Men As Peacemakers

Why Men as Peacemakers?

• Men commit most of the violence in our community, but have been a small part of the solution.
• Men as Peacemakers is changing that by getting men off the sidelines and involved in making peace.

Is Men as Peacemakers unique?

Yes. We are the only men's organization in the North Country working to end men's violence and make peace. Most Men As Peacemakers members don't have careers related to violence issues. We come from a broad range of beliefs and experiences, willing to work in common to reduce violence. We respect and support the work which has gone before us and we respond out of a deep belief that violence can no longer play such a dominant role in our culture. We believe men have a special responsibility to help make the peace and Men As Peacemakers intends to be a leader in making that happen.

What does Men as Peacemakers do?

We are engaged in telling a new story about what it is to be a man. To do this, we lead by example, linking individual men with programs where their presence can have real impact - mentoring children, comforting victims of violence, teaching nonviolence. We teach other men about the link between men and violence, while discovering ways that men can become peacemakers. Finally we support men, both individually and together, in becoming part of this new story.

Through learning, servicing and supporting, we raise community consciousness about violence, and how to end it. We challenge and support each other as we try to live our lives firmly committed to the principles of Men As Peacemakers.

Peacemaking men stand up

Peacemaking men say there is an alternative to violence, and that violence is not acceptable. They help children develop the assets they need - positive values, family structure, and role models - to grow up healthy. They teach men and boys new ways of being and of doing. Peacemaking men resist the sense of powerlessness which violence bring to our community. They know they can't do it alone. Instead, they band together and support one another in making this powerful and difficult change.

That's where Men As Peacemakers helps:

A men's community meeting to talk about men's violence and what to do about it, men sign up to volunteer for organizations or efforts as diverse as our elementary schools, mentoring, the Women's Coalition, Sexual Assault Program and the Family Resource Centers. We're getting hundreds of men committed to our principles; dedicating volunteer hours to activities that foster violence prevention and different roles for men; and helping one another with education, awareness, and individual support.