Are you interested in teaching trauma-informed, social change-oriented self-defense?
At IMPACT Boston, our organizational approach focuses on teaching personal safety and self-defense in a way that supports body-oriented healing and overall wellness. Our organizational philosophy emphasizes social change, abuse prevention, healing, empowerment, awareness and sensitivity to students' histories of trauma. We help people develop confidence and the ability to communicate and advocate for themselves effectively when they feel fear. Through repeated practice of fighting full-force in an adrenalized state, students learn to respond effectively to realistic situations of threat, intimidation and imminent danger.
IMPACT teaches classes for students of all ages and genders and has created customized programs for people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, LGBTQ people, homeless parents, abuse survivors, and students in urban and rural schools. Classes are generally taught by a multi-gendered team. Women instructors teach physical and verbal skills and provide emotional support to students as they learn techniques. They co-teach with suited instructors wearing full body armor specifically designed for full-force training who play realistic perpetrators.
IMPACT is hiring women or people of other genders who can effectively model self-defense for women and girls. We are seeking individuals who can connect effectively with students of varying age, race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability. IMPACT instructors work part-time on a varying schedule that includes weekday daytime hours and involves travel within Eastern Massachusetts.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Ability and willingness to teach a physically demanding curriculum
- Ability and willingness to provide support to students through a training process that is at times difficult and emotionally charged
- Ability and willingness to participate in an extensive training process to become qualified to teach IMPACT (all training time is paid)
- Ability and willingness to manage your own emotional responses to students and the material taught
- Experience with teaching, counseling, martial arts, work with trauma survivors, fitness or movement instruction, yoga instruction, or criminal justice
- Familiarity working with abuse/violence survivors, homeless parents, people with disabilities, and/or teens
- Reliability
- Availability to receive and respond to phone calls and emails during business hours
- Some availability during weekday daytime hours a plus
- Fluency or competency in Spanish a plus (IMPACT offers bonus pay for bilingual classes)
