Roots & Wings

This week we conducted the third Girls Fight Back University to train new speaker apprentices. These trainings are intense, giving future speakers the tools to fight and the ability to communicate this life-saving information from the stage.

It’s a terrifying blend of identifying our own fears of what we are capable of, and confronting external fears of what others are capable of doing to us.

There is no scenario we don’t put these gals through in both settings. From the stage: hecklers, intense emotional responses to our message, haters, fire alarms and other random outbursts that most public speakers fear. On the mat: rapists, stalkers, killers, multiple assailants, knives, guns.

The women who train with us are the bravest of the brave – and even braver than that. They look these challenges in the face, and with determination, rise above. Sometimes they cry, sometimes it takes a few tries, but they always overcome.

Being a Founder of something as special as Girls Fight Back has always been sacred to me. Sometimes people mistake me for being an inspiring person that started GFB to save the world. Instead, I was a terrified person that lost a friend to homicide, and felt pretty lost myself. Girls Fight Back was a gift laid at my feet. I chose to accept it, and am so glad I did.

Recently I did a magazine interview, and the journalist asked me what I am most proud of. So many people, events and special moments flooded my mind, it was hard to pick. But I settled on the fact that GFB has become so much bigger than me, and so much bigger than Shannon. (my friend who was murdered, and the inspiration for everything we do)

While Shannon and I were the roots of GFB, our speakers give it wings.

Watching the new apprentices practice our material with their own individual flair is a reminder that despite being around for 10 years, GFB is timeless. As long as violence persists, there will be women who are sick of living in fear, who want to take their power back and live a generally awesome life.

I am so glad I accepted this gift a decade ago. And nothing brings me greater joy than to re-gift it to women everywhere, through our amazing team. Congratulations Bree and Angie (pictured above, with our self-defense guru Bill Kipp) on your tremendous work this week.

If you are interested in booking a Girls Fight Back presentation at your school, college or business, please call us at 1-866-432-2423 for more details.