Relief Fund for Diane Long

Diane Long, a dear friend and self-defense colleague, lost their business in Minneapolis, Minnesota last week to severe smoke and water damage from a fire.

Diane has served the Minneapolis community for many years with a deep commitment to human rights and racial justice. They worked as a French interpreter at the Center for Victims of Torture for over 10 years and, while there, helped to mentor volunteer massage therapists in trauma-informed bodywork. In 2010, they secured funding to offer integrative health services for LGBT youth, and have offered similar health and safety programs at a local youth shelter and for Native women in recovery. 

I have known Diane as an Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) teacher for those seeking tools for safety and self-care, as an advocate for the LBGTQ community, and as a cherished partner to youth-serving agencies. In their private practice, Diane blends boundary work and safety skills from ESD with massage, energy work, somatic therapy, and yoga.

Nationally, Diane has been a leader in Empowerment Self-Defense teacher training and brought several important concepts to our National Women's Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) Self-Defense Instructors' Conferences (SDIC). Diane emphasized a trauma-informed teaching lens, sex positivity, and the need to incorporate skills for sexual negotiation and consent into self-defense classes. Diane also served on several SDIC organizing committees, and on the NWMAF Board of Directors.  

In recent years, Diane created an annual self-care "Oasis" at NWMAF camp, arriving with a car packed with massage tables, yoga mats, music and self-care tools. Diane is committed to accessibility, and even brought a portable wheel chair to camp in anticipation that someone might need this support. Diane also professionalized our work by obtaining social work CEUs for many of our SDIC and healing arts workshops. They also advocated for explicit policies for trans inclusion. 

Diane has donated countless hours to their community in Minneapolis, and to the Martial Arts and Empowerment Self-Defense community nationally and internationally. 

Diane held professional liability and personal renter’s insurance, but none of their furnishings and business equipment for self-defense, yoga, and massage will be covered. So, with the encouragement of friends, Diane is reaching out for help. 

I am in contact with Diane, and Diane Long is the sole beneficiary of this fundraiser.