Announcements  ---  

Joint Statement of North American MenEngage Network and MenEngage Global Alliance

We, the members of the North American MenEngage Network and MenEngage Global Alliance, stand by and add our voices to the expressions of outrage and call for justice at the killing of George Floyd, an African American man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, the United States on Monday May 25, 2020.

This is the latest in a long line of killings of unarmed African Americans by US police officers and members of the public, including Breonna Taylor (March 13, 2020), Ahmaud Arbery (February 23, 2020), Atatiana Jefferson (October 12, 2019) to name some of the recent ones. We condemn these killings and the systemic racism that continues to violate and oppress people of color every day in the United States and around the globe. We also acknowledge and condemn that African Americans are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of systemic racism.

MenEngage Alliance represents organizations and individuals in North America and from around the world, of diverse race, nationalities, gender and sexual identities, religious affiliations, and backgrounds, working together to advance gender justice, human rights and social justice. We recognize that the privileges of white supremacy and the privileges of male domination are deeply interconnected in the racist acts of these police officers and the systemic and institutional racism inherent in everyday lives of people, the justice system and authorities in the United States.

As people of color in MenEngage Alliance, we are angry, grieving, afraid, and emotionally exhausted by the daily challenge of navigating the systemic and institutionalized inequalities, injustices and hatred against us, and the search for spaces where we can enjoy our rights to safety, life and freedom.

As white people in MenEngage Alliance, we are horrified by the racist mindsets and actions of so many white people and the systems that privilege us at the cost of our fellow comrades with diverse skin colors and ethnicities.

Together we are outraged that the deaths of Black Americans and other people of color targeted because of their race have become shockingly routine. This must stop once and for all NOW.

As groups working for equality and justice, we will not be silent. We stand in solidarity with the ongoing work of the Black Lives Matter movement. We call for the highest levels of accountability for the individuals, police departments and judicial systems involved in Mr. Floyd’s killing, as well as numerous other Black Americans. We further demand that all police officers who resort to use of force be charged and convicted for the crimes committed, for all the cases.

We condemn the racist and incendiary statements made by the US President Donald J. Trump. We call on political, social and cultural leaders in the United States to acknowledge that this country has been built on centuries of exploitation of black and indigeneous people and boldly address the ongoing brutality of racism in this country and around the world.

Institutional and systemic racism is often present alongside and interlinked with misogyny, colonialism, capitalism, homophobia and transphobia, and many other forms and systems of hatred and oppressions. We call on our institutions to commit to sustained transformational change to root out discrimination and violence in our communities. We call on and support allies within these institutions who are speaking up, challenging institutional racism, and who are committing to long-term, sustainable change.

We commit to mobilizing our national, regional and global networks of organizers, policy makers, educators and activists to confront racism in ourselves, our organizations and our communities, and to building anti-racist communities and institutions where all people are equal and free.

We call upon everyone to stand against racism, hate and brutality in all its forms, and to work for justice, love and solidarity!

We further encourage you to read this article written by our member, Board member of NAMEN, and global leader Tonya Lovelace, Can We Breathe? The Politics of Breath in COVID-19 and the Carceral State

Statement as posted with Global MenEngage Alliance, including Spanish language version.

For immediate Release

MERGE for Equality To Join With the North America MenEngage Network

Two gender equality organizations with the specific focus on masculinities and engaging men and boys are joining forces, leaders of MERGE for Equality and the North American MenEngage Network recently announced. MERGE for Equality, a Massachusetts nonprofit noted for its innovative training promoting the emotional and social development of boys, is set to become a program of the North American MenEngage Network (NAMEN), a U.S.-Canadian network of educators, advocates and activists, and regional member of the Global MenEngage Alliance.

“We are delighted for MERGE to become a program offered through NAMEN,” said Shane Joseph, Co-Chair of NAMEN’s Steering Committee. “Its core program—training early childhood educators about issues related to boys’ socialization—is completely in line with our mission - working with men and boys to achieve gender equality, end violence, and promote health for men, women and children.” James Arana, MERGE Senior Consultant, concurs, “When boys are equipped with the tools to cultivate their emotional intelligence, they thrive personally, socially and academically, and grow to become caring, engaged and accountable men.”

With the program now becoming a part of NAMEN, MERGE founder John Engel is stepping down as executive director. “I can’t think of a more fitting organization for MERGE to join than the North American MenEngage Network,” Engel said. “It has the expertise, commitment and focus to direct not just our early childhood initiative but also our children’s book campaign that promotes positive images of emotionally sensitive boys,” Engel said.

“In addition to beneficial program impacts, joining the two organizations brings administrative and financial benefits," said Craig Norberg-Bohm, NAMEN’s Administrative Coordinator. “NAMEN becomes a tax exempt nonprofit corporation and can now formally apply for funding to build its operational and programmatic capacity. Sharing administrative tasks will enable all of us to maximize resources available to focus on the shared mission - gender equality.”

As a program of NAMEN, MERGE’s early childhood initiative will continue without significant change, according to Steven Botkin, Co-Chair of NAMEN’s Steering Committee and MERGE Senior Consultant. “MERGE itself carries the legacies of the Men’s Resource Center of Western Massachusetts and Men’s Resources International,” Botkin said. “Joining MERGE and NAMEN together is the perfect next chapter in our evolution.”

