VISION
CAE envisions the world we want to live in as an ever-expanding community of upstanders, people who actively work to uphold the humanity and well-being of the collective, especially the most vulnerable among us.
The Center for Anti-Violence Education (CAE) works to prevent hate violence in our communities through educational programs that center the experiences of the people most marginalized. Programs combine awareness raising, physical empowerment, leadership development and activism.
CAE centers the needs of women, girls, people who are Trans, Gender-Non Conforming and LGBQ, especially those at increased risk from racism and xenophobia. Through Empowerment Self-Defense programs, people targeted with violence learn evidence-based methods to stay safer. Upstander workshops move anyone from being a bystander to violence, to becoming someone with tools to actively intervene, disrupting violence against others and helping communities heal. Youth Power programs empower young people to become leaders against violence in their own lives and in their communities. In 2021, CAE worked remotely, serving more than 6,500 people - across the five boroughs of NYC and the country. We are currently mostly remote and come to you through digital platforms and safe, social distancing outdoor gatherings.
Since 1974, CAE’s work has been driven by a set of core values:
Inclusivity.
We center the needs of girls & women (cis and trans) and people who are Transgender, Gender-Nonconforming and LGBQ, especially those at increased risk from racism and xenophobia.
Intentionality.
We center humanity and bring a trauma-informed, intersectional gender, sexuality and anti-racist lens to all of our work.
Accessibility.
We ensure that being safe is a right, not a privilege by making accommodations across a range of abilities and income levels, with sliding scale fees and programs that are free.
Our History
From Brooklyn Women’s Martial Arts (BWMA) to The Center for Anti-violence Education (CAE), from a volunteer organization with a visionary mission to a nationally-recognized leader in violence prevention, CAE has worked for 48 years to build our collective and individual strength to end violence and stand up for justice.
Since our founding in 1974, CAE has empowered women, LGBTQ individuals, young people, and survivors to build leadership skills, heal from past abuse, and break cycles of violence in their lives and communities. Over the years, we have reached over 56,000 people with our unique violence prevention programs. Here is a brief history of some of CAE’s major milestones and accomplishments.
1970's
Annie Ellman and Nadia Telsey found Brooklyn Women’s Martial Arts (BWMA)—a women’s dojo teaching karate and self-defense contributing to the new feminist anti-violence movement that fosters skills, strength, and community.
Before having a permanent location, BWMA sets up self-defense training and one-time workshops for women in rental spaces, Annie’s living room, and at street fairs and political rallies across NYC.
BWMA organizes support for Black women from the South, including Joanne Little, who were prosecuted for fighting back against their attackers.
1980's
With the Barnard College Office for Disabled Students BWMA develops a self-defense course and curriculum for people with disabilities.
BWMA is a crucial participant in the campaign to support two Latina lesbians who endured police brutality because of their skin color and sexual orientation.
BWMA’s Women of Color Group begins meeting. The group is a driving force within BWMA as we confront racism and internalized racism and build a stronger commitment to being an anti-racist and multi-cultural organization.
Children’s Empowerment Project is founded, for boys and girls ages 6–14.
We are the first organization in NYC to provide self-defense programs for transpeople.
In partnership with the NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, we are first in the nation to provide self-defense for people living with HIV/AIDS.
1990's
Renamed The Center for Anti-violence Education (CAE), we create the national anti-violence curriculum Action for Safety, at the request of Girls, Inc. To date this curriculum has reached over 21,000 girls ages 9-11 across the US.
CAE develops a policy welcoming people of transgender experience to all programs, reflecting our commitment to reaching those most at risk, and to the growing trans liberation movement.
CAE’s Teen Initiative is founded. Starting with short-term self-defense courses, the Initiative soon includes the ongoing Power, Action, Change for Teens (PACT) program, and paid work for Peer Educators who go on to become leaders in the community.
CAE initiates our Survivors Prevention and Healing Project, which provides survivors access to free self-defense, karate, and tai chi training at CAE, and for clients and staff at rape crisis and domestic violence programs.
CAE’s teen women create and defend their Peace is not a Dream in Storage mural.
2000 - PRESENT
Following 9/11, CAE provides free violence prevention workshops to teen and adult women and small grassroots organizations that serve Arab American, South Asian, and other immigrant communities who face racist backlash, scapegoating, and violence.
CAE Co-founder Annie Ellman steps down after 30 years as Executive Director, and later returns as Program Director.
During the Executive Director transition, CAE faces a severe financial crisis and almost closes down. There is a heroic response from the CAE community, who work tirelessly to save CAE. CAE karate student and Board member Tracy Hobson assumes Executive Director role; programs are reinstated, and new staff join CAE.
CAE partners with over 80 community organizations in a single program year to reach more people than ever before in our history.
CAE is recognized and receives funding for increased work in the LGBTQ community, especially homeless LGBTQ youth.
In response to the hate and violence emerging from the 2016 elections CAE develops an UpStander Project, training more than 4,000 New Yorkers across NYC in active bystander intervention strategies.
Loren Miller is appointed Executive Director in 2017. Shortly after, CAE becomes a founding member of the NYC Against Hate Coalition and officially broadens its mission to include preventing and interrupting hate violence.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic CAE pivots to fully virtual instruction in March 2020. Demand for training surges and CAE serves over 6,500 people in one program year, the largest reach in our history.
Following the rise in xenophobia and violence against AAPI communities, CAE develops rapid response workshops, including “Right to Be Safe: Responding to Anti-Asian Harassment and Violence.” Peer Educators create and facilitate a youth version of this workshop, titled “Upstander 101: Responding to Xenophobia and Anti-Blackness.”