I was lucky enough to attend both the 2005 and 2007 Impact Bay Area Men's classes. As a tall, thin, but non-violent gay man I'm not the picture of Butch; I generally go through life avoiding the places where I might end up in fights.

'I Got My Kicks in LA' - Lisa Scheff's Fierce Fight

From Impact Bay Area's Executive Director Lisa Scheff:

"In January, I was lucky enough to join the LA Impact chapter for part of their annual staff retreat.  I love seeing what other chapters are doing with the same basic self-defense principles, and I came back full of new ideas. LA uses some different techniques than our chapter, which made fighting with their suited instructors extra challenging.

"This experience gave me more confidence to set healthy boundaries in my life, to say "No" and even be home alone and walk alone at night. As a young woman in this world, this is incredibly freeing."

On this GivingTuesday, we want to thank you for your support of Impact Bay Area's mission. If this were a perfect world, there would be no need for boundary setting workshops. There would be no need to teach children's self-defense or young adult Basics focusing on college issues. Impact wouldn't exist.

 "I came to Impact because my sense of safety was shattered. Because Impact offered me a scholarship, I was able to take the class... as I speak about the experience with family and friends, I cannot help but use the word "impact" repeatedly to describe its effect. Truly, what a fitting name."

"I came to Impact because my sense of safety was shattered. Because Impact offered me a scholarship, I was able to take the class... as I speak about the experience with family and friends, I cannot help but use the word "impact" repeatedly to describe its effect. Truly, what a fitting name."

"I was mugged 10 minutes from my home within a week of moving to San Francisco. I saw so many glowing reviews for Impact Bay Area that I decided to sign up. I was almost deterred because I was unemployed at the time and thought I wouldn't be able to take the class ... Impact is amazing and gave me scholarship to attend. The classes were the best things I have ever done for myself. I have a new-found confidence when I walk down the street because I know how to protect myself."

Amazon is offering shoppers the chance to make a donation to the charity of the choice while they shop this holiday season! .5% of your purchases on Amazon Smile will go to a charity of your choice - can you choose Impact Bay Area?

As we near the end of the year, a time when we pause and reflect on all the wonderful things we have to be grateful for, I wanted to share with you an experience that I'm grateful for and invite you to help me in paying it forward to other teens, young adults, and women who need it.

Help Me Support Impact Bay Area
Voices Strong on #GivingTuesday 

Dear reader,

In the spirit of the giving season, I thought I'd share my story and voice my support for a local nonprofit that has given me so much.