Lauren (she/they) has been studying and teaching empowerment self-defense since 1985. She’s taught about 30,000 people of all ages, genders, and walks of life. She specializes in classes for women, for people with disabilities, for LGBTQ+/nonbinary people, and for survivors of abuse and assault.
Lauren also writes extensively on interpersonal violence. Selected articles and appearances:
- “A Sisterhood Of Sexual Assault Survivors Are Sharing Stories, Shouting Back,” Joshua Johnson, The 1A, WAMU/NPR
- “The Assertive Response to ‘Hey Baby,” Washington Post
- “Why It Can Be Hard To Say ‘No’ And How To Do It Anyways,” Everyday Feminism
- “How Do YOU Respond to Street Harassment? Here Are Some Suggestions,” Ms. Blog
- “How to Defend Yourself: 9 videos,” MonkeySee
- “Top list Tuesday: 5 self-defense techniques you didn’t know you could use,” TAGG magazine
- “Walking Out on Spouse Abuse,” Washington Post
- “Memo to White Women: Don’t Be George Zimmerman,” Everyday Feminism
- “Prudence Doesn’t Know Best About Rape Prevention: 3 Actual Tools,” Everyday Feminism
- “Do you know how to protect yourself if you are physically attacked?” The Daily Drum, WHUR 96.3
- “Actually, Miss USA is right: Self-defense can prevent sexual assaults,” Washington Post
- “How to Help a Woman Who is Being Abused,” BeFearless, Oxygen Media
- “Has Rape Reporting Increased Over Time?” National Institute of Justice Journal
- “How to Strengthen Your Community Against Domestic Violence,” BeFearless, Oxygen Media
- “The War At Home: The Defense Department Takes Aim at Domestic Violence,” Government Executive magazine
- “Sexual Assault in Abusive Relationships,” National Institute of Justice Journal
Lauren has presented at many national conferences, including:
Creating Change (The National LGBTQ Task Force); National Conference of College Women Leaders (American Association of University Women); National Sexual Assault Conference; and National Center for Victims of Crime’s national training institute.
Lauren earned a black belt in tae kwon do in 1995 and was certified as a self-defense instructor by the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation in 2000.
Lauren’s self-defense expertise is bolstered by her experience in related fields: as a counselor at a women’s health clinic; a founder of My Sister’s Place (DC’s first shelter for abused women and their children); the education coordinator of the Women’s Legal Defense Fund; and as one of the organizers of the 1978 March to Stop Violence Against Women (DC’s first Take Back the Night March).
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