Volunteering with Rose City Self-Defense

Rose City Self-Defense is looking for cis and trans women, non-binary people comfortable in women-centered spaces, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC communities to train to become volunteer instructors and teach empowerment-based self-defense skills in our community, youth or LGBTQIA2S+ programs. 

Volunteers are essential to providing free self-defense classes in the city of Portland.  Being a RCSD instructor is both challenging and rewarding. It is an investment of time and resources, but one which pays off in individual skill-building and community connection. Many of our volunteers describe it as a life-changing experience and one of the best decisions they have ever made. One instructor who went through training a couple years ago wrote: “joining RCSD is the best thing I have done for myself in a very long time. The training was incredible (I still miss it!) and I love teaching. I am always in such a good place emotionally and physically after I teach. I love it!”

Applications are accepted year-round.  We process applications in the Fall and will reach out for interviews at the end of October.

Volunteer Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age (Youth volunteers will need to pass a background check)
• Complete the RCSD volunteer training (6 Saturdays, January to March 2027)
• Commit to teaching with Rose City Self-Defense for one year.

How to Apply

Rose City Self-Defense Volunteer Application

About the Volunteer Training

We would like to orient you to the process of training to be a RCSD self-defense instructor.  Instructors first complete a classroom-based training and then apprentice. Our in-person trainings begin in January.  There are two parts of training.The first part happens on Saturdays, in which volunteers will learn basic physical self-defense skills as well as concepts and theory on topics like being trauma-informed, intimate partner violence and understanding oppression. 
Saturday trainings run from 9:00am-5:30 pm.  The dates for 2027 are:  January 9th & 23rd; February 6th & 20th; and March 6th & 13th. 

The second part of training will be participating as an apprentice in introductory level self-defense classes from April-June. The dates and times will be determined by the spring class schedule.

The process of becoming a RCSD instructor requires the following: 

1. Submitting this application
2. Answer the question: "Why would you like to volunteer with Rose City Self-Defense?"
3. Virtual Interview with the Director, Youth Coordinator, and volunteer instructor 
4. A background check (for the youth program).
5. We ask you to commit to teaching at least one year (and hopefully many more!). Our longest volunteer has taught since1998!

Please specify if you would like to work with the Youth Program (monthly middle and high school classes in the evenings & weekends), our Woman-Identified Community-Based Program (offered monthly in the evenings and on weekends) or ourQueer- Identified LGBTQIA2S+ Program (offered quarterly on evenings and weekends).

We hope that you will apply. Don't hesitate to ask if you have questions along the way.

Welcome to Rose City Self-Defense!

Sara K. Johnson Rose City Self-DefenseProgram DirectorPublic Service Safety Area,City of PortlandSara.K.Johnson@portland…
503-793-6862

Toni Fujiwara
Rose City Self-Defense Youth Coordinator
Public Service Safety Area, City of Portland
Toni.Fujiwara@portlandoregon.gov
503-484-0630

Questions?

Email RoseCitySelf-Defense@portlandoregon.gov or visit Rose City Self-Defense for more information about the program.

View full size image of RCSD is looking for new volunteer instructors to teach empowerment-based self-defense skills in our community, youth or LGBTQIA2S+ programs.