Do you have street smarts?
I’ve heard knowledge classified in two major categories: book smarts and street smarts. While we can watch documentaries and read professional journals about our favorite subjects, street smarts seems to mostly come from experience. Today on the podcast, I welcome Beverly Baker of The Metropolitan Finishing School to share her street smarts.
A student and observer of violence dynamics, Beverly Baker began her education as a girl with wanderlust undeterred by tales of the boogeyman. She has dodged peril and outwitted threats on the streets of major American cities, Europe, the former Eastern Bloc and Southern Africa.
She has developed and taught personal safety courses for LAPD’s Community Police Academy, corporations, LA’s Skid Row, women’s shelters, colleges/universities, public school districts and the general public for 20 years.
She holds a 2nd dan black belt in Cha Yon Ryu martial arts, and over the past 30 years has
studied various martial arts including traditional Asian arts, Krav Maga and boxing. She
currently trains in judo.
Beverly is a volunteer escort at a healthcare clinic where she observes and physically manages the principles of conflict on the front lines where politics and religion collide.
She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA with a focus in digital media management.
Helpful Links
Website: https://www.metrofinishschool.com/
Main hashtag: #asphaltanthropolgy
Sign up for Beverly's newsletter for more info and an update on my upcoming eBook, “L.A. Like a Local”. Will have general safety information for travel anywhere plus special sections on navigating the street hustles and unique street life in tourist hotspots like Hollywood, Venice, downtown, Universal, and the Metro (subway) system.
