebration of “Victorious Woman Month,” I’d like to acknowledge all of you who take the opportunity to face your fears head on, who look at the world and say, “I’m just going to do this. I’m going to dive right in.”

One of the reasons I initially took the IMPACT course was because I refused to live in fear for the rest of my life. As an IMPACT grad, I am no longer paralyzed by the thought of what might happen; I know if something did happen, I could handle it.

I learned more than self-defense skills in the class. I witnessed how courage, wisdom, and power are revealed in times of great challenge. Like they say, “Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it.” And what is revealed in an IMPACT class is inspiring.

I’ve had the honor of volunteering and participating in many IMPACT courses over the years and every time I learn something new. I see the esprit de corps, the supporters in awe, and the participants beaming with pride in recognition of what they have accomplished in just a few days – the course is truly life-changing for so many.

If you had an amazing experience with IMPACT too, please share your story with us and with as many women and girls who will listen. It is through our graduates that most people find out about the courses we offer.

Thanks for spreading the word. Here’s to more victorious women in the world!

D.H., IMPACT graduate 1988

I learned to use my voice!

Shireen Gul describes how attending an IMPACT workshop increased her knowledge and confidence.  To see the full article originally published September 21 in Tech News, the student newspaper at Illinois Institute of Technology, click here.