KIDPOWER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Pediatrician / Doctor of Internal Medicine
Adam lives in Sydney. He completed Teenpower - Fullpower training in 2017 and completed the Kidpower and Emergency Self Defence Suit Instructor training in 2018. Adam's background is in the health and fitness industry, working as a Personal Trainer and Level 3 Neuro Kinetic Therapist.
Kidpower was introduced to Adam in 2016 and he was immediately taken by the comprehensive approach the program uses, along with it extensive online help network and support libraries.
After completing the training, I was inspired to have seen how easily age groups from 3 years and up can absorb and use the skills taught. In my opinion, true safety, both physical and emotional, comes from empowering the individual to take control. Kidpower most certainly teaches that.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Kidpower Sweden
- Sweden Director
I work with Kidpower because I want to spread knowledge about safety to everyone in an easy and practical way - which I think Kidpower does. Kidpower makes it fun to learn to be safe, which makes our program appealing for everyone!
Job Titles:
- Center Director
- Directora Del Centro Kidpower Ecuador
"Experimentar bullying y otros tipos de violencia puede dejar heridas profundas y duraderas que son, en muchos casos, las raíces del trauma. Creo que las herramientas de Kidpower son esenciales para desarrollar resiliencia y prevenir daños. Las habilidades que se enseñan en los talleres ayudan a las personas, independientemente de su edad, a prevenir o recuperarse de un trauma y vivir una vida más feliz y saludable."
Anne Mason received her BS from Michigan State University in Earth Sciences and Mathematics and did her graduate work in Systems Project Management. She is a systems consultant to the construction industry. Anne is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a Program Leader in Connelly's Academy, working mainly with elementary school children. She has designed and supervises martial arts programs for Special Needs populations. She has been a certified, full-force self defense and Kidpower instructor since 1990. She was one of the original center heads for Kidpower Chicago and is now active as an instructor, teaching supervisor and trainer. Anne is also a licensed massage therapist and Certified Structural Therapist.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Student Services for Wilkes County
April Marr, Director of Student Services for Wilkes County has been instrumental in securing funding for this program. A 3-day Child Protection Institute training was conducted for school counselors and behavioral support staff so they can implement the Kidpower Curriculum in all the elementary schools in Wilkes County.
In addition, April assisted in bringing the Kidpower Safety Bus to elementary school summer reading camps. The kids enjoyed the interactive activities on the bus: writing kind words about themselves and throwing away any hurtful words others had said to them as well as creating their own powers. Learning to be safe does not have to be scary, it can be FUN when you use the Kidpower success-based experiential style of learning in a safe and fun environment.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Controller
Carol Middleton, co-founder, long-time Kidpower Advisor and Instructor first brought Kidpower to the Washington D.C. area in 1990, and one of her students, Kim Leisey, started our Chesapeake and Potomac Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Carol has incorporated Kidpower lessons in her Karate school, taught Kidpower workshops in Kenya and in her community, and shared our articles with her members, providing Kidpower skills and knowledge to over 500 children and their adults. In addition, during Special Training, she introduced our program to over 80 self-defense instructors at a national conference.
Cecelia Keleher is an effective Kidpower instructor who is certified in programs for all ages, from preschool to seniors. In addition to being a Kidpower instructor for over 15 years, Cecelia is a senior Human Resources Manager who has experience in training and change management. She has brought the Kidpower training into corporate organizations as a family benefit to employees, as well as to enhance the development of corporate employees. Cecelia is currently a Senior Manager in HRIS and continues to be a strong advocate and trainer for the Kidpower organization - partnering with groups to bring this positive training to various communities.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Communication / Education Consultant
After attending a Kidpower workshop with my daughter and quickly experiencing the empowering benefits of the Kidpower safety skills with my family, I decided to train in 2015 to become an instructor so I could bring Kidpower Virginia to the Washington, DC metro area. I am passionate about teaching and practicing safety skills such as awareness, setting boundaries, when and how to ask for help, and healthy communication with children and adults. I look forward to sharing these life changing skills with the community.
