'Vixens Against Violence' strong in the bay area

TAMPA - The idea came to her five years ago.

Briana Michel of Tampa said through her work in fitness and nutrition, she kept hearing similar stories of women in violent relationships at home.

"I really felt like these women needed a voice," she said.

Michel created Vixens Against Violence. It's a web of women throughout the bay area who connect through empowering events like pole fitness classes, rock climbing and self-defense classes.

"We are redefining the word vixen. Vixen really means to be powerful, brave and strong," Michel said.

She said she has reached thousands of women throughout the Tampa Bay area.

"We're connecting the dots. We're getting out there."

She donates money raised through Vixens Against Violence events to local shelters and domestic violence victims.

Michel recently brought Vixens Against Violence participants to a weapons self-defense class at Pinellas Krav Maga.

One woman in the class, who chose to shield her identity because of her past filled with domestic violence, said she is now connecting with Michel's message of vixens and strength.

"The more people who are willing to talk about it brings out more people. I wish there had been something like that a long time ago," she said.

Visit http://www.vixensagainstviolence.com/ to connect with Michel and Vixens Against Violence.