Wheel World News Issue 47 August | Page 15

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If you are interested in being featured in the "Professional Profile" segment, please contact Allison via email @ [email protected]

community on how they can protect themselves. I truly believe it is a blessing from above to have the opportunity to share my knowledge and skills to everyone. As I look back, it is incredibly rewarding to know that I have touched thousands of lives in our community.

My motto in life is to be an exemplary individual who embodies the vision of helping our community by “empowering themselves with knowledge and skills so they can defend themselves”. The class that I teach is called “Don’t Be a Victim!”

A little history about the program. Since January 2017, I have taught over 9,251 people from city employees, non-profit organizations, school districts, church organizations, access and functional needs community (wheelchair users), Senior Centers and the multi-cultural community.

I have created an innovative program that provide free self-defense classes for our community and city employees. Most of our community doesn’t realize that the program is not funded by the city or any other organizations. I have seen the needs of our community and I try to take that financial burden from them by providing free self-defense classes. In my spare time I try to devote most of my time and resources to teach our most vulnerable populations (elderly and wheelchair users). In recent years the class has received multiple local media support from News 3, CBS 5, Arizona- PBS – Arizona Horizon, Fox 10, KPNX 12, ABC 15, KTAR, CW6, AZCentral, Univision Arizona, Telemundo, Prensa Hispana, LaVoz, AZ Central, PHX TV, and Phoenix 2020.

I believe today, we live in an era where crime rates have skyrocket and safety has become a priority for their families. I try to listen to our community about their fears and concerns. Which I was able to identify the most important needs of our communities and provide a curriculum that will fit their needs. The greatest feedback that I have received from our community is their voice to our Mayor and City Council on how essential this class has been for their family. Even though the class that is being offered are free, you don’t just take home a free class rather a life lesson, awareness, and self-confidence. Currently, I am trying to find innovative ways to make our city a safe and better place to live. My passion continues to share my knowledge so everyone in the community can learn to stay safe.

- Jui Chiu