Job Titles:
- Founding Center Director of Kidpower North Carolina, Currently a Kidpower Senior Program Leader
- North Carolina Center Founder
- North Carolina Founding Director
I was on the playground during a school social event when an 8-year-old girl and boy were playing nearby. Their game had got too rough, and the girl was running away and telling him to stop, but he kept pursuing her aggressively. As the kids ran by me, the boy reached out to hit or grab the girl, and I caught his arm and said calmly and firmly, ‘She said no.' In just a few seconds, this totally defused the situation and the kids went on their way without any more trouble. Think of how much better our world would be if everybody learned and lived out the power of ‘she said no' all the time. We can work toward this, thanks to Kidpower!
Amy Tiemann, Ph.D has more than two decades of experience as an educator and mentor, working with kids of all ages as well as adults. As the founder of SPARK Seminars, she wrote her own curriculum to teach parents the information and skills they need to become their children's most powerful safety advocates. When she wanted to extend outreach to kids themselves, she trained as a Kidpower® instructor, and brought the program to North Carolina in 2006. An award-winning author and teacher, Amy is a sought-after speaker and commentator. She is a frequent guest expert on parenting websites, national radio tours, magazines from Redbook to Glamour, and TV including ABC News, the CBS Early Show, and NBC's Today Show. Amy Tiemann received her PhD in Neurosciences from Stanford University in 1996, and she continues to apply her extensive research expertise to all her work. Her combination of perspectives and roles as a scientist, educator, author and parent gives her a unique ability to make an impact on individuals, families, and cultural standards and to create positive social change. Dr. Tiemann has advised schools on safety issues and she served on the statewide North Carolina Council for Women, the Title IX Task Force that recommended policy changes for the University of North Carolina, as well an Orange County-wide coalition to end sexual abuse.
In addition to teaching personal safety through Kidpower® North Carolina, Amy is collaborating with Kidpower® Founder and Executive Director Irene van der Zande on an independent research project and forthcoming book, Doing Right by Our Kids: Protecting Child Safety at All Levels of Society. This project looks at organizational change and best practices in addition to steps that individual people and families can take to stay safe. Learn more about this work and new resources it is generating at the website DoingRightByOurKids.com.
North Carolina Center Founder Dr. Amy Tiemann has shared Kidpower skills and strategies with the community through presentations to many community organizations, including the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, the Orange County Partnership for Young Children, and Chapel Hill Quest Martial Arts. She has given conference presentations to the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) Conference in Asheville NC, and the statewide conference of NAMI North Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Founder of the Child Safety Collaborative
Dr. Jen Johnson is an educational psychologist and founder of The Child Safety Collaborative, a collaborative partner of Kidpower International and host for the Kidpower Texas Center. Through the Collaborative, Dr. Johnson supports families, non-profit organizations, places of worship, and schools by designing, implementing, and evaluating the success of customized interventions and training related to child abuse prevention and healthy relationships. Dr. Johnson is also the founder of the Teacher Care Network and best-selling author of THRIVing After Burnout: A Teacher's Compassionate Guide, which focuses on teacher well-being as a protective factor against child abuse.
Job Titles:
- Training & Curriculum Consultant
Job Titles:
- Director of Web Communications
Elham (Eli) Khoori has a PhD in Reproductive Health and is an academic faculty member with 27 years' experiences. She is also Post Graduated and has a bachelor's degree in Midwifery. She possesses research and educational experiences in Children Personal Safety, Adolescent Health concern, and Perinatal grief. She is interested in empowering vulnerable people.
She finds that Kidpower's goal is very valuable goal - "people's safety" in a positive and respectful atmosphere, so she currently runs Kidpower Persia for Kidpower International.
In the meantime, Eli loves this Kidpower teaching: "Look through the lens of love."
My husband and I raised our family with Kidpower Colorado classes while living in Colorado Springs. After relocating to Northern Virginia in 2016 we knew that Kidpower needed to be brought to the area. I am thrilled to share these fun and active classes with my new community! We teach skills that everyone can use to have safe and healthy relationships.
