Community Organizing / Mobilization / Engagement Content Topic Results

Being a Man: Preventing Gender Based Violence

ckeene — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 00:13:38 +0000

Being a Man: Preventing Gender Based Violence ckeene Tue, 08/09/2016 - 20:13

Published

January 19, 2024

Author(s)

What does it really mean to “be a man”? No need to do any research or enroll in any philosophy courses because I’ll tell you what it means. It means to be like Batman. Of course, you’re thinking, what does this fictional character have to do with masculinity? Well, let’s think about it. Batman never shows emotion except anger towards criminals and cold shoulders towards Robin. Batman is highly intelligent and strong, even without superpowers. Then, when he’s not being the Caped Crusader, he’s Bruce Wayne. A billionaire genius who, to the public, seems to only care about money and how many women he can have on his arm while he buys the next hotel. Whether he’s being Batman or Bruce Wayne, he is powerful.

Let’s be honest, a lot of us men want to be Batman. A lot of us would even settle for being just Bruce Wayne. But have you ever thought about why? Well, it’s simple really – in today’s society we are conditioned to be like Batman, who society tells us is the epitome of what it means to be a man. Be strong, not just physically but mentally. Don’t show any emotion, because emotion symbolizes weakness (unless it’s pride or anger, of course). Take care of yourself and your family because that’s the only thing that matters. Make sure you have lots of women, because somehow that makes you more attractive? Also, make sure you have money because money is an automatic win over everything. You don’t necessarily have to have all these things at once, but just one thing that makes you seem more “manly.” Or should I say, less like a woman…

It makes sense, right? If being a man means not showing emotion, and to show emotions means to be weak, then who are we calling weak? We as men collectively cut off our emotions to distance ourselves from the experiences of women. As men, we collectively put ourselves into a box. In this box, we have certain rules for what it means to be a man. Do not cry or openly show emotion, don’t express weakness or fear, be athletic, tough, make decisions on your own, demonstrate power and control (especially over women), and view women as property or objects. So much for being Batman huh? But that’s just it. We aren’t Batman. We are David, Mark, Leo, Donte, and Justin. We are more than one-dimensional characters in a comic book. However, this “man box” is trapping us to be more one-dimensional and collectively, we as men are allowing this to happen. Instead of a box, I think this is more of a cage.

Being in a box means being trapped, with no way out. Not being able to see the light as men. However, that’s simply not true. We see what it could be like to be outside of the cages through the holes. We see what other men are doing to break free from the cage and live healthy, respectable lives. However, as soon as we try to reach our fingers out of this cage, society (our “master”) slams our hands and fingers back inside. Always reminding us that being outside of this cage means you aren’t a man, you’re more like a woman or gay. These notions of masculinity are extremely harmful to not just ourselves but the women and girls in our lives as well. We as men are collectively taught to see women as having less value and to view them as property and the objects of men. This is the equation that equals violence against women. Overwhelmingly it is men who hurt women. However, through work with men and boys, we can end violence against women. Men are also confined by this violence. Taking into account that 80% of victims know the person who raped them, it becomes virtually impossible for women to distinguish “safe guys” from men who are dangerous and therefore a “potential rapist” or abuser. The result is a society with its guard up. Relationships with men are approached with fear and mistrust. Intimacy is limited by the constant threat of violence.

Men are not born violent. Some become violent as a result of destructive beliefs and expectations about what it means to be a man. We must recognize the ways that dominant stories of masculinities have infiltrated our lives. In order to do so, we must discover and acknowledge that our understanding of masculinity is often manipulated directly and deliberately by corporations that value profit over people. We as men can choose to not perpetrate acts of violence and challenge those men who do. We can also challenge ideals and attitudes that support violence against women. How? Well, my friends, you have come to the right place! As you read through this collection, you will understand the why and the how of engaging men in efforts to end gender-based violence.

Legislative Advocacy for Nonprofit Organizations

berdman — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 18:11:22 +0000

Legislative Advocacy for Nonprofit Organizations berdman Wed, 06/21/2017 - 14:11

Published

July 01, 2017

Author(s)

Breckan Erdman Winters

Rosie Hidalgo

Shaina Goodman

Legislative action has long played an important role in the movement to end gender-based violence, often as a critical component of the grassroots activism of survivors, advocates, and other people committed to mobilizing to end gender-based violence (ICADV 2009). In order to have widespread impact and improve the laws, policies and systems that affect victims of gender-based violence, engaging in advocacy with legislators and policymakers at the local, state, and national level is essential.

