Initiative will advance evidence-based research on Empowerment Self-Defense, violence prevention, and athlete safety to strengthen long-term solutions across sport and society
NASHVILLE, Tenn., 24 April 2026 — The Strong Side, the flagship culture-change initiative of the International Association of ESD Professionals (IAESDP), today announced a research collaboration with Self-Empowerment and Equity for Change (SEE Change), an initiative housed within the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Together, The Strong Side and SEE Change will contribute to the growing body of evidence surrounding Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD), violence prevention, leadership development, and community safety through research, data analysis, and academic publication.
The collaboration will focus on:
Funded in part by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), SEE Change conducts international gender-informed research, evidence-based training, and support services that help entrepreneurs and employees build positive mental habits, realize their leadership potential, and achieve their personal and professional goals.
“When we talk about building a sustainable solution capable of challenging and dismantling the structures that enable violence while building lasting systems of safety and respect for all, this is what we mean,” said Lissette Brassac Fitzgerald, CEO of IAESDP. “Real change requires more than good intentions. It requires data, research, and a commitment to understanding what works, for whom, and why. This collaboration helps ensure that the systems we build are informed by evidence and designed for lasting impact.”
The Strong Side works at the intersection of sport, violence prevention, and community engagement, equipping athletes, clubs, supporters, and sports organizations with practical tools to prevent harm and create safer cultures. Through this collaboration, the initiative will strengthen its ability to measure outcomes, refine programming, and contribute new knowledge to the global field of violence prevention.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to creating solutions that are data-informed, research-backed, and grounded in real-world experience. By combining academic rigor with community-based implementation, the organizations aim to strengthen the evidence base supporting ESD and help build safer environments across sports environments, workplaces, schools, and communities.
“This is how we build safety nets for entire communities,” added Fitzgerald. “From the ground up and from the locker room out. By understanding not only whether these interventions work, but how and why they work, we can create stronger systems of prevention that reach far beyond sport.”
Self-Empowerment and Equity for Change (SEE Change) is an initiative housed within the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Funded in part by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), SEE Change conducts international gender-informed research, evidence-based training, and support services that help entrepreneurs and employees build positive mental habits, realize their leadership potential, and achieve their personal and professional goals.
The Strong Side is the flagship culture-change engine of the International Association of ESD Professionals (IAESDP). TSS equips sports organizations with practical training, prevention systems, and community activation to reduce harm, protect brand trust, and strengthen loyalty—from the locker room out—to the pitch, to the stadium, to the community.
The International Association of ESD Professionals (IAESDP) advances safety, violence prevention, and empowerment-based education through professional standards, training frameworks, and implementation support across sectors.
IAESDP and The Strong Side leadership are available for interviews and briefings with sports media and league stakeholders.
Press contact:
press@thestrongside.team
www.thestrongside.team
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