Clara Porter

Clara Porter (she/her).

I've been engaged with NWMAF since 1994 mostly in the Empowerment Self Defense (ESD) community though I have also enjoyed the martial arts and healing arts aspects of this community. I have been a certified ESD instructor with NWMAF since 2002.

I am the Director of Prevention. Action. Change. in Portland Maine. We are an Empowerment Self Defense organization focused on helping individuals, organizations, and communities prevent, interrupt, respond to, and heal from harassment, abuse and assault. In addition to ESD, we offer training in Active Bystander Intervention, De-escalation, Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response, Healing through Empowerment, Safe and Welcoming Workplaces, and Protest Safety. We have numerous trainers affiliated with Prevention. Action. Change., many of whom are also involved with NWMAF.

I also train in GoJu Karate with Brooklyn GoJu, formerly Brooklyn Women's Martial Arts / Center for Anti-violence Education. Living in Maine, I train online and really value the chance to train in person at the annual conference.

I have taught at numerous NWMAF conferences as well as serving on committees and most recently the board of directors. I owe so much of the development of my own practice to this organization and hope others will find a home here as I have.