Legislators and policy makers rely on hearing from constituents and community members about ways that laws can be improved to better address domestic and sexual violence. Through legislative advocacy and “lobbying,” domestic and sexual violence organizations can work to “improve policies that are responsive to the needs and realities of survivors as well as their children and families” by connecting legislators to the needs and lived experiences of survivors in their communities (National Latin@ Network). Lobbying is recognized as “a key way that nonprofits can advance their mission, amplify the voices of their supporters, educate policymakers, and protect their values" (Bolder Advocacy). As Nayantara Mehta writes, “Getting involved in the legislative process and having a say in policy discussions is not just an appropriate role for nonprofits; it is vital. If nonprofits are not speaking on behalf of their often-vulnerable communities, chances are nobody else is either.” (Mehta 2009).

Nonetheless, domestic and sexual violence organizations may hesitate to participate in legislative advocacy due to concerns about or limited understanding of the restrictions on 501(c)(3) nonprofits’ lobbying activities. While some activities, such as endorsing or opposing particular candidates for public office, are strictly prohibited, Congress specifically created rules that permit nonprofit organizations to engage in lobbying, as long as it does not constitute a “substantial part” of the organization’s activities. Additionally, nonprofits can also participate in other advocacy focused on influencing public policy, described in more detail below.

This collection is designed to provide assistance to nonprofit organizations interested in participating in legislative advocacy. Resources include materials describing the specific federal regulations limiting lobbying activities of 501(c)(3) nonprofits; details on the ways in which these organizations can participate in lobbying activities; specific information on legislative advocacy for domestic and sexual violence organizations; and useful advocacy tools and tips.

Please note that this collection is intended to provide general information on these topics and does not constitute legal advice.

Housing and Domestic Violence

ckeene — Fri, 12 May 2017 19:43:15 +0000

Housing and Domestic Violence ckeene Fri, 05/12/2017 - 15:43

Published

May 23, 2017

Survivors of violence face real barriers when trying to access safe housing – barriers caused by the power and control dynamics of abuse, a need for safety and confidentiality, economic instability, the effects of trauma, and the lack of affordable housing in communities. Nobody should have to choose between staying in an unsafe home and having no home at all.

This collection offers a doorway to the resources available through Safe Housing Partnerships, a project of the federal Domestic Violence and Housing Technical Assistance Consortium. The Consortium is an innovative, collaborative approach to providing training, technical assistance, and resource development at the critical intersection of domestic and sexual violence, homelessness, and housing.

The resources and tools included here are provided to advance your work at the critical intersection of domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness, and housing.

Domestic Violence in Latin@ Communities

ckeene — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:12:42 +0000

Domestic Violence in Latin@ Communities ckeene Thu, 08/11/2016 - 13:12

Published

February 01, 2014

Author(s)

Heidi Notario

Casa de Esperanza and its national project, The National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities, compiled the resources for this collection which reflects many years of work at the intersections of gender-based violence and Latin@ communities. Many of the resources were developed by Casa de Esperanza while several were produced by other Latin@ organizations doing culturally specific work. Through shared experiences working at the intersections of domestic violence and Latin@ communities, many of the organizations represented here learned that effective responses to this problem require a culturally specific analysis with culturally relevant tools and approaches. Of equal importance is engaging communities to effectively respond to domestic violence. Understanding and honoring the great diversity that exists within Latin@ communities is a key component in delivering effective interventions and trauma-informed responses to address the violence. To that end, this special collection provides a compilation of tools and resources developed specifically by Latin@s and for Latin@s as well as culturally adapted materials (not simply translations) to address domestic violence in Latin@ communities. The content included within is not comprehensive, as there is much work taking place not only in the U.S. but also across Latin America. It is our intent to continue adding resources overtime and we count on readers to also provide recommended additions.

This special collection:

Introduces the framework and philosophy of Casa de Esperanza as a foundation to its trauma-informed work.
Defines relevant terms within the context of domestic violence in Latin@ communities from a social justice perspective.
Provides culturally specific resources and tools that address domestic violence within the Latin@ context related to policy, research and service provision.
Offers a list of Latin@ specific organizations addressing violence against women in the U.S.

