We Are Worth Defending: Building Confidence and Community Through Empowerment Self-Defense
The We Are Worth Defending (WAWD) program, in partnership with LifeCare Alliance and IMPACT Safety, has been transforming lives across Columbus by providing Black women with empowerment self-defense training. The program offers more than just physical defense techniques—it’s about finding community, building confidence, and reclaiming one’s right to safety and presence in the world.
Participants have described the experience as life-changing. Many were drawn to the opportunity to train alongside other Black women, and through the sessions, they found support, encouragement, and shared empowerment. One participant highlighted how much she valued the community aspect, saying, “The support we gave each other during the most challenging parts of the training was fantastic.”
The training sessions were filled with moments of learning that went beyond physical techniques. Participants not only learned to set boundaries and protect themselves but also uncovered deeper emotional experiences that surfaced during the process. By facing these challenges together, they left each session with a sense of joy, confidence, and ownership over their own safety. One attendee summed up the feeling: “I can take up space, and I have a right to defend myself.”
The ripple effect of this empowerment is clear, as each trained participant is now ready to share their knowledge with others in their communities, including family members, church groups, and even high school students. By spreading these skills, the participants aim to reach hundreds of other women, amplifying the impact of the WAWD program.
Ultimately, this initiative is about more than just self-defense—it’s about helping women see their value, find their voice, and take up space confidently in a world that often tells them otherwise. As one participant beautifully put it, “The confidence and power that I feel now is so much bigger than it was before.”
To see more about the transformative experiences and hear directly from the participants, watch the video shared by LifeCare Alliance and IMPACT Safety here.
