We are Better Together: Self-Defense Practice Space for Trans and Nonbinary Communities
**Please Note: Registration for this event is full and now closed**
Come learn accessible and effective psychological, verbal, and physical techniques to increase your sense of agency and preparedness to better assess potential threats and effectively respond to a variety of situations, ranging from uncomfortable to physically threatening.
Together, participants will learn:
- Frameworks and practices to cultivate awareness, intuition, empowerment based mindsets, and a culture of care and safety
- Verbal and non-verbal skills and strategies for boundary setting, de-escalation, and more
- Effective and easy to learn physical techniques through demonstrations and hands on practice
Participants will determine their level of comfort with activities and practice, choosing at what level to participate. There will be opportunities to practice and/or observe any of the activities. Verbal and physical techniques are taught in a body positive manner. The facilitators are committed to creating a safer learning environment where participant consent is centered and honored.
About the Instructor - Crys Middlestadt (they/them)
Crys has over 20 years of experience with gender justice, LGBTQ+ anti-violence organizing, and empowerment based self-defense. They are honored to have been trained and mentored by Nadia Telsey, co-author of Get Empowered: A Practical Guide to Thrive, Heal, and Embrace Your Confidence in a Sexist World.
Crys' framework for self-defense is rooted in their experiences as a non-binary, mixed race queer person. They have provided instruction for thousands through Survivors Organizing for Liberation, The Blue Bench, as well as leading workshops for the Pride Foundation, Creating Change conference, Denver Area Street Medics, Emerge America, University of Colorado, University of Oregon, and the National Women's Martial Arts Federation Self-Defense Instructor's Conference. Crys lives in Denver, CO and serves as the senior co-director of consulting for Justice Funders.
Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: The Center on Colfax, 1301 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218
