Apr

30

2007 Fall Tour Announcement

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Beginning in August 2007, I will be going on a nationwide tour of America’s college campuses spreading the word that college students can be their own best protectors. I’ll travel to 20 college campuses from coast to coast, giving two programs: Girls Fight Back! (for women only) or How to Be a Bad Victim. (for both men and women) I will also be promoting the 2nd edition of my book, Girls Fight Back! The College Girl’s Guide to Protecting Herself.

The 90 minute programs both cover the following subject matters:
*My real-life story of losing a sorority sister to homicide in 2001
*3 practical steps to living a safer life on campus you can start using TODAY
*Empowering risk reduction strategies to avoid common campus crimes
*The real facts about human intuition, and how to use it to avoid bad situations
*Ways to develop a “bad victim” mentality
*A 3 prong approach to practical self-defense
*Tips and resources where students can seek more education, counseling or training
*Ideas on how to get active on YOUR campus to end violence

Colleges who book a program during the Fall Tour will receive the following perks:
*A 90 minute program (Either Girls Fight Back or How to Be a Bad Victim)
*10 FREE books, Girls Fight Back! The College Girl’s Guide to Protecting Herself (2nd Edition
*10 FREE 11×17 posters to advertise the program on campus
*10 FREE tour t-shirts*

Book by June 30, 2007 and receive a $500 discount off the speaking fee!

For booking information, contact us or call CAMPUSPEAK Inc. at 303-745-5545.

Apr

26

Utica College – Utica, NY

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Last night I spoke to one of the most energetic and hilarious crowds of all time at Utica College. Getting there was a bit of a nail-biter, as the weather sucked pretty much everywhere and there was major road construction between Syracuse (where I flew into) and Utica. (40 miles away) But I ended up making it in time, welcomed by students and Greek advisor, Tennille. They had pre-ordered books and wanted autographs before the program even started! We had an awesome time, and I really connected with a few of these students who had some pretty horrific stories of their own. Overall, just a great program. One girl wrote on my Facebook wall saying she and her friends agreed I was the female version of Dane Cook. I love that man! Maybe he and I should tour together…he’d be a great Scary Bad Guy, no?

The Utica gang gave me the coolest pink hoodie sweatshirt with “Utica College” on it. I wore it flying back to Denver today and you’d be amazed how many people stopped me to say they were from upstate New York. I had no idea it was such a hot spot. See me with my new Utica friends pictured above.

Apr

24

UIC – Chicago, IL

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Yesterday was quite eventful. It started off with me flying from Denver to Chicago, and I saw someone familiar as I stood in line to board the plane. This woman looked exactly like my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Harmon. It was over 20 years since I had seen her, so clearly I was doubting my memory. As it turns out, she was seated directly in front of me on the airplane so I couldn’t help but to ask. So I tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me, but are you Nancy Harmon?” She looked me dead in the eyes and said, “ERIN WEED!” Holy cow, how did she remember me? That was weird…she recalled me being a straight A student which I assured her was discontinued past age 10. She refused to believe me. But it was so great to see her, and it turns out she’d been clipping articles about me and GFB over the years. Funny stuff. Obviously I had to take a photo with her (see above) once we landed in Chicago and she obliged, after asking what a blog was. Mrs. Harmon was my favorite teacher of my entire education, so if you’re reading this, thanks for everything!

I drove right from O’Hare to speak at University of Illinois at Chicago to speak at their first-ever sexual assault awareness week. What an honor! I did the How to Be A Bad Victim program, and we had a very good time talking about practical strategies to avoid being victimized…and how to respond if you are confronted with violence. Overall, a very proactive and invigorating talk. Here’s wishing the students at UIC a very successful rest of their awareness week.

Apr

21

Shannon’s Dedication – Charleston, IL

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Yesterday I drove two hours east to Charleston, Illinois to get to the campus of Eastern Illinois University. For several years, the physical education dept. at EIU has been raising money for a plaque of Shannon, and also the scholarship in her name. (See above) This year a scholarship was given to a very deserving recipient, and we had a lovely ceremony. I was asked to speak, and of course started to lose it a little bit. It was just really overwhelming for me to be in the same gym where Shannon worked and where we played Intramurals in college…and there I was dedicating a memorial in her honor. My emotions always sneak up on me, just when I think I’m fine. You’d think by this point I’d plan ahead and bring kleenex, but no….

