Thrive is hosting the 2024 National Women’s Martial Arts Federation Midwest Regional Conference. The event is open to all women and LGBTQ+ folks (both members and nonmembers of the NWMAF) ages 12+ and features workshops in martial arts, healing arts, and Empowerment Self-Defense.

Saturday, November 16

• 8 to 8:30 am Sign-In

• 8:30 to 9 am Opening and Community Agreements

• 9:15 to 10:30 am Session 1: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

• 10:45 am to 12 noon Session 2: Intro to Kali/Silat

• 12 to 1:00 pm LUNCH

• 1:15 to 2:30 pm Session 3: Muay Thai Kickboxing

• 2:45 to 4 pm Session 4: Nia Dance

• 4:15 to 5:30 pm Session 5: Empowerment Self-Defense

 Sunday, November 17

• 8 to 8:30 Morning Social

• 8:45 to 9:45 am Restorative Yoga

• 10 to 10:30 am Closing Ceremony

Instructor Bios

Devon Dean is a purple belt under Chris Howe (Jack McVicker/Megaton Dias) who has trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu for close to a decade. Coming to us from Indianapolis, she is also a master's athlete, retired roller derby player, and runner. Towering at 5'1", she proudly calls herself "small, but mighty."

Maria Mangione holds a black sash in Muay Thai and a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and trains out of Club MMA in Cincinnati. A licensed DBT and EMDR therapist, she is also the head coach of the Storm Team Striking program at Thrive Empowerment Center.

Ashlyn Johnson is a nurse practitioner, assistant professor of nursing at Miami University in Ohio, and longtime martial artist. She has over 15 years of experience in the nursing field and maintains active clinical practice as a dual certified family and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner working with many patients suffering from PTSD. Her research interests include mental health, particularly related to trauma and resilience. Additionally, Ashlyn has been studying various martial arts systems for the past 25+ years, with a current focus on Kali and Silat. She wishes to express gratitude to her instructors including Guro Jeremiah Lovejoy and for the opportunity to be an apprentice under the esteemed Guro Dan Inosanto. 

Erin DeSantis is a registered trauma conscious yoga instructor, a reiki master teacher trainer, and a meditation guide. She is also the Health & Wellness Librarian for the Kenton County (KY) Public Library.

Trish Riley is a certified black belt Nia instructor, with more than 20 years of teaching experience. She teaches regular Nia classes at both the Kula Center for Movement Arts in Newport, KY, and Thrive Empowerment Center in Covington, KY, as well as classes for special populations, including individuals with developmental disabilities and cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Lindsey Falcon is a multiple martial artist with a black belt in taekwondo from the World Taekwondo Federation and a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Her ESD instruction has been certified through both the National Women's Martial Arts Federation and ESD Global. She is a co-founder of Thrive Empowerment Center and a certified sex coach and sex educator.

Register through the NWMAF website.

The Thrive 5K is a community-focused event aimed at raising awareness for domestic violence in Northern Kentucky. On October 5, 2024, we will come together in the spirit of promoting healthy relationships and ending domestic abuse.

Participants can expect a fun-filled morning of walking, running, and cheering on others as they complete the 5K course through Devou Park. With each step, runners and walkers will be making a statement in support of those affected by domestic violence, showing that the community stands with them and is committed to creating a safer, healthier future for all.

In addition to the race, the event will feature a resource fair to learn more about the impact of domestic violence and ways to prevent it. There will also be opportunities to connect with local organizations working to support survivors and end the cycle of abuse.

The Thrive 5K is an important step in raising awareness for domestic violence and fostering a community committed to supporting survivors and preventing abuse. Join us on October 5, 2024, to take part in this powerful event.

Registration IS NOW OPEN!

A huge thank-you to our 2024 race sponsors: D.E. Klein, StretchLab, Connect Counselors LLC, Rendigs, Reminger, and TriState Running Company!

Interested in sponsoring the event? Contact MeghanK@thriveselfdefense.com for info.

In honor of campus safety month, this workshop—sponsored by the Miami University Police Department and the MU Office of Student Wellness—is being offered at no cost to all Miami University students, faculty, staff, and the Oxford community.

Participants will gain a toolbox of immediate mental, verbal, and physical responses to risky situations, from boundary violations and harassment to physical assault. Together, we’ll learn and practice:

• Understanding the science behind our intuition

• Using our posture and voice to protect our boundaries

• Recognizing and responding to red-flag behaviors

• Escaping from grabs and holds

• Simple physical strikes anyone can use

On-campus location is Rec Sports Center, Courts 2 & 3. Pre-registration is encouraged.

In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Family Nurturing Center is hosting a Teen Safety Matters (Monique Burr) for teens and Stewards of Children for parents sponsored by Thrive Empowerment at the Zembrodt Education Center.

