IMPACT Chicago

Congratulations to IMPACT Chicago Core and DAAR grad Amanda Ann Gregory on the publication of her book, YOU DON'T NEED TO FORGIVE.

"...an invaluable resource for trauma survivors and their clinicians who feel alienated and even gaslighted by the toxic positivity and moralism that often characterizes attitudes about forgiveness in psychology and self-help."

"Bringing together research and testimony from psychologists, psychotherapists, criminologists, philosophers, religious leaders, and trauma survivors, psychotherapist and expert in complex trauma recovery Amanda Ann Gregory explores the benefits of elective forgiveness and the dangers of required forgiveness. Elective forgiveness gives survivors the agency to progress in their recovery on their own terms."

"Forgiveness is helpful for some, but it is not universally necessary for recovery; each person should have the power to choose."

For purchasing options or for more information, visit: https://www.amandaanngregory.com/

GREAT JOB to our Girls in the Game workshop participants! (and Workshop Leader Lisa!)

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT IMPACT Boston
FREE ONLINE EVENT: Don’t Get Safety Advice from TikTok!

https://impactboston.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/impactboston/event.jsp?event=348&

Zip ties on your car. Predators who size up victims in Walmart parking lots. Beauty influencers who tell you not to turn your back while you put away groceries. Social media is full of safety advice – but how much of it is true? In this session, author and violence prevention expert Meg Stone will break down viral “safety hacks,” separate fact from fear-mongering, and give you real, evidence-based, strategies to empower yourself and your community.

August 7th and September 10th at 7pm

Registration is free and open to the public! (PLEASE SHARE!)

Pictured here are Yasmeen Waheed and T**i Ogunbambi, graduates of our 2024 Stories We Tell workshop at Simmons Center for Global Chicago.

Center for Story & Witness (formerly The Voices and Faces Project) testimonial writing program is supporting a new generation of activists seeking to use story to create social change.

Our testimonial writing workshop for survivors of gender-based violence is coming to Chicago July 12-13. Apply now! (Deadline June 24)

Developed to help those who have lived through or witnessed gender-based violence or other human rights violations use their voices, faces, and stories to call the public to greater compassion and — more importantly — social action. We're not just training writers. We're creating a global community.

For more information, visit https://storyandwitness.org/

THIS WEDNESDAY, 6/18, 7-8PM CST - Join us for a free online orientation about becoming a Workshop Leader with IMPACT Chicago. (This is a paid position.)

Our Workshop Leaders instruct short 60-120 minute sessions for workplaces, community organizations, schools, and more. These interactive sessions cover core concepts of self-defense (including both verbal and physical skills), and also give participants a taste of IMPACT’s courses.

To register and receive a Zoom link, contact [email protected]

See you there!

Congrats to our all June Core grads!! Proud of your Power!!

WANT TO BE AN IMPACT WORKSHOP LEADER???

Date: Wednesday, June 18th, 2025
Time: 7pm-8pm CST
Location: Online/Zoom (register for details)
Registration: email [email protected]

Have you been wanting to get more involved in IMPACT? Do you have experience teaching, leading teams, coaching, or any other type of group facilitation?

Come learn more about what it takes to become an IMPACT Chicago Workshop Leader with this FREE online orientation seminar!

Our Workshop Leaders instruct short 60-120 minute sessions for workplaces, community organizations, schools, and more. These interactive sessions cover core concepts of self-defense (including both verbal and physical skills), and also give participants a taste of IMPACT’s courses.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!

At IMPACT Chicago, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for everyone, including our LGBTQ+ community. We recognize that LGBTQ+ individuals often face unique threats to their safety and well-being, and we strive to provide self-defense training that is affirming, trauma-informed, and responsive to everyone’s lived experiences.

Our instructors support diverse identities and foster a space where participants feel seen, respected, and strong. We believe that everyone deserves access to tools that help them reclaim their power and autonomy.

This Pride Month, we celebrate the courage, resilience, and joy of our LGBTQ+ participants, staff, and allies. Your strength inspires us, and your presence enriches our community. Happy Pride from all of us at IMPACT Chicago—together, we rise stronger, braver, and united.

Just in case you forgot.

Join us Friday, June 13, 5:30pm Columbus Park Refectory (5701 W. Jackson) for Resilience's BREAKING THE SILENCE March!

Today is the final day to register for our JUNE CORE program! (link below)

NEXT CLASS: Jun 6, 7, & 8 - 4200 W Diversey Ave, Chicago - (MASKS REQUIRED)

IMPACT Chicago's Core Program is our most comprehensive program, allowing participants to gain the most self-defense training in the shortest amount of time. Training progresses from setting verbal boundaries to responding to a physical assault.
Participants learn and drill effective awareness, verbal, and physical techniques and then practice using their voices, managing their adrenaline, projecting calmness, making moment-by-moment decisions, and delivering strikes and kicks with full-force, just as they would need to do in an actual attack.

By the end of the Core Program, participants have repeatedly used their skills to assess danger, set boundaries, and respond effectively to verbal and physical attacks.

https://www.impactchicago.org/core-program.html

NEXT CLASS: OCTOBER 18-19, 2025
REGISTER TODAY!

IMPACT ADVANCED provides IMPACT Core graduates with the opportunity to deepen and broaden their empowerment self-defense techniques and responses, combining physical and verbal/non-verbal boundary-setting skills.

IMPACT ADVANCED addresses some of the most common concerns that arise during the Core Program, such as:

“What if the assailant is not alone?”
“What if I have a child or pet with me?”
“What if I’m in a constricted location, such as a bed?”
“What if I’m being choked?”
“What if _________?”

To register, visit:

https://www.impactchicago.org/store/c5/IMPACT_Advanced.html