A Movement for Safety, Dignity, and Power
Vision
We believe in a world where the worth of Black women is never up for debate — where safety, voice, and visibility are the standard. We work toward safer communities through personal empowerment and systemic change.
Mission
We are Worth Defending empowers Black women and girls through trauma-informed empowerment self-defense. We create space for healing, strength, and solidarity — and we raise the bar for what safety truly means.
Why Empowerment Self-Defense?
Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) is a proven, evidence-based approach that blends physical, verbal, and intuitive tools to help participants:
Set clear boundaries
Build unshakable confidence
Identify, prevent, and interrupt violence
Heal from past harm in community
ESD isn’t just technique. It’s transformation.
Why Black Women? Why Now?
Black women face violence at disproportionately high rates — but mainstream safety programs rarely speak to our realities. Our work is grounded in the truth that 4 in 10 Black women will experience rape, physical violence, or stalking in their lifetime. That’s over 6 million of us.
ESD helps change those odds.
With ESD, participants are:
50% less likely to be assaulted
46% more likely to finish school
More confident in real-time decisions
Less likely to experience depression or substance use
More likely to stop harm — for themselves and others
How It All Started
We listened. Black women told us what was missing from traditional safety training: representation, trust, and truth-telling. So we built something better — together.
In partnership with ESD Global, IMPACT Safety launched We Are Worth Defending, a program designed by and for Black women. The result? Culturally responsive, radically accessible training led by Black instructors who understand our lived experiences.
What We Offer
Level One ESD classes, built for groups of 15
Flexible scheduling
Suggested fee: $35 per person
No one is turned away for inability to pay.
🛡️ Ready to Train With Us?
Fill out the request form below or reach out directly to our Program Manager, Venica Miller. We’ll meet you where you are — and walk with you from there.