SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Women helping women — that’s what inspired local entrepreneurs Nancy Lipkin Sipera, president of First Impressions Marketing, and Cheryl Squadrito, founder of Media Friendly Public Relations, to give back to the women in the community.
The result is Women Strike It Strong, a safety workshop where mothers, daughters, sisters and friends can learn self-defense via martial arts.
Sipera and Squadrito met while serving on the board of the southern New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Their collaboration sparked their creativity, and they said the initial response to the event has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Supporting women is important to me, and I wanted to do something that could make an impact — bigger than just making a donation,” Sipera said.
The self-defense class, which will be taught by TJ Miller of the Ludus Academy of Martial Arts, is more than just teaching women how to protect themselves.
“We love our sons, but we have daughters and we want them to feel empowered and feel safe and we want to be role models for it. Yes, it’s self-defense class. And we’re going to learn just the basics. But it's also about camaraderie and the energy that women have when they’re together, lifting each other up,” Squardito said, adding that something magical happens when women reach out to support each other.
“I’m hoping that this is the first step for many women toward empowerment in their lives,” Sipera agreed. “If you feel like you’re strong in your mind, you can do amazing things. And that’s really what I’m hoping people get out of it.”
All of the proceeds from Women Strike It Strong will benefit the Center for Family Services, which helps women in crisis get back on their feet. Clothing donations will also be collected for The Wardrobe, a nonprofit that works to eliminate clothing insecurity for those getting back into the workforce.
Women Strike It Strong will run from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21 at the Cherry Hill Health and Racquet Club, located at 1820 Old Cuthbert Road. For tickets and more information, click here.