Daniel Rosenbaum, Kidpower Virginia Founder
Job Titles:
- Writer and Co - Author of the Courage to Heal and Free Your Mind
Job Titles:
- Director
- Program Manager / Senior Instructor
- Senior Program Leader
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic Planning, Finance, and Grants
Fatemeh Raeisian has a master's degree in midwifery and is an academic faculty member with 10 years of work experience. She also holds a bachelor's degree in midwifery.
She is interested in research in the field of safety and empowerment of children and adolescents and has educational experience in this field. She believes that familiarity with Kidpower and its skills is an important step towards achieving the goal of empowerment in children and adolescents.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director & Cornelia Baumgartner, Kidpower New Zealand Founder & Advisor
Kidpower New Zealand was established in 1993 by Martial Artists Cornelia Baumgartner and Martin Hartman. We have collaborated with the NZ Police and Ministry of Justice to developed specific programmes for young children, and young adults with special abilities. Our centre is fully qualified to provide all Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower services to children (ages 4-12), teenagers and adults of all abilities.
We feel privileged to be able to make a positive, real, lasting difference to thousands of people by offering Kidpower in New Zealand. It is deeply gratifying seeing individuals and communities successfully apply the solution-focussed Kidpower approach to all kinds of safety issues.
Job Titles:
- Honorary Trustee
- Owner, Gayle 's Bakery
Icela Trujillo is the Outreach & Education Director for Family Crisis Council in Rowan County and joined Kidpower North Carolina as an Instructor in 2018. She works with teens in middle schools and high schools on how to stay safe with safety skills learned from Kidpower.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Founder
- California Program Director
- Founder and Executive Director of Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International
Irene is the Founder and Executive Director of Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International, the internationally-recognized global nonprofit leader in ‘People Safety' education, providing effective and empowering solutions to bullying, abuse, sexual assault, and other harmful behavior through online and live workshops as well as through print publications and digital resources.
Since 1989, Irene has inspired an international movement of leaders, reaching millions of people of all ages, abilities, cultures, identities, and walks of life with the knowledge and skills they need to take charge of their safety.
As a result of Irene's ongoing leadership and collaboration, Kidpower has earned an outstanding reputation for developing, organizing, and presenting high quality child protection, positive communication, advocacy, self-defense, and personal safety programs and curriculums both in-person and online. She is a proven expert at adapting Kidpower's services and programs to meet the needs of those facing increased risk of violence and abuse because of disabilities, poverty, and prejudice.
As Kidpower's expert lead author, Irene places time-tested life-saving skills and lessons directly into the hands of parents and professionals. Her work has gained world-wide acclaim from experts in education, law enforcement, and health for being upbeat, experiential, age-appropriate, emotionally safe, trauma-informed, and relevant in today's often-challenging times. Kidpower lessons have been presented in over 20 languages, across six continents. Kidpower trainings attract participants from around the globe.
Irene is an inspiring, passionate, and entertaining speaker, trainer, and storyteller who is a master at preparing people to transform problems into successful practices; to take charge of their safety and well-being; and to develop joyful relationships that enrich their lives.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- of Colorado Co - Founder and Executive Director
Executive Director Jan Isaacs Henry has trained and supervised the Colorado staff and continues to provide Kidpower presentations throughout the state. She was a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Colorado Springs area from 1978 through 1997 specializing in the treatment of trauma. Jan received the 2008 Lohman Award for "Excellence on Behalf of Children" from the El Paso County Bar Association and a 2013 Woman of Influence award from the Colorado Springs Business Journal for her work with Kidpower.
Job Titles:
- Honorary Trustee
- IT Senior Analyst
Jared Hayes also started as a volunteer for Kidpower® of Colorado in 2003 and began training as a padded instructor later that year and completed the certification in February of 2004. He has been trained to wear the padded suit and teach the Kidpower® physical self-defense skills. He is an integral part of the Kidpower® family and has helped train over 40,000 kids, teens and adults in Colorado, California and North Carolina. Jared believes strongly in the Kidpower® mission and does this work because he believes these skills will teach kids how to keep themselves safe in all areas of their life.
