Empowering Women Through Resilience and De-escalation Classes

The Crisis and Advocacy program recently completed a 5-week Toolkit of Self-Defense course for program participants. Led by Kass & Mo’s Self-Defense LLC, the course focused on Resilience and De-escalation - teaching environmental awareness, techniques for verbal de-escalation, and early threat identification in addition to basic defense options.

Each week, a different topic was introduced that would gradually build on previous lessons to allow participants to engage with uncomfortable situations in a comfortable environment. Classes helped to build an understanding of different physical and mental skills that can be applied throughout daily life. With a focus on empowerment, the program offered a space for participants to build confidence in understanding their rights and ways to defend themselves with and without physical interaction.

For many participants who have been in dangerous situations, this course gives them back the strength and resilience to protect themselves moving forward. One participant shared, “Wow, this is very new. I wish I had known this information earlier to protect myself.” Another participant shared, “These are really good techniques to protect myself and share with my kids.”

A total of 14 participants engaged in this course, marking the completion of the first Resilience and De-escalation course for the Crisis and Advocacy program. In sharing about the impact of this course from Crisis and Advocacy Program Coordinator, Grace Htee, she noted the major lesson she wants participants to take away from this: “Surviving is winning.”

The Crisis and Advocacy program is gearing up for its next section of Trauma Informed Yoga Class this month, but hopes to provide another self-defense class in the future.