Kim Rivers

Kim holds a Masters of Social Work from Springfield College. She has trained in the martial arts of Tai Chi and Aikido since 1997 and currently holds the rank of 6th degree black belt in Aikido. Kim participated in ESD Global’s instructor training program in 2018, and received her Self Defense Instructor Certification from National Women’s Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) in 2019, and re-certified in 2024. She received her Level 3 Instructor Certification from ESD Global Inc. She is recognized as an accredited ESD Instructor by the International Association of ESD Professionals and now serves on the Credentialing Committee for this organization. In 2020 Kim attended ESD Global's Lead Instructor training in Israel. In 2023 along with representatives from over 30 countries, Kim participated in the ESD Community Incubator. She short-term mentored 60 ESD trainees from across the African continent and 2 years mentoring a group of from Albania, bringing ESD curriculum to schools in Albania in partnership with the The United Nations. This model now serves as a template for other countries to bring violence prevention education to school-age children. She was the Director of Mentorship and Certification with ESD Global Inc from 2022 - 2024, offering guidance to over 50 ESD Global mentors in curriculum building and guiding newly trained ESD instructors. She oversaw the advancement of almost 50 ESD instructors to higher teaching levels during her tenure at ESD Global, creating guidelines for practice and advancement. This model is presently being utilized by ESD Europe, where Kim serves on their Certification Review Committee. Kim participates in an ESD community group that created a Code of Ethics for Empowerment Self Defense practitioners and meets monthly to discuss relevant topics of interest to the ESD community. She recently contracted for PAVE Prevention to create ESD curriculum for DePaul University School of Hospitality.

Locally, Kim is deeply involved in addressing gender-based violence in her community. She served for 12 years on the board of Directors of Elizabeth Freeman Center Inc., which offers counseling, shelter, legal advocacy, safety planning, violence prevention education, and a 24/7 hotline. Currently she works for this organization providing counseling in their shelter and emergency hotline.