Category Archives: Articles from our Director
Intuition & Trust
This past week I fixed my first flat tire on my own. It felt like a tremendous success story, not just as a woman with a flat tire, but as an IMPACT success. Three men stopped and offered help, and I … Continue reading
When Confronted with Road Rage, I Had a Plan
A few weeks ago when I was driving, I noticed a car get out of my way and then abruptly pull behind me. I was puzzled when he turned into the same parking lot as I did, parking nearby for … Continue reading
When Feeling Safe Isn’t Enough
When I took my IMPACT class years ago, I thought my biggest concern was safety. And it was, in many ways. My fear of violence really affected my life in a negative way. However, my biggest concerns could have been … Continue reading
What Do You Do to Prepare?
Traditional safety advice for women says women should: •Never go out late / after dark. •Always stay in groups. •Not go to bad neighborhoods. •Carry keys between their fingers. •Carry mace / a gun / a whistle. •Check under their … Continue reading
Protecting Our Communities After Tragedy
Imagine, for a moment, hearing about a tragic car accident. Imagine overhearing bits and pieces about a driver swerving out of control and hitting oncoming traffic at a speed of over 75 mph. You see clips of family members of … Continue reading
Boundary-Setting for Better Relationships & Community
A theme often discussed in parenting and social worker circles is that though we may be motivated to always be kind and helpful, at times our children/clients actually may be better helped by hearing a boundary set than by a … Continue reading
Train for Hard Times So that Everyday Life Is Easy(er)
Most of us understand that running on the treadmill, racing across a court to hit a ball and lifting large amounts of weight has no real inherent value or direct translation into everyday life. It’s very unlikely I’ll need to … Continue reading
How Leaders Should Speak about Sexual Assault
Todd Akin’s recent comments give us an important opportunity to consider what a true leader for our communities should be saying about sexual assault. Leadership means sometimes saying things that challenge the social norm. And let’s be clear- in a … Continue reading
I’m Not a Violent Person
Whenever there has been a high profile serial rapist in the news, inevitably someone says, “Don’t you just wish he would pick you, so that you could kick his butt and teach him a lesson?” I understand the motives behind … Continue reading
How to Know You’re Ready
I discovered a while ago that if I waited until I felt like exercising that it wouldn’t happen as often as I would like. Similarly, if I waited until I felt like washing the dishes, they wouldn’t ever get done. … Continue reading