Above is a pic of myself with Shannon’s parents (Bob & Cindy), Phys. Ed. Dept. Chairwoman Phoebe Church, Shannon’s scholarship recipient (Amanda Maxedon) and EIU president Lou Hencken. It was an emotional, but touching and powerful event and I was glad I could be there for it.

Apr

20

Illinois State Univ. – Bloomington, IL

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Wow, last night was a total blast! I spoke to a packed auditorium at lovely ISU to a huge crowd of sorority women. A huge thanks to all the students who wanted to bring the Girls Fight Back program, as well as the Panhellenic Advisor, Lisa Westendorf. Being that I have a bunch of college friends who live in Bloomington, I know the town rather well. Therefore I was able to drop all sorts of inside jokes about “B-town” as we call it. Gotta love central Illinois humor. After the program I had the opportunity to meet up with Bobby McNamara. Bobby was Shannon’s little brother, and he is an ISU grad and now working at a home for troubled adolescent boys in Bloomington. I asked him how he has coped in the six years since his sister’s murder, and his response was so filled with faith and peace. He said, “As long as she is continuing to save lives through Girls Fight Back, I have peace with it.” The support of the McNamara family has truly been the thing that has kept this train movin’…

Apr

19

University of Mississippi – Oxford, MS

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Yesterday I made the long trek from Washington state down to Oxford, Mississippi to speak at Ole Miss. This was a visit I had been looking forward to for a very long time, since the event organizers were SO enthusiastic! I met so many great people, and did the How to Be A Bad Victim program to an incredibly diverse and fun crowd. After the program, I led the crowd in practicing some chants, and then we embarked on a mile long Take Back the Night march throughout the campus. (Women unite, take back the night!) All of us were marching with candles and it was just so cool and empowering. The march ended at a pavillion where a survivor of domestic violence named Sonia sang a lovely song and shared her story of surviving an escaping from a domestic violence situation. So inspiring. The mic was opened to the crowd, some of who shared their personal stories on how violence has affected their lives. It is so awesome to see students literally all over the country who are so mindful and dedicated to eradicating the violence on our campuses and in our society. It was truly a blessing to visit Ole Miss. See the pic above of me and some new friends after the candlelight march.

Apr

18

Spokane Falls CC – Spokane, WA

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Yesterday I spoke at Spokane Falls Community College in lovely Washington state. I have spoken in Spokane pretty much every spring since 2002, so it’s like a staple in my year to make a visit to this place. After all the events that took place on Monday at VT, it was an especially heavy program. I began the “How to Be a Bad Victim” lunchtime session dedicating it to the community of Virginia Tech, and shared my story of being touched by the campus when I visited in October 2006. After that, we moved into the program and learned about staying safe and sound on campus and beyond. My scary bad guy was a hilarious dude named Patrick, and a huge thanks goes to everyone who brought me to campus. Pictured above are myself with the event organizers: Dr. Ann Ciasullo, Magen and Krictal. Thanks for lunch and another great visit to SFCC!

In other news, I am happy to report I received an email from the vigil organizer at Virginia Tech saying she had more than enough candles for the vigil last night. I can’t believe everyone pulled it off…but it’s so inspiring to know that people are willing to rise to the occasion to help others in their time of grief and need. I saw clips of the vigil on CNN, and it was lovely tribute to the lives lost…

Apr

17

Got candles for VT?

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Well the shooter has been identified, and now the death toll is up to 32. We need some help with something, and I’m hoping one of my loyal blog followers can throw us a bone. Does anyone has a large amount of candles they could donate to a vigil being held at Virginia Tech tonight? If so, please e-mail GFB at info@girlsfightback.com. I was in contact yesterday with a friend of mine from VT who is organizing the vigil, which is expected to bring out over 40,000 people. Since it would be great to have a candle for each of them, I was up half the night getting in touch with my well-connected friends trying to make this happen. So far, it looks like we’ve made progress…but if you know of a source that can help, please shoot us a note. Many thanks.

Apr

16

Prayers for Virginia Tech

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Like many of you, right now I am watching CNN in horror at the mass shooting that went down this morning at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. As of now, they are saying the fatality number includes 21 people and the shooter. I spoke on this campus in September on my book tour and met hundreds of women there. Today all my thoughts and prayers are with these students and their families as they cope with the events from this tragic day.

Apr

15

Now That She’s Gone – new play

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I was recently approached by the awesome author and screenwriter, Ellen Snortland, to help promote her new play. If you live near New York City, go check it out! It contains some GFB-esque themes, including self-defense. Kudos to Ellen! See promo text below.

