CARLISLE, Pa. –
The Pennsylvania National Guard Sexual Assault Response Program hosted the 2026 SAPR Summit at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, April 23, 2026.
Nicole Snell, CEO of Empowered Journeys, Inc. and founder of Outdoor Defense, served as the event’s keynote speaker.
Snell shared her expertise in self-defense and situational awareness with service members and advocates nationwide, many attending virtually. She said her goal was to provide practical strategies and perspectives to help prevent and respond to unwanted situations.
“Especially for the victim advocates who are working in this field day in and day out, I want to give them these strategies, not just for themselves, but so they can share and model this behavior to others who might need it,” Ssaid Snell.
Snell emphasized her empowerment-based approach to self-defense, focusing on helping individuals reclaim their autonomy, assert themselves and speak up when they witness concerning situations.
“My training is about giving people skills so that if they ever are faced with an uncomfortable situation or potentially dangerous situation, that they have options because we are all working to end violence,” said Snell. “It's about giving people skills that they can use everyday, and that no intervention is too small.”
The event focused on Safety, Assertiveness, Violence Prevention and Empowerment -- SAVE -- with an additional emphasis on bystander intervention.
“I also have a unique perspective on bystander intervention,” Snell explained. “I am coming at it from the position that we are our own bystanders, that we often are in a situation where maybe someone doesn't necessarily know what to do or know when it's time to intervene, and we might have to be that for ourselves.”
Snell kept attendees involved throughout the presentation, encouraging volunteers to take part in interactive exercises designed to build self-defense skills and introduce practical tactics for handling real-world situations.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment or assault, support is available. For immediate assistance, contact SAPR at (866) 922-6275. For non-emergency support, call (717) 861-6427.