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Strategic Living's News & Views
Late Fall 2013
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And, for those of you who've taken my classes, review me on Yelp. |
Dear ,
No doubt now, it really is November. The touch of the autumn air is chilly and crisp. Leaves have turned brilliant reds, yellows and orange, and are drifting off their tree limbs to the earth. Halloween, just one evening of ghosts and ghouls, spirits and specters, has come and gone.
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Unlike Halloween, though, domestic violence isn't limited to October, nor should we be aware only these 31 days. Domestic violence is a wraith that walks the earth always. Abuse victims can be haunted for a long time, even after the relationship ends: they are more likely to suffer depression and anxiety than are other women, less able to form long-term loving relationships, and more likely to engage in harmful, high-risk behaviors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you know a woman or teen girl in an abusive relationship, please download this flyer and send it to her. Send it to her friends also -- they probably feel like they're in a bad horror movie, powerless to intervene. In fact, send it to any female you know. It may save her from this nightmare later. Do your part to exorcise this demon now, for the whole year.
Sincerely, Joanne
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Human Trafficking -- There's an App for That
Human trafficking has become a (relatively) hot topic. The UW Women's Center has been working on that for at least the last two decades, and it seems the rest of Seattle is now catching up. Human trafficking is happening here. Not just in remote or exotic locations, but here in Seattle. Like in Downtown, Belltown, and Northgate Mall. Young girls (some as young as 12 years old) are being bought and sold for sexual services. Recently several (adult) students have shared in classes their experiences witnessing what they now believe to be pimps or prostitutes attempting to lure young teen or tween girls into cars. The two issues for them were (a) recognizing this activity for what it was, and (b) what could they do to prevent girls from vanishing. According to a recent article in The Seattle Times, there's now a smartphone app to give concerned citizens a tool to ameliorate this scourge. "The idea behind the app is to help fill two glaring gaps: Teach citizens how to identify signs of sex-trafficking and give them an easy way to do something about it; and provide law enforcement with data that can potentially help officers rescue victims and build criminal cases against pimps and men who pay for sex."
The app is called Redlight Traffic, and with it you can report suspected prostitution to law enforcement through a secure website. It is supposed to be available for the iPhone and Android -- while I could download it on my iPad, as of this writing it has not appeared in the Google Playstore for Android. It is indeed really simple. Making a report can take just a few minutes. You can learn to recognize human trafficking -- that may be happening right in your own neighborhood. |
In The News
I was on Washington's Most Wanted. Fortunately, not as a fugitive but as an authority on using
 | | Joanne Factor with Q13's Parella Lewis |
self-defense when you're in an abusive relationship. The two segments aired the first week of October (Tuesday and Friday evenings).
Overall it was a good piece. One important point got lost, however. Using physical skills against an abuser carries two extra risks. First, it is more likely to escalate a situation into increased violence. Second, it may get you sent to jail for committing domestic violence (which can have serious consequences later for child custody and getting a job).
If you missed this media event, there's no need for despair. Everything recorded lives forever on the internet. You can always find them all, and more, on Strategic Living's press page. |
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Class Schedule
Fall/Winter 2013:
Self-Defense 101 for Women: A six week course that builds progressive skill and prepares you for life's unexpected (and unwanted) moments. To register for any of these classes, visit http://www.strategicliving.org/self-defense-101.php for links to each organization and class registration.
NEW - Six Tuesday evenings, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, at Phinney Neighborhood Center. January 7 - February 11.
Six Monday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, at Seattle Central Community College. January 27 - March 10 (no class February 17).
Six Saturday afternoons, 1:30 - 3:30 pm, at Bellevue College's North Campus. February 1 - March 15 (no class March 1).
Six Sunday mornings, 10:00 am - noon, through the ASUW Experimental College. February 2 - March 16 (no class March 2). NEW - Six Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, at South Seattle Community College (in West Seattle). February 6 - March 13.
Six Monday evenings, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, at University Heights Community Center. March 17 - April 21.
Single Afternoon Seminars:
This short self-defense basic class will be offered on December 15 (Int'l District) and January 11 (North Kirkland Community Center).
For Teen Girls Only: Contact me to arrange your own group class.
Self-defense skills are like CPR, you should review and practice them annually.
If you've already taken a class and want to keep it fresh, Strategic Living offers a 50% discount on select classes. And, if you refer your friends to a Strategic Living class and they sign up, I will donate $25 to one of three awesome organizations for women and girls. Visit my Paying It Forward page for details. Do you work with a non-profit or community organization that holds silent auctions? Ask me to donate a gift certificate for a private 1.5 hour seminar. Do you work with a non-profit or community organization whose staff/volunteers/members/clients would benefit from a safety skills seminar? Visit http://www.StrategicLiving.org/donated-class.php for information on requesting partly subsidized training sessions. Liz J's staff had this feedback from their session: 
"I really enjoyed the training. It reinforced the notion of trusting your instincts and being aware of your environment. I thought the physical techniques we learned were easy to remember and very practical." "I thought it was a great training. It has made me more mindful about my presence in the world. I've been practicing acknowledging people (men) when I'm by myself by making eye contact but not smiling at them. I used to feel like I had to smile to "be nice". I've been conscious of my posture as well. Also just being aware of my surroundings. I haven't actually thought about using any of the self defense methods other than remembering what they are." "I thought the training was helpful to remind me to continue being aware of my surroundings and feeling confident that I have the right tools to handle myself in any situation that comes my way." "Role playing was very valuable (especially in getting a bigger voice out of my quiet one) and also it was great to practice the defensive moves. I thought we could have done more of that - there was a lot of dialogue which was helpful too but for me practicing something ingrains it in my brain more. The one thing that really stuck with me was walking around the car to create space between me and my possible attacker. I do feel I recognize when I'm not walking big. I correct my stance more to walk taller and keep my hands by side more when I'm out and about by myself. So I'm ready!" "I loved this training. I think about the moves that we were taught when I start to feel nervous when I'm out at night, etc. And it's helped to reinforce positive things I was already doing - like walking tall, making eye contact, etc. Really great!"
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Contact Information
phone: 206.202.0748
jifactor@StrategicLiving.org
You can look me up on LinkedIn, or follow my tweets on Twitter.
Or become a Facebook Fan on Strategic Living's Page.
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