On June 1, 2024, IMPACT Safety hosted a powerful and joyful community gathering on the patio of the Lincoln Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. The evening was titled Advancing the Movement: A Benefit to Elevate a New Standard for Black Women and Girls—and it lived up to its name.
We were honored to feature Dr. Treva B. Lindsey, renowned Black feminist scholar and professor at The Ohio State University. Dr. Lindsey shared insights from her groundbreaking work, America Goddam: Violence, Black Women, and the Struggle for Justice, offering both historical context and a call to action for the ongoing work of safety and justice in Black communities. Her words grounded the evening in both scholarship and solidarity.
But the heart of the event wasn’t just on the stage—it was in the community we gathered to celebrate.
We proudly honored the first all-Black Empowerment Self-Defense Instructor Cohort trained in Central Ohio, along with key community partners who have walked with us in this work. These instructors are helping lead a new standard of embodied safety, healing, and leadership rooted in the lived experiences of Black women and girls.
Why It Mattered
Too often, Black women’s safety is treated as an afterthought. At IMPACT Safety, we believe in flipping that narrative. This event was a public recommitment to the idea that safety is a right, not a privilege, and that Black women deserve safety tools that are culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and community-rooted.
The $100 benefit tickets helped support ongoing trauma-informed Empowerment Self-Defense programs in Central Ohio—programs that center survivors, disrupt violence, and build embodied confidence from the inside out.
About Dr. Lindsey
Dr. Treva B. Lindsey is one of the nation’s leading Black feminist thinkers. She is a Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at The Ohio State University, co-founder of the Black Feminist Night School at Zora’s House, and author of America Goddam. Her work explores the intersections of race, gender, justice, and culture, and has appeared in CNN, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, and many more.
We are so proud of the leaders, teachers, and community members who made this night unforgettable. If you want to be part of the movement, join our newsletter or reach out—we’re just getting started.
🖤 We are worth defending.