by Shay Orent | Jan 22, 2020 | Uncategorized
A consensual encounter where a young woman is kissing another young woman lovingly on the forehead Sexual coercion has been on my mind a lot lately. And one thing I’m realizing is we don’t talk about it enough. Which makes sense–it’s an uncomfortable topic, and... by Shay Orent | Nov 4, 2019 | Uncategorized
———— The following is an interview IMPACT Boston conducted with two organizers from the Every Voice Coalition, a movement bringing together students, advocates, and universities to end sexual violence on college campuses. The following is an... by Shay Orent | May 17, 2019 | Uncategorized
I like you. Do you like me? Yes? No? It isn’t just boys who need to learn to hear the word “no.” I’m at a high school teaching our IMPACT:Ability program. We’re about 6 weeks into the program, so we’re starting to address some more uncomfortable topics. This week... by Shay Orent | Apr 17, 2019 | Uncategorized
“Don’t talk to strangers.” “Don’t walk alone at night.” “Use your keys as a weapon.” If you live in a body that society views as vulnerable, you have probably been the recipient of many safety tips. Often these are well-meaning, but too often they are also... by Aishah Shahidah Simmons | Mar 14, 2019 | Uncategorized
I just completed IMPACT Boston’s 20-hour women’s core self-defense course. I’ve wanted to take one of these courses ever since the 1990s but I didn’t for a myriad of reasons. To say that I had one of the most physically and emotionally grueling 20-hour... by Shay Orent | Jan 22, 2019 | Uncategorized
The following is an interview with future IMPACT Director Shanda Poitra of the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. IMPACT Boston has partnered with Shanda and her team to train them as instructors and help them open an IMPACT chapter on the reservation. How... by Shay Orent | Nov 6, 2018 | Uncategorized
Adriana Li is a Program Coordinator who has been with IMPACT Boston since July 2017. Adriana has a theater background but her passion for human service work led her on a career path that eventually landed her at IMPACT. She identifies as a survivor of child abuse, as... by Shay Orent | Sep 6, 2018 | Uncategorized
Since the beginning of the #MeToo movement, there have been many unsurprising revelations about men using their positions of power to harass and assault women with impunity. There have also been some surprising revelations—people whose public work reflected a... by Shay Orent | Aug 1, 2018 | Uncategorized
Spring was a formative season for me as an IMPACT instructor. I taught 2 college-bound courses—one 10.5-hour to senior girls and one 12-hour to freshmen-junior girls. At the end of each of these classes, the students were transformed and I was renewed in my commitment... by Shay Orent | Jun 1, 2018 | Uncategorized
Teenage boys are not always the most eager audience for a self-defense class. Too often, gender expectations get in the way of learning. An important aspect of self-defense is refusing to let yourself be provoked—if an acquaintance or a stranger starts poking at your...