One of the best Kidpower memories comes from being a parent of two amazing Kidpower kids. In June of 2015 both of my kids attended the Weekend Family Workshop in Colorado Springs. One of the best parts of the program is the last hour of class they let all the parents and family in and the kids get to show their family all the skills they have learned in a safe and empowering environment. Between watching my own kids using the skills and reflecting back on the hundreds of kids I have personally taught at that same workshop, I am so proud to be a part of the program that cares so much and has helped so many kids stay safe.
Job Titles:
- Management and Corporate Affairs Director
Job Titles:
- Director
- Professional Business Coach and Trainer
Jennifer Turner-Davis has this to say about Nancy's impact on her as one of our newer Kidpower Board member, "Through Nancy's words and actions, she continues to inspire me to be a savvy AND compassionate businesswoman. Being on the Board with her, she often asked tough yet VERY important questions that helped me and us to grow as individuals and as an organization. With her bright mind and generous heart, Nancy led by example and that will stick with me forever."
On behalf of everyone at Kidpower, I want to express our great sadness at Nancy's passing and our great appreciation for her huge heart and incredible spirit. Though her leadership, commitment, and generosity, she truly helped Kidpower grow from a good idea to a great reality that has served over 4 million people around the world.
Like so many, I love Nancy and will miss having her here physically in this life - though I can feel her spirit with me as I write this.
Jo lives in Sydney and completed her Teenpower Fullpower certification training in April 2017, and the Kidpower certification training in January, 2018. Jo's background is in primary school education, and she has been involved as a carer in disability support for the past 20 years. Jo discovered Kidpower whilst searching the internet looking for strategies and skills to help keep people with disabilities safer when they are out and about independently in the community. Jo's strong belief that the Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower everyday safety skills are invaluable for everyone - children, teenagers and adults of all abilities, is what motivated her to complete the training and to continue practising to become a certified instructor.
What resonated with me first when I started reading about Kidpower was seeing how the safety skills are built upon evidence-based research, and how empowering and easy to learn they are. Effective communication and knowing how to set boundaries are an integral part of the programmes and the organisation, and it is wonderful seeing people of all ages learn skills that will not only build belief in ourselves, but also improve meaningful relationships in our lives, and help to keep us safer!
Jodi Province is a licensed professional counselor with a focus on working with children who have experienced trauma. As a professional therapist since 2006, she attended a conference and learned about the successes of Kidpower with a strong impression and desire to join the Kidpower safety family. Jodi strives to promote safety for children as well as all ages. Jodi is a member of the Wilkes counties Safe Spot child advocacy center as a multidisciplinary team member. This effort has proven great as Jodi advocates for more prevention in the communities she serves. These communities include Wilkes, Surry, Alexander, Iredell, and Ashe counties.
Job Titles:
- Chicago Director
- Regional and Center Director
Kidpower Chicago, also known as Kidpower Great Lakes, was established in 1991 by Martial Artists Joe Connelly and Anne Mason to serve the greater Chicago area, offering self-protection and ‘People Safety' skills training to people of all ages and abilities through private and community workshops, corporate-sponsored events, organizations, and schools. Joe also serves Kidpower International organization as a Senior Program Leader.
Kidpower Chicago offers bullying and abuse awareness and prevention programs that can be done for large groups in a presentation format while remaining interactive and hands-on. We provide community workshops as well as programs designed for specific organizations and their populations. Kidpower concepts and skills are part of the children's martial art curriculum at Connelly's Academy, actively serving more than 1,000 children and their families through community and school programs in Chicago and the northern suburbs at any given time.
