In response to recent safety concerns within the Athens-Clarke County (ACC) community and the campus community, Asia Parker, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Georgia (UGA), is excited to help teach a Women’s Safety Workshop on Sunday, March 24, 2024, from 1-4 p.m. at the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office Training Center in Athens.
Parker, whose research includes human rights, women’s rights, and international law has been deeply affected by the feelings of frustration, unheard voices, and most importantly the lack of safety experienced by many women in the community. Drawing from her passion for martial arts, she wanted to create a platform where women could come together to learn, collaborate, and enhance their safety skills.
“In light of multiple tragedies across the UGA community and surrounding Athens area, I found many women felt frustrated, unheard, and most of all unsafe,” said Parker. “I thought deeply about what I could do to contribute to women’s safety and empowerment in our community.”
The Women’s Safety Workshop, created and hosted by the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), will feature a Q&A Panel Discussion with experts from the ACC Police Department, CCSO, Project SAFE, and the Cottage.
Following the panel discussion, attendees will engage in Safety Diva Trivia that focuses on risk reduction tips and will follow up with a 90-minute hands-on self-defense techniques workshop taught by Lt. David McAllister, with CCSO, and Parker.
This workshop is just one of the free community outreach events led by Sheriff John Q Williams, who has made it a priority to strengthen relationships and enhance safety within the community.
“I am proud to host this important and timely workshop and invite women of all ages from our community to attend. We have pulled together experts from across Athens to answer questions and teach risk-reduction tips and hands-on self-defense techniques,” said Sheriff Williams. “This is a great opportunity for mothers and their high-school-aged daughters to take this workshop together to start important conversations about sexual violence, relationship and dating violence, and the importance of personal safety.”
The workshop is free of charge but limited to 25 participants, who must register through the Google Docs link below. A second free workshop will be held on April 20, 2024, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the CCSO Training Center.
For more information and to register, please visit the Google Doc link (bit.ly/4c6kC2Z) or contact Keith Sims, Public Information Officer, at CCSO.