Please join Gloria Steinem & Helen LaKelly Hunt in New York City for a showcase evening of Ellen Snortland’s: “Now That She’s Gone.” Gloria Steinem says, “ Ellen Snortland’s one-woman play, “Now That She’s Gone,” is what good theater is all about. Her funny and tragic, particular and universal story sends us home with a better understanding of our own.”

New York City – Wednesday May 2nd 2007
5:30 doors open; 6:00 p.m. curtain
Norwegian Seamen’s Church at 317 East 52nd St. NYC, btw 1st &2nd Aves.
www.kjerka.com
Suggested Donation: $40 to benefit Women’s Funds in NYC
Reservations: call 201-669-9927 or e-mail: rsvp@hunt-hendrix.com
Tickets available at the door if there are still seats.

Now That She’s Gone is a play that explores Ellen Snortland’s often wacky, irreverent and sometimes torturous relationship with her Norwegian-American mother. Now That She’s Gone has been described as a Lily Tomlin / Garrison Keillor / Eve Ensler hybrid… passionate, poignant and funny in turns. A memoir piece with Eleanor Roosevelt, sex, drugs and lutefisk, the play and performance have received rave reviews and standing ovations in California, New York, and Washington, D.C. For further information, contact Ellen by visiting: www.snortland.com

Apr

14

Florida and Philly and Jersey…oh my!

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Normally I’m pretty good about keeping the blog updated, but this past week was a total debacle. I was constantly on the go, leaving very little time to give you my latest updates on my tales from the road. So here it is, Saturday afternoon, and I finally have a free moment to bring you up to speed. Phew!

On Monday I caught a 6am flight to Jacksonville, FL. That evening I spoke at Jacksonville University, where I was booked by my fellow Alpha Phi, Chicago native, pug owner and loyal GFB fan, Kirsten Siron Young. What an awesome girl, and it was great to see her again…and also meet her fabulous students. Although the technology Gods were not smiling upon us for the microphone or powerpoint, who needs it?! We freestyled it, and the GFB program went off without a hitch. I made a lot of Facebook friends that night, and it was an honor to be there. (See me and the Jacksonville girls pictured above.) On Tuesday I flew from Florida up to New Jersey for some GFB meetings in the NYC area. On Wednesday I drove two hours south to Philadelphia to speak at St. Joseph’s University. I did a GFB safety and self-defense program that afternoon, and was the keynote speaker at their annual Take Back the Night event that evening in the campus chapel. I only do these keynotes once or twice a year, and they are by far, the most difficult types of speeches that I give. Take Back the Night is usually a rally where survivors of violence, victims or co-survivors stand up and share their stories with the crowd. It’s extremely powerful, totally inspiring and just overall emotional. You hear the worst of human nature in the stories, but see the best in people when these indiviudals summon the courage to come forward. It always leaves me in awe, and Wednesday at St. Joe’s was no exception. A big thank you to the lovely and amazing Dr. Raquel Bergen for being such a leader in the field of sexual assualt eradication and her outstanding REPP group of assault counselors. On Thursday I drove back up to New Jersey, since last night we had a family wedding. It’s was an awesome Italian Catholic extravanganza, with the nicest people who gathered for a lovely couple. (Congrats Matt and Beth!) With all the real-deal Italian last names I heard last night, it was kinda like an episode of Sopranos, but without the fear of getting whacked.

Apr

9

Lifescript.com

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A few weeks ago I did an interview with Shanna Thompson, a freelance writer for a very cool and educational website called Lifescript.com. She also interviewed two other women’s safety authors/instructors, Kathleen Baty and Lisa Gaeta. Check out the article and you can also take a fun little safety quiz at the end. Enjoy.

Click here to read it.

Apr

8

Happy Easter

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Nothing says happy easter like a grown woman wearing a bunny suit.

Apr

7

We made it to Colorado

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Thanks to you all for your patience as I have neglected this blog for the past week or so. As you know by now, my family and I made the cross-country move from New Jersey to Colorado. As you can see from the photo above, it’s been quite a juggle running GFB from my SUV at rest stops along the way…but with the grace of God and a Palm Treo, all things are possible. I’m happy to say we’re all settled in and have acquired a massive amount of home furnishings in a record amount of time. I hit the road again tomorrow for the rest of April, so it’s nice to have things in working order (for the most part) before I go. So both myself and this bloggy are back in action…stay tuned for some wild adventures this week.