Joe Connelly is a 7th Degree Black Belt Martial Arts educator. His Martial Arts Academy, Connelly's Academy, provides 23 community-based programs, serving 600 students on a weekly basis. He has designed and taught programs that empower populations with special needs since 1981. He is a special consultant to National-Louis University's PACE Program and Keshet/Gadol. His background includes 15 years of work experience in business education with IBM and The Fortune Group International, a training firm serving Fortune 1000 companies. Joe has an MS in Human Services from National-Louis University.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Principal, Applied Research Evaluation
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- Honorary Trustee
Kenneth Province is a licensed professional counselor with a focus on adult and adolescent substance abuse patients, as well as, working with adolescents and children with disruptive behaviors. I am also a distance credentialed counselor. He attended a conference and learned about Kidpower and decided he wanted to join the North Carolina team and work to bring safety and prevention program to those in the communities he serves. These communities include Wilkes, Surry, Alexander, Iredell, and Ashe counties.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore
Job Titles:
- Vermont Center Director
- Waldorf Highschool Office Administrator
Kidpower Vermont was established in 2006 by Waldorf Highschool office administrator Laura Slesar. Kidpower Vermont brings safety education to children, teens, and adults of all ages and abilities in Vermont. We offer Everyday Safety Skills workshops, Parent/Child workshops, and Kidpower, Teenpower and Fullpower workshops. We serve school groups, private groups, camps, businesses, and the general public. Our dream is to help empower all Vermonters to keep themselves and each other safe!
My daughter, Clara, was 8 years old when I started teaching Kidpower, and now at 16 she assists me in workshops. She recently went on a 3-month exchange to Germany. We live in a small town in Vermont, but because of Kidpower, she said she was not scared to be in the city of Munich. She wrote from Germany: "Knowing that I have the Kidpower skills, both physical and otherwise, has made me much more comfortable here." As her parent, I feel the same way!
An interview with Laura Slesar and KidsVT.com (https://www.kidsvt.com/vermont/how-do-you-teach-kids-about-personal-boundaries/Content?oid=2200579)
Job Titles:
- Outreach & Prevention Coordinator
Linda Coplin is the Outreach & Prevention Coordinator with Davie Domestic Violence Services & Rape Crisis Center A lifetime of working with kids has come full circle for me as a Certified Kidpower Instructor. In the early days of my career teaching a small group of kids weekly Bible stories, I had no idea such a small beginning would eventually expand to teaching safety skills to hundreds of kids in our community! My greatest challenge teaching safety skills to kids of all ages is to create lessons that are fun, interactive and empowering. While searching the internet for ideas, I found Kidpower. As I read the articles and watched the videos, I was determined to know more. I signed up for a 3-day training in October, 2015 and then invested in the Core Training Program in January, 2017. After returning to the classroom, I was amazed how the kids responded to my new training techniques, but more importantly, how confident they seemed by the end of the week. I am convinced we can improve the effectiveness of our prevention program by teaching Kidpower skills.
has become a certified instructor with Kidpower and has garnered the expertise and support of Kidpower NC Director, MJ Hayes to incorporate Kidpower skills into the agency's child abuse prevention program. They have also provided training for school counselors, teachers, therapists, county social workers and law enforcement. Linda had taught Kidpower Safety skills to hundreds of children in Davie County and continues to work for innovative ways to teach kids of all ages how to stay safe in all types of relationships and situations.
Job Titles:
- Olympia Schools Board Member
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Police Academy Coordinator & Former Chief of Police
Job Titles:
- Center Director
- North Carolina Director
Kidpower has changed my life for the better. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I wish I would have learned these skills when I was young. Finding Kidpower gave me hope that I could do something to make this world a better place by teaching everyone I can to keep themselves emotionally, mentally and physically safe. I am honored to have worked with so many families and their exceptional children in Colorado and North Carolina. My favorite quote from a child in one of our parent child workshops is when he came up to me after the class and said, "I want to do Kidpower everyday!"
Maryjane (MJ) Hayes has been working with Kidpower since 2001 when she began volunteering with the Colorado Kidpower Center. Later that year, she was invited to train as an instructor and got certified in 2002. In Colorado, MJ helped teach over 40,000 kids and adults including those with special needs. In 2012, her family relocated to North Carolina and joined that Center and is currently the Center Director in North Carolina. MJ is part of Kidpower International as a Senior Program Leader and trainer. She also travels to locations in the United States where there is not a local center to provide Kidpower training and services. Kidpower North Carolina offers programs for kids, teens, adults, seniors and those with special needs. These programs have taught thousands of children, parents and teachers in public and private workshops.
