June is Pride month in Chicago, and to get into the spirit Thousand Waves is proud to be offering a free community Self-Defense workshop focused on the LGBTQ community.
Unfortunately, statistics and the news make us all too aware of the special needs of the LGBTQ community in the realm of violence prevention - members of our community are often targeted for violence because of their sexual orientation or gender expression. Many LGBTQ youth are especially vulnerable to homelessness and alienation from their friends and families when they come out, and domestic violence impacts same-sex relationships at about the same rates that it does heterosexual relationships.
Our self-defense philosophy is rooted in a principled approach to self-defense that prioritizes direct communication skills and stopping violence before it starts. Our trainings do, however, also provide instructions in simple physical techniques we can use to keep ourselves safe when violence is unavoidable.
Thousand Waves has been serving the LGBTQ community in Chicago for nearly 30 years. Our Center was founded by Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Famer Nancy Lanoue as a safe space for women to experience the empowerment that training in self-defense, fitness and the martial arts can provide. Over the years, we have expanded to serve all genders, and we also deliver empowering self-defense programming in schools and for community groups throughout the city; we remain dedicated to empowering the LGBTQ community to stay safe and healthy.
We're able to offer this workshop thanks to the generous support of travel powerhouse Orbitz.com - a proud corporate sponsor of Thousand Waves' work in the LGBTQ Community.
Space in this special workshop is limited, so please reserve your free spot now at thousandwaves.org/VPREG, or by calling 773-472-7663.
Thousand Waves is located at 1220 W. Belmont Ave.
For questions, please contact Ryan at 773-472-7663, or e-mail rlibel@thousandwaves.org .