For more information, contact

Craig Norberg-Bohm, MERGE Administrative Coordinator
MERGE for Equality
info@mergeforequality.org

Shane Joseph, NAMEN Co-Chair
Steven Botkin, NAMEN Co-Chair
Contact Form

-end-

Check out this new Op-ED at Ms. Magazine by NAMEN Member Rob Okun

Gender Belongs at Center of the Gun Debate

Men Supporting #MeToo - Taking Action to the Next Level

Session 1, 2 and 3 of our Community of Practice Spring Series are completed.  The final session will be held June 14th.   

Have a look at the recordings and resources.

A Four Part Educational Webinar Series, Hosted By the North American MenEngage Network

Men Supporting #MeToo: Taking Action to the Next Level
(click to register)

Description
Through the #MeToo movement, the voice of survivors of sexual harassment have been loud and powerful. The #MeToo movement provides an opportunity to organize and mobilize men and boys, as active agents of change. This webinar series will explore current community-based efforts to rise to this challenge and some of the lessons learned from these efforts …

Participants will come away with new concepts and concrete examples that can be employed immediately. This series will build on what the NAMEN members have already been doing to address the issues brought up by #MeToo and explore ways to strengthen this work together.

Throughout this series we will focus on strategies to take these efforts to the next level, what policy and political action can be harnessed from men and boys who support #MeToo.

In addition, participants will be invited to join a facilitated, ongoing practice community to encourage and promote these kinds of efforts and encourage networking and resource sharing

With a series of four sessions, we will cover:

• What has been Men's response to #MeToo? 
• What are the opportunities for fostering male leadership in support of #MeToo?
•  What are the theoretical frameworks for promoting responsibility and accountability?  
• What might be successful practice to put into place for your own community? 
•  4 weeks later come back together to share what you have tried or are in the process of implementing and learnt. 

Please Join us for these engaging discussions.
Thu April 12 ; 3 – 4:30pm Community experience, how are men responding?
Thu April 26 ; 3 – 4:30pm Dialog on theories of change for men.
Thu May 10 ; 3 – 4:30pm Immediate Applications, what can we do now?
Thu June 14 ; 3 – 4:30pm Reflection on lessons learned and next steps

An ongoing discussion group will be offered.

Free of Charge for NAMEN Members;
Non-Members - $65 for the series, $25 for each session.
(Series purchases will come with an optional one year NAMEN membership)

Attendance Policy:
Preferred attendance at all four sessions.
You may register for the full series or for the individual sessions.

Okay, guys, white guys—all guys—this is our moment to say, “Enough!”

Women's ENews

More Editorials from Rob Okun

The North American MenEngage Network (NAMEN) works for justice and equality. The abominable action of white supremacists (predominantly male), and the subsequent murder of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville Virginia, cannot be tolerated by silence. Our collective hearts go out to all of those who were injured, to Ms. Heyer’s family and loved ones, and all those who were harmed.

As a network of individuals and organizations working to engage men in promoting gender, racial, sexual and other forms of equality, NAMEN stands in solidarity with those pursuing equality and justice, and resists bigotry, hatred and violence in all its forms, whether that is white supremacy, male supremacy, or other forms of systemic bigotry and hate.

We will continue to actively resist institutional and personal manifestations of racist, sexist, heterosexist, transphobic, classist, anti-Semitic and other multiple and intersectional forms of oppression which undermine the “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” of all those who live, work and breath in the United States of America, and throughout the world. The North American MenEngage Network embraces the power of a diverse nation of people and the strength and beauty that diversity brings to the establishment of a just and peaceful world. So as our children look to the sky, they see the sun filled clouds and stars at night without fear, and encircle their lives with hope and joy.

Choosing a college is a daunting task for any first-time student, but for LGBTQ students, it can be downright terrifying. A whopping 13.4% of LGBTQ high school students who report frequent verbal harassment plan on not attending college, and 20% of all currently enrolled college students report fearing for their physical safety due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. In response, many universities are taking steps to fight back for their most vulnerable students, but understanding what to look for in a school is still difficult, which is why we created our guide to college for LGBTQ students.

This isn’t just a list of scholarships (although we have those too!). Our guide includes actionable strategies to assess a school on its inclusivity and programs to help make the transition to college easier for LGBTQ students.

From  AffordableColleges.com

The recording for our Community of Practice Teleconference held on April 20th is now posted. (click here)

Session Topic:

LOCAL WORK - FIRST EDITION.

The heart beat of social change and justice is in the local work.  What we do in our families, our neighborhoods, schools, cities and towns, brings purpose to life.

We heard from two local projects, and consider their current and critical questions.

Pheng Thao – with ManForward Minneapolis

Alan Heisterkamp - Center for Violence Prevention - University of Northern Iowa

Community of Practice Teleconferences are a membership benefit of NAMEN.

NAMEN is proud to release the first issue of our community newsletter.  This is circulated to membership through the mailing list and distributed publicly here and via various channels.  Please share!

NAMEN Newsletter Vol 1 No 1