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The Safety Team is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to prevent violence, foster resilience, heal trauma and build safer communities. Founded by a group of women who are passionate about making a difference, our core team members share a background in martial arts yet have diverse and extensive professional expertise related to violence against people (see Our Team). Our highly trained instructors, along with our countless volunteers and interns, allow us to offer a range of empowerment, violence prevention, and trauma recovery services. In all of our programs, participants find their voice, learn practical safety skills, reclaim a sense of power and control, develop resilience, and as a result, reduce their risk of assault.
Why “The Safety Team” name? Good question!
First, let’s talk about the word “Safety.” Safety is so important in everything that we do. Learning happens best when people feel safe. A sense of safety helps people connect. Safety is essential for healing. Not only do we focus on safety in our trainings, but safety is fundamental to every aspect of what we do.
View video made by John O’Neill, an Emmy award winning documentarian, that features members of The Safety Team, newly certified instructors, and community members who have participated in our programs.
News & Media
Commitment
Christine DiBlasio is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in 2022 as a continuation of Women of the Century, which commemorated...
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Services
Empowerment Self-Defense Trainings
Our trauma informed Empowerment Self-Defense programs feature violence prevention strategies that have been shown to reduce risk. Classes are fun, informative, and can be adapted for a broad range of physical abilities, fitness levels and safety concerns. No prior experience necessary.
FREE Trauma Recovery Program
The Safety Team has developed a specialized trauma recovery program that has helped survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and other types of interpersonal violence heal. Contact us to learn more about this innovative and effective mind-body approach to treatment.
Professional Instructor Training & Certification
With nearly twenty years experience training Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) instructors, The Safety Team offers hands-on, personalized and comprehensive ESD instructor training courses. The Safety Team’s proven, evidenced-based curriculum is updated regularly with developments in violence prevention, neuroscience and trauma recovery. Upon certification, instructors will be qualified to offer ESD trainings in their own community.
Health professionals can be certified in Therapeutic Empowerment Self-Defense™, an innovative and effective mind-body modality for treating trauma that has yielded fast and transformational results. TESD builds upon the success of ESD and attunes the program to the needs of survivors by adapting the content and format to promote healing.
Keynotes & Customized Safety Presentations
We offer customized programs for businesses, schools, colleges, clubs and other groups. Options include single workshops, a series of workshops, or professional consultation, keynote or safety presentations to help your organization address safety concerns.
Community Partners & Supporters
Testimonials
“They do invaluable work supporting survivors of sexual violence and working to prevent future violence with a unique approach that combines trauma therapy and empowerment. Vermont is fortunate to have them.”
— Senator Peter Welch
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