“You two did a fantastic job leading us in the workshop on Sunday. I think all of the girls got something out of it, and all of the moms mentioned how great they thought it was. We really appreciate you coming to us and sharing such important information and techniques with us. Thank you!”
—Kate Harold, Girl Scout Troop Leader
“[Y]ou leave with a fire in your belly that wasn’t there when you arrived. You leave standing a little taller because you aren’t held down by fear, and you leave empowered, feeling a confidence that you didn’t know was there before.”
—Stephanie Taleghani, Consistently Curious
“The ladies at Thrive do such an incredible job at making a potentially stressful environment a comfortable one. After leaving just one session you feel confident and empowered. As a victim advocate for university-aged students, I’ve seen first hand what this level of empowerment can do for survivors. By creating a safe space to share and learn, survivors and allies are able to build confidence and strength. The Thrive instructors excel at making all feel welcome—I wish all my clients could take their classes!”
—Madesyn DeVivo, Women Helping Women on-campus advocate for Miami University
“Three self-defense programs were provided to students, employees, friends, and families of The Christ College (TCC) in collaboration with the Thrive Empowerment Center. These were offered during the first full week of April as part of the Week of Action of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The self-defense programs were a success for multiple reasons including: the flexibility of the presenters, participant engagement, location flexibility (to accommodate the weather), and pertinent content. The empowerment messages sent—“I am strong. I am worth fighting for. My body is mine. My voice matters. I deserve to be safe. I matter.”—reinforce beliefs promoted by Safety and Wellness at the College and throughout SAAM. Many thought and action skills were taught to help keep participants safe after the program and promote their empowerment. Thrive Empowerment Center personnel were friendly, knowledgeable, and flexible in their development of the program personalization for TCC. I would highly recommend use of this Center again.”
—Maureen D. Schwab, RN, BSN, M.Ed., MS, Associate Dean of Compliance, The Christ College of Nursing & Health Sciences
From Campus Ready
“I think learning about ‘warrior voice’ was really amazing and made me feel more powerful. I loved learning about the fighting aspect because I’m scared I can’t defend myself against a physical attack, but now I can.”
“[I realized this class] was not only [about] my safety but confidence. Breaking the board … helped me realize how strong I really am.”
From Empowerment through Self-Defense
“When I walked into this workshop, I had no clue what to expect. Now I feel powerful and want to learn more.”
“I feel empowered and ready for the world. I’m worth fighting for.”
“I feel that a can defend myself and that I won’t panic when in a situation.”
“I realized I have more strength than I thought I had.”
“Women don’t have to be timid and can assert themselves. I feel stronger. Thank you for the advice and support.”
Practicing Knee Strikes
Students at The Christ College of Nursing & Health Sciences practice knee strikes during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, April 2021.