Who We Serve
Summer Camps Open for youth in high school and grades 3-5. Read more.
Camps cover topics related to violence prevention and personal safety.
Register today! Financial assistance available
Sessions are designed to be culturally specific and focus on the skills identified in prior listening sessions with the population requesting our services. We focus on building trust and safety for sharing information and collaboration.
EMERJ-SafeNow takes into consideration past traumatic experiences, if any; the age, experience and abilities of participants. For populations at high risk of assault or abuse such as children, young adults, people who identify as a woman (cisgender and transgender), the LGBTQ community, older adults, people with different abilities, marginalized communities and communities with limited resources, EMERJ-SafeNow offers a choice of strategies and skills to implement before, during and after violence or abuse: verbal, non-verbal or physical.
The LGBTQ Community
EMERJ-Safenow offers year round personal safey sessions to youth and adults who identify as a sexual minority. We collaborate with individuals, families, schools and partner with organizations to provide care-defense strategies, resources and skills to meet the safety needs of the LGBTQ community.
Older adults
EMERJ-SafeNow collaborates with community partners such as Elders in Action and the Portland Police Bureau to bring resources and services to vulnerable communities.Topics may include:
- Self-care and well being as self-defense
- De-escalation and assertive communication
- Maintaining boundaries with aggressive or unhealthy colleagues, neighbors, family members or friends
- Internet safety and abuse
- Physical and non-physical skills
People who are Differently Abled
EMERJ-SafeNow collaborates with community partners and the Portland Police Bureau to bring resources and services to people with developmental, physical or cognitive disabilities. Our facilitators are trained and have extensive experience working with people who are differently abled.
Children and Teens
EMERJ-SafeNow offers year-round developmentally appropriate interactive sessions for youth and children. All sessions aim to promote healthy behaviors and choices and are designed to build on individual and community strengths. EMERJ-SafeNow incorporates an equity and trauma-informed lens to address issues related to violence and personal safety. Learn more about our Approach and Care-defense.
EMERJ-SafeNow understands that violence prevention strategies differ for different genders. We offer sessions for youth who identify as boys, girls and for youth who identify as transgender, or whose gender is fluid or non-conforming. Sessions cover similar topics such self-care, mindfulness, emotional strength, communication skills, respecting boundaries, healthy relationships as well as appropriate non-physical and physical self-defense skills.
