Safety Blows? Palm Springs-based initiative gains momentum, hands out 8,000 whistles

A new grassroots safety initiative called “Safety Blows” is gaining momentum in Palm Springs, with more than 8,000 whistles distributed since its January launch.

The program, created by local psychotherapist Brent Heinze, aims to address potential violence nationwide, especially incidents targeting LGBTQ people, people of color, and other marginalized communities.

“With the increase in potential violence nationwide, especially ones targeting LGBTQ people of color and different marginalized communities, I thought this was an interesting time in our personal history to get involved and bring more awareness,” Heinze said.

The initiative’s provocative name refers to its primary tool – a whistle that can draw attention in threatening situations.

“Back in educational environments as well as in bigger cities, whistle initiatives and public safety have gone hand in hand,” said Heinze.

The campaign focuses on activities people do in their daily lives, whether they’re full-time residents, part-time residents, or visitors to Palm Springs.

“What I really wanted to do was to target activities that people do in their daily lives,” he said. “How we’re traveling to our cars, who we’re talking to online, how we’re carrying ourselves in public.”

Safety Blows includes social media campaigns, community discussions, and educational workshops. The organization recently held a 30-person self-defense class as part of its educational outreach.

The initiative has received support from the city and the Palm Springs Police Department. Heinze mentions that Mayor Ron deHarte has been “a really big supporter,” as have Police Chief Andy Mills and others from the department.

Local businesses are invited to participate by hosting small baskets of whistles with informational materials. The displays are designed to be compact, measuring just four by four inches to minimize counter space requirements.

“I know counter space is at a premium,” Heinze acknowledges.

The displays include palm cards with contact information and program details. The Safety Blows website also offers tips on various safety topics, including socializing, risk reduction, drug use, walking to cars at night, online interactions, and driving safety.

In addition to whistle distribution, the program is launching “Safety Blows Safe Space,” which provides 8-by-8-inch signs that businesses can display in their windows.

These signs signal to individuals feeling unsafe or targeted that the business is “philosophically and physically supportive of them being able to come in and say I need help,” Heinze explains.

Participating businesses can provide a safe place for individuals to wait while law enforcement is contacted. Heinze emphasizes that the safe space program is not a substitute for calling the police but rather an additional protective measure.

“Anything that we can do as a culture, both personally, professionally, business owners, to help them help ourselves is fantastic,” Heinze says. “They can’t be everywhere. So if we can really empower people to make healthier and safer choices, then there’ll be less of a chance of potential violence.”

While the initiative began in Palm Springs and the greater Coachella Valley, communities nationwide have already expressed interest. San Diego, Phoenix, and Denver are all launching the Safety Blows program within the next two months.

“Because I live here, I think it was really important to start here,” Heinze says.

The rapid distribution of whistles – 8,000 out of an initial order of 10,000 since January – indicates strong community interest in the program.

“Like with any grassroots initiative, it takes the community to be excited about it,” Heinze notes.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available at different levels, including logo placement on the website and promotional materials.

Heinze, who has owned a nonprofit that has operated community programs for the past 10 years, moved from Denver to Palm Springs with his husband eight years ago. In addition to the Safety Blows initiative, he maintains a full-time counseling practice.

The initiative represents a community-based approach to safety that complements official law enforcement efforts. The project is deeply personal for Heinze.

“A lot of us are really trying to live our best lives, and anything that gets in the way of that needs to be addressed,” Heinze said. He explained that it has been a long time since he has felt unsafe, and if he feels that way in Palm Springs as a gay man in the current climate, he can’t imagine how people feel in places like Arkansas and other communities with less support from law enforcement and residents.

“So I have a voice. I have the ability to do this,” he said. “I really felt like I needed to do something, but I wasn’t sure what. This seemed like a good way to channel my own personal anxiety into something positive.”

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More information: Local businesses interested in helping out, or those interested in bringing the program to their city, can go to https://safetyblows.org/ or contact Heinze at brent@begintheshift.org

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