Teen Safety Matters: Help keep your teen safe and prepared.  Teens will feel empowered with information and strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to bullying, cyberbullying, relationship abuse, digital dangers, exploitation, and human trafficking. (Ages 11-17).

The Stewards of Children® training was created to teach adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.  The NEW Stewards of Children® is the same proven framework, with significant updates that have been made to introduce new survivors and experts, the latest statistics and technology and enhanced learning methods and tools.

There is no cost for this event. Due to space limitations, pre-registration is required.

This event is full. Thank you for supporting our programs!

Trauma and its effects can be challenging to understand for both individuals and family units. Experiences like stress, poverty, or violence can influence the expression of our genes, affecting the generations that come after us.

Join facilitator Shelby Pressley of Ever-Evolving Wellness in this small-group workshop, where we will learn about and discuss intergenerational trauma and work to understand how the things that happened before us may still affect us in the present day.

There is no registration fee for this event, but in the spirit of International Women’s Month, we suggest a $10 donation to our Sponsor a Warrior program for survivors of domestic violence or a box of feminine hygiene products, which we will pass along to our next-door neighbors, the Esperanza Center. <3

About Shelby

Shelby Pressley is a well-being and mental health advocate whose journey through her own wellness has been one of many peaks and valleys! She’s learned to tap into her natural gift of connecting with others and using her experiences to assist others through their difficult and challenging times. She is the founder of Ever-Evolving Wellness, based in Cincinnati.

The Thrive 5K is a community-focused event aimed at raising awareness for domestic violence in Northern Kentucky. Set to take place on October 28, 2023, this inaugural event is designed to bring people together in the spirit of promoting healthy relationships and ending domestic abuse.

Participants can expect a fun-filled morning of walking, running, and cheering on others as they complete the 5K course through Devou Park. With each step, runners and walkers will be making a statement in support of those affected by domestic violence, showing that the community stands with them and is committed to creating a safer, healthier future for all.

In addition to the race, the event will feature a resource fair to learn more about the impact of domestic violence and ways to prevent it. There will also be opportunities to connect with local organizations working to support survivors and end the cycle of abuse.

The Thrive 5K is an important step in raising awareness for domestic violence and fostering a community committed to supporting survivors and preventing abuse. Join us on October 28, 2023, to take part in this powerful event.

Details and registration information can be found here:

Interested in sponsoring the event? Contact MeghanK@thriveselfdefense.com for info.

In honor of campus safety month, this workshop—sponsored by the Miami University Police Department and the MU Office of Student Wellness—is being offered at no cost to all Miami University students, faculty, staff, and the Oxford community.

Participants will gain a toolbox of immediate mental, verbal, and physical responses to risky situations, from boundary violations and harassment to physical assault. Together, we’ll learn and practice:

• Understanding the science behind our intuition

• Using our posture and voice to protect our boundaries

• Recognizing and responding to red-flag behaviors

• Escaping from grabs and holds

• Simple physical strikes anyone can use

On-campus location is Phillips Hall 033. Pre-registration is encouraged.

Join us in the May Room at Trinity Episcopal Church in Covington for this open, all-community event!

Learn and practice tools for mental, verbal, and physical self-defense in this fun, trauma-informed, hands-on workshop. We’ll test our awareness, learn why our intuition is our superpower, find our unique Warrior Voices, and practice escapes from common grabs and holds as well as simple gross-motor strikes anyone can do. You matter, your voice matters, and you are more powerful than you realize!

From 6 pm to 6:30 pm, our host Trinity Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is offering light refreshments and community.

At 6:30 pm, we’ll begin the 2.5-hour Empowerment Self-Defense program.

There is no registration fee, but we ask that participants bring a donation of feminine hygiene products to support ECW’s community outreach efforts.

All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

The next series runs every Thursday in June: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.

This small-group workshop is designed to support survivors of sexual assault and individuals who struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, or fear around sex. It aims to create a safe and supportive environment where participants can explore their sexuality, learn coping skills, and connect with others who have had similar experiences. 

Using discussion, interactive exercises, creative activities, and guided meditations, Sexually Speaking explores:

• consent

• boundaries

• communication

• pleasure

• sexual health

• intimacy

• self-care

We will also work on building self-esteem and self-confidence to help participants feel empowered in their sexual experiences. 

While the topic of sexual assault is a serious and important issue, our class is also designed to be fun and enjoyable. We believe that laughter and humor can be a powerful tool for healing and growth. Therefore, we encourage a relaxed and playful atmosphere where participants can feel comfortable expressing themselves and enjoying the process. 

This series registration fee operates on a sliding scale. Choose $50 (Reduced), $75 (Standard), or $100 (Supporter) based on your budget.

