College Safety for Millennials

The Millennials, born between 1982 to 2001, are one of the most multicultural, trusting and open-minded generations as compared to their older siblings and parents.

They are also one of the most open generations and willing to share all kinds of personal information at the click of a button via Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, etc. without consideration to the negatives. Unfortunately, all this openness can have a dark side with unintended consequences inviting predators and threatening their personal safety.

Let's talk about how you can be more successful by enlisting them in their own crime prevention and safety education.

1. Be Real - Millennials can smell self-serving a mile away and will shut down. They want unbiased information from subject matter experts so they draw their own conclusions. Content is key. Tone is critical.

2. Provide Real Information - Millennials want to know what is going on 24/7. They update and look for updates continually. They want real information. Empower them with the right information by communicating relevant information without being boring. Shock value is real and memorable and complements the facts.

3. Stay out of the Weeds - Millennials like the view from 30,000 feet and aren't that keen on details. Most likely won't remember all the do's and don'ts about college safety, but they will want to be prepared with the correct information. Listening to intuition is crucial. By teaching them using engaging scenarios and sample real life situations, they can come up with their own viable plan.

4. Facilitate - Don't Lecture - Millennials believe in collaboration. As such, they learn well in interactive groups where they can talk about safety and raise their own awareness for personal safety.

5. Plug into Media - This is not your lecture Powerpoint generation. They want to be entertained while being educated. They are easily bored. Utilize rich video content with statistics to deliver quality information.

6. 24/7 Access - This group wants information accessible at any time of the day. By providing self defense training material and personal safety information that can be accessed via Internet at any time, you will receive a more "plugged in" crowd to your message.

College can be a wonderful time in a young person's life. Unfortunately, it is also a time when they are at their most vulnerable to predators. Provide them with the proper personal safety and self defense training so that this will be one of their most memorable experiences.

By providing the Millennials with effective self-defense information in a manner that is entertaining, real and easily accessible, they will empower themselves to take charge of their own personal safety, and that of those around them.

To learn more about College Safety for Her Programs College Safety for Her and to schedule a class, contact Women's Self-Defense Institute.

Angie M. Tarighi is the CEO & Founder of Women's Self-Defense Institute and has been teaching women's self-defense programs for over 20 years. She is a tireless advocate of self-reliance and responsibility, encouraging women to actively protect life through awareness and education.