Meet the Newly Credentialed ESD Professionals (2023)
As we near the end of the year, we ask you to join us in celebrating the eight candidates who successfully tested for their ESD Professional Credential in 2023:
Bianka Urbanovska, Sally Van Wright, Chana Levy-Weinberger, Deb Mier, Nancy Lanoue, Laura Armstrong, Gretchen Butler, and Tunu Nawal.
Congratulations to all our new ESD Professionals, though the term “new” is a misnomer. The successful candidates have years or decades of experience in the field, and many are leaders who, through their tireless work and dedication, developed the concepts and practices we share today.
It feels worthy of a celebration, not only for the individual successful candidates, but for the entire profession to see growing global awareness of the value of ESD education. As we expand our teaching into public education, universities, non-governmental organizations, the United Nations, workplace environments, and other meaningful and wide-reaching institutions, we work towards ESD becoming viewed worldwide as a necessary life skill. We hope the Association credential becomes a well-recognized assurance of competence and quality which will facilitate communication and agreements between ESD professionals and partner organizations.
The Association is continuing to improve and develop its program in 2024. We plan to make some changes to the exam to alleviate unexpected challenges with technology, as well as conduct a thorough statistical analysis of results to make improvements to the exam materials as needed and to expand question quantity. We also hope to translate the exam into additional languages in 2024.
We expect to complete the Accreditation program, which will grant ESD providers a recognized organization credential, in addition to the individual credential. The Continuing Education program is expected to be finalized and introduced. We hope to have a number of Advisory Groups meeting both for general purposes, and for specific tasks.
We would like to thank all those who have dedicated time and wisdom to the Association and developing these programs. In particular, I would like to recognize those who have taken on the task of grading the exams of their peers. This is an ongoing, time-consuming task that requires a commitment to careful judgement and high ethical standards. I am deeply grateful for all those who have been able to participate in this process.
I would also like to personally thank all of you for your continued support and trust. I have had enjoyable and valuable conversations with many of you over this past year. Your input and respectful concerns are the guiding principles for the work that I do in the Association, and I will continue to endeavor to place your needs as my highest priority.
With much hope for an empowered and peaceful world,
Sheila Watson,
Meet the ESD professionals who received their ESDP credential in 2023!
Bianka Urbanovska
Bianka Urbanovska is the founder of ZA SEBA, an Empowerment Self-Defense non profit organisation focused on women, children and families. ZA SEBA started as a project in 2019 and in 2022 turned into an organisation. Bianka is a krav maga enthousiast, IMPACT instructor in making and is credentialed through the Association of ESD Professionals and is a Level 4 trainer through ESD Global.
Learn more about ZA SEBA at their website.
Sally Van Wright
Dr. Sally Johnson Van Wright is a founding Board Director for the Association of ESD Professionals, Secretary of the Board, and a member of the Executive, Credentialing, and Ethics & Conduct Committees. She is also a martial arts sensei and school founder, ESD instructor, social worker, and Assistant Superintendent/Head of Research in Western Massachusetts. Sally is a martial artist of 34+ years who teaches women and girls Shuri Ryu Karate, Modern Arnis (Philippine martial art), and Empowerment Self Defense through The Leopard School of Martial Arts in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Sally is a lifetime member and past Chair of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF), through which she is certified as a self defense instructor. She holds a PhD in social work, focused on pro-social learning among justice-involved adults. She is a licensed social worker and addictions counselor, as well as a long-term correctional leader. She has worked at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department since 1994 where she promotes smart "decarceration" through progressive interventions. A scholar of adult teaching and learning, Sally teaches graduate students at Springfield College’s School of Social Work. A student of life, Sally meditates and aims every day to learn about how to promote love, truth, and justice in the world.
Learn more about the Leopard School of Martial Arts here.
Chana Levy-Weinberger
Chana Weinberger is the VP of content development and training at El HaLev. She is an ESD and IMPACT instructor, a martial arts instructor and holds a black belt in Taekwondo. Chana teaches with ESD Global and the IMPACT travel team. Chana is an integral part of the content development team for the MyPwr App.
Connect with Chana on Instagram.
Deb Mier
Deb Mier (she/her) entered the Empowerment Self Defense world in 2010 after taking her first of many IMPACT courses. The desire to learn more about self-defense and the economy of power lead her to train in Tae Kwon Do. Deb lives in Chicago, is on the board of IMPACT Chicago, and teaches empowerment self-defense workshops to youth, adults, and people with disabilities.
She had the privilege to participate in the first ESD Incubator, now known as the ESD Global Instructor training course. Deb is thrilled to work with so many powerful people dedicated to making a world where everyone can live safely with dignity.
She is a licensed clinical social worker, registered drama therapist and professional flight attendant.
Learn more about Impact Chicago here.
Nancy Lanoue
Nancy Lanoue has been teaching Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) since 1979 when she established a storefront ESD training center in NYC. In 1985, she founded the Women’s Gym, Chicago’s first feminist fitness center, which in 1990 became Thousand Waves. With her spouse, Sarah Ludden, she co-directed Thousand Waves’ martial arts and self-defense programs for thirty years. Currently, she is teaching martial arts only once a week in order to have time for ESD teaching and teacher-training and for connecting with the worldwide ESD Global movement. She holds teacher certifications from the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation and the Association of ESD Professionals, and a 7th degree black belt in Seido Karate.
Learn more about Thousand Waves at their website.
Laura Armstrong
Laura Armstrong has been training and teaching in the martial arts for 30+ years. The two main arts that she has been involved in are Arnis/Kali/Escrima and Aikido. She also has had training in Hap-ki-do, self-defense and Shotokan karate. She has served on many Boards of Directors over the years, helping them achieve success and transformation through hard work and collaboration.
Laura has the rank of Grandmaster in the Filipino Martial Arts and 4th Dan or Yan Dan in Aikido. She has won several world titles in competition. As a National Martial Arts Coach for over 20 years she produces world champions and powerful leaders time and again. She is the Founder/CEO of Leadership with Laura and Breakthroughs with Laura, innovative, leading-edge companies that uses strategy-based programs and training that empower people to step into leadership success, communication expertise and a holistic mindset to empower and create both personal and professional success.
She is proud to be a member of the Association of ESD Professionals and is honored to be certified under their designation.
Connect with Laura on her website.
Gretchen Butler
Gretchen Butler teaches ESD and Cuong Nhu Martial Arts in Little Rock, Arkansas. She just finished a semester of teaching ESD as a supplement to a Health and Wellness course at a local all-girl school. Currently, she is actively working to get ESD into as many local schools as possible and looking to broaden the spectrum of ESD instructors in her area.
Tunu Waziri
Tunu Waziri is a young woman who works tirelessly to support girls and women with disabilities. With a passion for advocating inclusion and fighting against gender-based violence, Tunu's mission is to ensure that everyone can live independently and with dignity. Join Tunu in making a positive impact and creating a more inclusive world.
Author: Sheila Watson & Contributors
Editor: Toby Israel
Photos: Provided by featured ESD professionals.