Due to our small class sizes, you must pre-register to reserve your spot. If the registration fee is a barrier to your attendance, please email us.

We have 8 spots left.

Instructor Erin DeSantis invites you to this relaxing class to bring you into a new week with ease. The practice will be floor based with meditation offerings. You will leave feeling grounded and ready for anything to come.

Our floor is matted, but you are welcome to bring your own mat and a water bottle.

Class fees:

• Drop-in rate: $15

• 5-class pass: $70

• 10-class pass: $125

Due to space limitations, reservation is required.

Does talking about sex with your kids intimidate or even scare you? Are you concerned about the influence of social media and popular culture on your young peoples' attitudes and values around sex? In this engaging and supportive space, we'll discuss 

• how and why to become an "askable adult"

• the importance of knowing and sharing your own values around sexuality with your young people

• resources to help you become more prepared to talk about sex with your young people

Talking about sex with kids doesn't come naturally to many of us, but the benefits of it are overwhelming. Regardless of the age of the young people in your life, this brief workshop will provide guidance and support for all parenting adults.

Your young person’s health and well-being—both physical and emotional—is too important to make “The Talk” a onetime event. Community educators Katie Gardner and Leslie Montgomery will give you the tools to create a culture of open communication in your home.

In-person space is limited so you must pre-register to reserve your spot.

In-person registration fee: $20 (If this is a barrier to your attendance, please reach out to us!) Includes workbook.

Family discounts for co-parents of the same children: $30 for two parents, $45 for three parents, $65 for four parents

OR

About the Instructor

Katie Gardner, BSN, is a Community Outreach Educator with Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai'i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky (PPGNHAIK). Born and raised in Kentucky, she has years of experience providing health education focusing on sexual health, empowerment, relationships, and consent. She also teaches Empowerment Self-Defense through her own organization, Empowering Movement.

As part of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming, we are partnering with The Ion Center For Violence Prevention to bring local teens a Healthy Dating Series, open to everyone ages 13-17. Come to one night or all three!

In the final session, we’ll use dynamic activities and discussions to:

• recognize the predatory behaviors that often lead to sexual assault.

• learn the “4Ds” of bystander intervention, so we know what to do if we see someone else in trouble.

• evaluate our level of responsibility to others to help our community stay safe.

• identify when it’s safe for us to intervene and when we need help from others.

Registration: FREE. Donations of personal-care products (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, etc.) will be collected for the ION Center’s domestic violence shelters and are much appreciated.

Pizza, snacks, and drinks provided!.

This workshop—sponsored by the Miami University Police Department and the MU Office of Student Wellness—is presented by Women Helping Women in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is being offered at no cost to all Miami University students, faculty, staff, and the Oxford community.

One of the most powerful self-defense tools we have is our voice, yet it’s also the one many people find most difficult to use. In this 2-hour class, we will discuss and practice

• effective ways to set physical and emotional boundaries, both with strangers and people we know and care about

• granting and withholding consent

• navigating uncomfortable conversations and deescalating tense encounters

• recognizing the warning signs of dangerous relationships and how to remove ourselves from them

• simple releases from unwanted touch

On-campus location to be announced. Pre-registration is encouraged.

As part of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming, we are partnering with The Ion Center For Violence Prevention to bring local teens a Healthy Dating Series, open to everyone ages 13-17. Come to one night or all three!

In the second session, we’ll use dynamic activities and discussions to:

• decide what positive qualities we want in our relationships.

• recognize red-flag behaviors in our own relationships and in others’.

• identify strategies for avoiding, addressing, or escaping red-flag behaviors.

• learn three simple physical self-defense techniques we can use if we feel we’re in danger.

Registration: FREE. Donations of personal-care products (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, etc.) will be collected for the ION Center’s domestic violence shelters and are much appreciated.

Pizza, snacks, and drinks provided!.

As part of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming, we are partnering with The Ion Center For Violence Prevention to bring local teens a Healthy Dating Series, open to everyone ages 13-17. Come to one night or all three!

In the first session, we’ll use dynamic activities and discussions to:

• define and recognize personal boundary setting and consent.

• learn how to express our own physical and emotional boundaries.

• understand what IS consent and what is NOT consent.

• learn simple physical techniques to get away from unwanted hugs, hand-holding, and other types of unwelcome touch, which are often initiated to test a person’s boundaries.

Registration: FREE. Donations of personal-care products (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, etc.) will be collected for the ION Center’s domestic violence shelters and are much appreciated.

Pizza, snacks, and drinks provided!

This workshop has been canceled due to lack of interest. Please sign up for our mailing list for information on upcoming opportunities!

