Empowerment-Based Safety, SEL & Violence Prevention

IMPower Youth Programming

Confidence, Safety & Self-Leadership

**Most Safety Programs Teach Youth What to Fear.

IMPower teaches them what to do. When young people feel unsafe, overwhelmed, pressured, or confused, they don’t need lectures or scare tactics. They need clear, practiced responses they can access in their bodies under stress.

That’s where IMPower Youth Programs are different.

With over 26 years of experience in empowerment-based self-defense, youth development, and school-based education, IMPower programs integrate:
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

• De-escalation and violence prevention

• Boundary-setting and assertive communication

• Trauma-informed care and nervous system awareness

• Restorative, non-punitive approaches to safety

• Self-care and regulation after stressful experiences

This work is not theoretical. It is experiential, embodied, and developmentally appropriate.

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How Youth Learn Best: Practice, Not Fear

IMPower programs use game-based and scenario-based learning to help youth:

• Build confidence through movement and repetition

• Practice real-life situations in a supportive environment

• Learn how their bodies respond under stress

• Develop awareness, choice, and voice without escalation

Rather than memorizing rules, youth rehearse skills so responses become natural, accessible, and memorable.

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Real-World Tools Youth Actually Remember

IMPower focuses on simple strategies that cut through panic, freeze responses, and social pressure.

Identity-Based Voice Skills

Youth learn how and when to use phrases like:

• “You’re not my mom.”

• “You’re not my dad.”

These phrases work because they:

• Immediately alert people nearby

• Signal that something is wrong

• Break the illusion of compliance

• Shift power back to the youth Voice Training (Not Just Yelling)

Youth practice using their voice so it is:

• Clear and intentional

• Loud enough to draw attention

• Grounded rather than panicked Boundary-Setting Without Politeness

Youth practice saying:

• “Stop.”

• “Back up.”

• “I don’t know you.”

They pair words with posture, eye contact, and stance, learning that safety does not require politeness.

Freeze-to-Action Skills

We normalize freezing as a human, biological response, not a failure.

Youth learn how to move through freeze using:

• Breath awareness

• Simple grounding movements

• Body positioning that restores agency

Situational Awareness Without Fear

Youth learn to notice:

• Who is around them

• Where exits are

• When something feels “off.”

All without living in hypervigilance or anxiety.

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Trauma-Informed, Restorative & Empowering

IMPower programs are designed with an understanding that:

• Youth bring lived experiences into the room

• Triggers and stress responses are normal

• Learning safety skills should never create shame or fear

We prioritize:

• Choice and consent

• Emotional regulation and recovery

• Respect for boundaries and lived experience

• Tools youth can use after a stressful or unsafe moment

This is prevention, preparation, and care—woven together.

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Where IMPower Youth Programs Fit

IMPower Youth Programs are a strong fit for spaces where young people are learning, growing, and finding their voice:

• Elementary, middle, and high schools (Kamehameha Middle School)

• After-school and enrichment programs (HTA - Hawaii Technology Academy, Tacoma Public Schools)

• YMCA programs

• Boys & Girls Clubs

• Girl Scouts and youth leadership groups (Girl Scouts of Hawaii & Aloha Junior League)

• Community and faith-based youth programs

• Summer camps and youth retreats. Each session is customizable, age-appropriate, and rooted in empowerment—not fear.

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Ready to Bring IMPower to Your Youth Community?

If you’re ready to equip youth with:

• Confidence

• Awareness

• Emotional regulation

• De-escalation skills

• Real-world safety tools they can use immediately

Let’s talk.

IMPower workshops and trainings can be tailored to your school, organization, or community—meeting youth where they are and giving them skills that last a lifetime.

Request an IMPower Youth Workshop
 
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