I wish I would have learned these skills when I was young. Finding Kidpower gave me hope that I could do something to make this world a better place by teaching everyone I can to keep themselves emotionally, mentally and physically safe. I am honored to have worked with so many families and their exceptional children in Colorado and North Carolina. One memorable moment came from a student in one of our Special Needs Transition program in a school district in Colorado Springs. She came up to me after our class and said, "I am so glad you taught me today, now I won't get tricked anymore!"
Job Titles:
- Director
- Conflict Resolution Consultant and Montessori Educator
Job Titles:
- Director
- Tech Sales and Marketing
Mr. Krishna Prasad Khanal is Masters in Science. He is Diploma in Computer Training from National Computer Center. He got retirement from the position of Under Secretary of Higher Secondary Education Board. He also worked as Officer at National Computer Center for 15 years. He served the Government of Nepal for about 4 decades.
Ms. Goma Devi Bhandari holds Master Degree in Sociology and Bachelor in Education. She is trained in Child Right Protection from Social Work Institute. She is currently working as a Primary Teacher in a Government School in Kathmandu. She served as Social Worker for 2 years at Child Correction Home at Bhaktapur. Her strengths are positive attitude, punctuality, self-motivation, confidence, creativity, term work, leadership and hard working.
Job Titles:
- President
- Nepal President
- President of Kidpower Nepal Teaching the Safety Skills to the Participants
Ms. Shusma Pokhrel is Masters in Business Administration and Sociology. She is also Post Graduated in Women Studies and Bachelor in Law. She is an expert in Child Protection and Advocacy for more than 20 years. She worked as the Executive Director at Nepal GoodWewave Foundation for about 2 years and served SOS Children's Villages Nepal (SOS Nepal) as Director for Family Based Care Programme and Advocacy. She was also the National Child Protection Focal Person at SOS Nepal. She is currently the Director for Nepal for Kidpower International. She possesses the experience in working with children at risk, collaborating with other Non-Government Organizations/International Non-Government Organizations, advocating the rights and protection of children. Additionally, she gathered a huge experience in engaging with Government Policy makers in the country and at local, national, regional and global levels.
Ms Shusma Pokhrel, President of Kidpower Nepal teaching the safety skills to the participants.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Officer
- Treasurer
Ms. Sunita Pokhrel is currently working as Marketing Officer in Global Agro Products Private Limited. She is Graduated in Commerce. Additionally, she is Diploma in Information Technology from NIIT, Chitwan. She started her initial professional career as a teacher for 8 years. She also served Inner Wheel Club of Bharatpur as Charter Secretary.
Nancy Driscoll always thought of others first and never expected anything in return. She received joy by watching her pupils succeed. She served as Kidpower's Board President for over 7 years and Board member for over 20 years. Nancy's deep commitment to loving kindness and well being helped Kidpower grow from a good idea to a great reality.
Job Titles:
- Engineering Leadership Consultant
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Psychologist and Educator
Job Titles:
- Head of School, the Winston School, Short Hills, New Jersey / Secretary
Job Titles:
- Center Director
- Director
- Secretary
Praveen Vempadapu is the Secretary and Director of Kidpower. He has a Masters in Development Studies from Institute of Social Studies, The Hague.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Owner, K - Flex Packaging Systems
Job Titles:
- Honorary Trustee
- Owner, Elkhorn Native Plant Nursery
Job Titles:
- Center Director
- Directora Del Centro Kidpower Guatemala
"Kidpower es un programa extraordinario en el que se abordan temas de seguridad muy importantes para los niños, incluyendo muchos temas que los papás no siempre tenemos los recursos para enseñarlos o reforzarlos. La personalidad y la forma en que Roxana enseña de manera práctica, visual y experimentando las situaciones de una manera tan real y sencilla ha sido una experiencia increíble para mi hijo y para mí. Gracias a Roxana y a Kidpower por todo ese poder interior que han ayudado a descubrir y fortalecer en mi hijo."
Sahar Arab holds a bachelor's degree in midwifery and a master's degree in midwifery counseling.
