Our Impact
Empowering Youth with Skills that last a lifetime
At KickStart Self-Defense, we believe every young person deserves the confidence and skills to recognize danger, set boundaries, and protect themselves.
Through free, trauma-informed self-defense training, we equip youth with practical tools to reduce their risk of sexual assault, bullying, and interpersonal violence. Our programs combine physical techniques with assertive communication, boundary setting, and situational awareness - skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
KickStart partners with schools and community organizations across Northern Colorado to remove financial barriers and ensure these life-saving skills are accessible to all youth, regardless of income.
By the numbers
Impact during the 2025-2026 School Year
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438 youth served with two free trauma-informed trainings
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48 self-defense classes delivered
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5 school and community partners
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93 youth and community members served with additional 9 trainings
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82% reached through off-site PE class partnerships
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Youth ages 11-24 receive free training throughout Northern Colorado
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100% trauma-informed instruction
Reaching youth where they already are
One of KickStart’s most effective strategies is partnering with high schools that offer off-site Physical Education (PE) programs like Adventure PE, Individual Sports, and Yoga.
These partnerships allow students to earn PE credit and work towards graduation standards while learning essential self-defense and personal safety skills. By integrating our curriculum into the school day, we eliminate many of the barriers that prevent youth from accessing empowerment training, including cost, transportation, and scheduling challenges.
Today, the majority of youth we serve (82%) participate through these school-based partnerships, allowing us to reach large numbers of students in a structured and supportive educational environment.
Why empowerment self-defense matters
Research consistently shows that empowerment self-defense training can significantly reduce the likelihood of sexual assault while increasing confidence, assertiveness, and boundary-setting skills.
Participants learn to:
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Recognize potentially unsafe situations
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Communicate clear boundaries firmly and loudly
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Build confidence and trust in their instincts
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Learn and practice simple, effective physical skills to escape to safety
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Be part of creating a safer community
These are skills that protect people not only in adolescence, but throughout their lives.
Our community partners
KickStart collaborates with schools, nonprofits, and youth-serving organizations that share our commitment to prevention and empowerment.
Together, we are building a future where young people have the knowledge and confidence to stay safe and advocate for themselves and others.
Our current school partners include Rocky Mountain High School and Fossil Ridge High School. We are excited to welcome Timnath Middle-High School for the 2026-2027 school year as well!
Voices from the community
"The self-defense training was a very helpful experience and it helped not only me but the other girls gain confidence in their ability to defend themselves. It allowed the girls to feel more comfortable going back to the trails where the incident happened." Willow H. - Student Participant
"On behalf of myself and my 4th Period Yoga 1 class, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for taking the time to share such invaluable personal safety lessons and self-defense skills with us. The class not only had so much fun during the session, but they were also practicing everything the learned the very next day in class - completely unprompted! It was inspiring to see how much your teaching resonated with them.
The impact you are making by equipping students with these essential life skills is profound, and we feel lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from you.
We hope to stay connected so that future classes can benefit from the same empowering experience. Thank you again for the energy and dedication you bring to your work. It truly makes a difference!"
Ms. Stelzer - Rocky Mountain High School Teaching Partner
Looking Ahead
The need for accessible self-defense education continues to grow.
As KickStart expands, we are working to reach more schools, deepen community partnerships, and provide free trainings to hundreds more youth each year.
With the support of donors, grant makers, and community partners, we are helping create a safer and more empowered generation.