New Self-Defense Organization Offers Training to Youth in Multnomah County

EMERJ-SafeNow, a new violence prevention organization, provides developmentally appropriate skills for children and youth to address the topic of street smarts, intimate partner/dating violence as well as safety planning around social events that may include interactions with older youth/adults and alcohol as well as other substances.

EMERJ-SafeNow is partnering with Beaumont SUN Community School, 4043 NE Fremont Street, Portland. to launch its first week-long summer camps for children ages 8-10 and youth ages 15-19 from July 3-28, 2017. In response to recent events and after working  as a violence prevention specialist for nearly 10 years with the Portland Police Bureau, former GirlStrength Director Carolyne Haycraft cofounded EMERJSafeNow, and equity based self-defense program which  focuses on equity and takes into account trauma-informed care for all genders.

EMERJ-SafeNow offers Care-Defense, self-defense that focuses on self-care and the impact of trauma before teaching  physical or non-physical self-defense skills. 

These camps run July 3-7 and July 10-14. Personal Safety 101 is designed to meet the needs of teens and covers similar topics while also addressing healthy relationships and break-ups, violence and substance abuse prevention and includes cyberbullying and sexting. These camps run July 17-21 & 24-28. All camps offer financial assistance and awards to participants. Register at www.emerjsafenow.org.