She is interested in working with children and adolescents and has done research on adolescent health concerns. She has worked at the university and in midwifery counseling centers on puberty education, marriage counseling, and physiological childbirth. She believes that happiness and security are the right of all of us and that Kidpower skills can make the world happier and safer for all of us.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Facilitator and Family Therapist
Sneha Mayekar has more than 10 years of experience in marketing, sales and cross functional management (legal, medical and regulatory) in the healthcare industry. Her passion for "People Safety" with special focus on children safety led her to take training from Kidpower International and become a full time certified trainer. She conducts workshops in corporate companies and schools in Mumbai.
Sobha Rani is a teacher by training and works full time with Kidpower India. Both Praveen and Sobha are trained in USA on how to conduct safety workshops effectively and work with children as well as teens and adults.
Originally from California, Sterling Goodrich has been teaching self-defense internationally to people of all ages since 1992, and as a Kidpower Chicago presenter and padded instructor since 1996. He has a 5th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Hapkido. Sterling has developed and managed teams providing engaging, and often life-saving, after-school programing for at-risk youth for nonprofit organizations in Chicago for nearly two decades, partnering with Second City and many other organizations to give kids a safe and fun respite from difficult life situations. He earned his Master's degree in Entertainment Business Leadership, and his BA in Communications, from Northwestern University and has a strong background in entertainment, corporate communications, and community not-for-profit work. He is also bilingual in English and Spanish.
Susan Lombardo has a master's degree (M.S.) in Rehabilitation Counseling and certification to teach special education. She has helped adolescents with disabilities and their families and adults with disabilities for over 30 years as a counselor, educator, career coach, and job developer. Ms. Lombardo was introduced to Kidpower in 2016 when she observed MJ Hayes teach personal safety strategies to her students with disabilities. Ms. Lombardo was immediately impressed with the students' enthusiastic response to the material and eagerness to engage in the practice. At that moment Ms. Lombardo decided she wanted to also teach Kidpower because it truly is empowering and essential to self-determined behavior.
Suzanne earned a BA in Child and Family Development. Her background includes caring for children and adolescents with behavioral problems in residential facilities as well as serving as a Student Life Instructor at the PACE Program at National-Louis University. At the PACE Program, Suzanne coordinated activities for college aged students with multiple learning disabilities.
Personal safety is a topic that I am passionate about and Kidpower has provided me with a vehicle through which I can meaningfully contribute in my community. It warms my heart to watch children and their adults learn Kidpower skills and harness the power they already have to help them stay safe.
Job Titles:
- Communications Administrator
Tim Peebles is a graduate student in theology at the University of Chicago, a home schooling father and a Tae Kwon Do practitioner and program leader. He does church-related community development work with at-risk youth, using Tae Kwon Do and Kidpower. He received his Kidpower instructor training in January 2009. Since then, he has been apprenticing as a workshop and padded-suit instructor with senior Kidpower staff.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Business and CEO Coach
Job Titles:
- Director
- Child Safety Expert and Social Activist
Kidpower Lebanon was established in 2010 by Psychotherapist Zeina Hobeish to provide safety education skills to children and adolescents from ages 3-18, their caregivers, and specialists who work with children. Our center in Lebanon provides a variety of training packages, awareness and coaching sessions, counseling services, and advice to community-based organizations, schools, and community members. We deliver Kidpower's tailored workshops for caregivers and professional in Lebanon and in the region.
Through Zeina's leadership, Kidpower has impacted thousands of people in the region. Zeina has translated the Kidpower Teaching Kits into Arabic and is advising an educator in Saudi Arabia who is launching a national movement to stop child abuse about how to use the Kidpower program in her work.
Child development harm is preventable by giving the adults the essential information to build a protective environment, in which children are protected from violence, exploitation and abuse. As a clinical psychologist working for more than 10 years with needy and maltreated children who are suffering from domestic violence, I was searching for a practical and efficient method to empower the kids to keep themselves safe without scaring them. I was very impressed by the effectiveness of Kidpower method in teaching people to protect themselves with a very friendly way and high respect for diversity. I had the chance and the opportunity to bring Kidpower safety skills to my country and our region in the Arab world.