District 214 hosts 'Girls Fight Back' violence prevention program for females

Northwest Suburban High School District 214 is sponsoring a districtwide violence prevention program, "Girls Fight Back" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 22, in the Forest View Educational Center fieldhouse, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, in Arlington Heights.

The event is available to all junior and senior high school girls, their female relatives (ages 13 and older) and female staff.

The admission-free, interactive seminar will teach women of all ages the basics of personal safety and self-defense, including how to set boundaries and convey strong body language, practical and effective self-defense strategies any girl can use regardless of size and much more.

Girls Fight Back is in direct response to the June 2001 murder of Rolling Meadows High School alumna Shannon McNamara while a student at college.

Inspired by the way she fought her attacker, friend Erin Weed developed the seminar and trained others to join the Girls Fight Back team. By combining core values, a fun and empowering attitude and the best safety and self-defense methods available, Girls Fight Back was born. Over one million women have seen the Girls Fight Back presentation since 2001, and this is the fourth time District 214 has offered the program since 2010.

For information, contact Prospect health and physical education teacher Aaron Marnstein at aaron.marnstein@d214.org.