Join us for an evening workshop on finding—or re-igniting—your passion! We'll share ideas on how to explore what may already come naturally to you, as well as use group discussions, guided journaling, goal-setting, and a gentle yoga practice to help you discover the next steps on your path.

Please bring:

• Your yoga mat, if you have one you prefer

• A water bottle

• Your own journal, if you have one you prefer

If you don’t have a journal, we can provide one for you.

Registration fee: $35

About the Instructor

Cherie Dawn Haas is a writer and yoga teacher whose goal is to help others be inspired and find their own voice through various means of self-expression.
Website: LifeSoup.blog
Instagram: @CherieDawnHaas

Friends, in the words of the beautiful and brilliant Donna Meagle of Parks & Rec, it’s time to TREAT YOSELF!

In honor of Galentine’s day, Thrive is hosting the 2nd Annual Badass Brunch. We’ll gather, sip bubbly beverages and enjoy fancy snacks, do a little Body Love stretching and meditation, and share some fun activities focused on reminding ourselves that we’re beautiful, bold, brave, and all-around badass.

Registration fee is $25. Space is limited, so you must pre-register.

Feeling a little anxious about the holidays or looking to head into the winter months with a greater sense of peace? Join us for an afternoon yoga retreat led by local writer and yoga teacher Cherie Dawn Haas. Cherie will lead you through a series of journaling exercises, group discussions, and yoga poses to help you calm your mind, relax your body, and rejuvenate your spirit.
Includes light snacks, journal and pen.

About the Instructor

Cherie Dawn Haas is a writer and yoga teacher whose goal is to help others be inspired and find their own voice through various means of self-expression.
Website: LifeSoup.blog
Instagram: @CherieDawnHaas

Due to space limitations, you must pre-register.

***THIS CLASS IS FULL.***

Registration fee: $45

Presented by Women Helping Women, Alpha Chi Omega, and S.W.I.M. and sponsored by Miami University Police Department and the Office of Student Wellness

In honor of Domestic Violence / Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month, we’re returning to Miami University to offer an Empowerment Self-Defense workshop specifically for students and other community members. Through hands-on activities, role play using real-world scenarios (such as dating violence, parties, harassment), and the practice of verbal and physical techniques, we’ll learn how to:

• recognize and assess danger (THINK)

• assert boundaries and de-escalate tense situations (YELL)

• escape grabs and holds (RUN)

• use our body’s 10 tools to fend off a physical attack (FIGHT)

• find help and support for ourselves and others who’ve experienced harassment or violence (TELL)

The workshop will take place on Sports Forum Court 3 in the Rec Center.

You can pre-register for the event by claiming your free event ticket here and providing your MU email address or connection to the Oxford community. All those who pre-register and attend the workshop will be entered into a drawing for a Thrive gift bag.

Our foundational course provides a toolbox of immediate mental, verbal, and physical responses to risky situations, from boundary violations and harassment to physical assault. In this 3-hour workshop, we will practice all 5 safety principles of ESD—Think, Yell, Run, Fight, Tell—through discussion, role play, and hands-on technique practice. Join us for this fun and dynamic event!

We encourage you to wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle. Light snacks will be provided.

Open to all, ages 10+.

Due to space limitations, you must pre-register for this event.

We have 6 spots left.

Registration fee: $50 (If this is a barrier to your attendance, please reach out to us!)

We’re excited to announce the official opening of our physical space at 226 West Pike Street in Covington!

We’ll be hosting a small, private gathering for all those who attended class or supported us during our first year. If you’re just discovering Thrive, please reach out to us if you’d like to stop by to tour the Center, talk to us, or sign up for classes, which will begin on Monday, May 3, 2021.

In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re working with two sister organizations in Nashville—ASSERT Empowerment & Self-Defense and Girl, unKnown, Inc.—to bring you a night of empowerment and inspiration as an array of speakers and performers share their passion and ideas about women’s progress and gender parity.

IWD@Home
#ChooseToChallenge
#SOAR

Sunday, March 7, 2021
4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Streaming FREE on YouTube and Twitch, live from the Harriet Tubman Theater in the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
www.intlwomensdaynashville.org

https://www.facebook.com/IWDAtHome2021

Reserve your free ticket here.

Support this event by donating here.

Friends, in the words of the beautiful and brilliant Donna Meagle of Parks & Rec, it’s time to TREAT YOSELF!

In honor of Galentine’s day, Thrive is hosting the first Annual Badass Brunch (2021 virtual edition). We’ll gather via Zoom, sip bubbly beverages, do a little yoga and meditation, and share some fun activities focused on reminding ourselves that we’re beautiful, bold, brave, and all-around badass.

Cost: $20

Registration includes special mystery Galentine’s gift delivery to your doorstep and access to the online party. Proceeds from this event go to fund this year’s International Women’s Day Celebration at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on March 7!

Register here.