Capacity Building for Domestic Violence Prevention Programming

ckeene — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 00:05:54 +0000

Capacity Building for Domestic Violence Prevention Programming ckeene Tue, 08/09/2016 - 20:05

Published

August 01, 2012

Domestic violence is preventable! As the movement to end domestic violence embraces this concept and explores the implementation of effective prevention programming, it is necessary to first examine the capacity of our networks, communities, and agencies to take on this work. The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence defines organizational capacity for primary prevention as “the agency’s ability to support and implement domestic and sexual violence prevention efforts” (2012). When an agency fully embraces primary prevention, the work becomes part of the organizational culture, existing in all departments, volunteers, board members, and administrators (PreventConnect, 2012). It all begins with systems change within our organizations.

This collection provides materials to support the work of building this capacity for primary prevention work – primarily on the organizational level, but also as it relates to assessing and influencing change in individuals, communities, and institutions. The resources offered as part of this collection describe lessons learned from the CDC’s DELTA PREP project, provide capacity building guidelines, and review the necessary steps of readiness assessment, program development, training, evaluation, and planning for sustainability when it comes to implementing effective strategies to prevent domestic violence.

This collection was developed by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Special thanks to PreventConnect, the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control for sharing their expertise and input to inform the content of this collection.

Models in Prevention: CDC's DELTA Program

ckeene — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 16:24:32 +0000

Models in Prevention: CDC's DELTA Program ckeene Wed, 08/10/2016 - 12:24

Published

August 01, 2011

Nearly one decade after the CDC initiated the DELTA Program, there is a strong foundation of information and lessons learned regarding promising practices in the primary prevention of intimate partner violence. This collection highlights the successes of this program and its grantees, providing materials to support replication of these efforts across the United States and globally.

Special thanks to the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCDSV), with whom NRCDV/VAWnet has a collaborative relationship to support the CDC Foundation's DELTA and DELTA PREP grantees in their work to prevent intimate partner violence. The NCDSV also maintains extensive lists of publications and links to DELTA Program-related resources. In addition, we'd like to recognize VAWnet's partner in prevention-focused resource provision and DELTA program support, PreventConnect.org, whose resources are highlighted inside.

2024 National Prevention Town Hall

ckeene — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 16:57:40 +0000

2024 National Prevention Town Hall ckeene Thu, 08/29/2024 - 12:57

General Material

NRCDV Publications

Training Tools

Published Date

August, 2024

New Resources Added

August 29, 2024

Publisher(s)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

What does prevention look like when rooted in community and culture, outside of systems? As we continue to navigate the impact from COVID and the many related shifts we’ve experienced in the past years, our values have transformed and so must our strategies. The 5th annual National Prevention Town Hall features anti-violence prevention approaches in the Mountain region of the United States.

This space offers a virtual gallery tour of innovative change-making projects, collectives, and approaches that fuel us all forward. This gallery tour can allow us to learn about what’s being mobilized beyond the systems we often work in for violence prevention. A panel follows the gallery tour so we can weave together meaningful connections and address questions about reconnection, restoration, and re-indigenizing practices in the Mountain region.

Presenters explore creative, sustainable approaches for advancing social change in the face of uncertainty. Across all aspects of our movement work - from housing rights to survivor healing to restorative justice - each of us plays a critical part in creating the world we wish to live into together. In the words of Gwendolyn Brooks, “We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business; we are each other's magnitude and bond.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

¿Cómo se ve la prevención cuando está cimentada en la comunidad y la cultura, al margen de los sistemas? A medida que seguimos enfrentando el impacto del COVID y los muchos cambios que hemos experimentado en los últimos años, nuestros valores se han transformado y así también deben hacerlo nuestras estrategias. El 5º Congreso Nacional de Prevención presentará los enfoques de prevención de la violencia en la Región Montañosa de los Estados Unidos.

Este espacio ofrecerá un recorrido virtual por las galerías de diferentes proyectos, colectivos y enfoques innovadores que impulsan el cambio y nos permiten avanzar a todes. Esta visita a la galería puede permitirnos conocer lo que está sucediendo en materia de prevención de violencia más allá de los sistemas con los que solemos trabajar. Luego de la visita a la galería, se llevará a cabo una mesa redonda en la que se establecerán conexiones significativas y se abordarán preguntas con relación a la reconexión, la restauración y las prácticas de reindigenización en la Región Montañosa.

Únete a nosotres para explorar los enfoques creativos y sostenibles que impulsen el cambio social frente a la incertidumbre. En todos los aspectos del trabajo que realiza nuestro movimiento, desde el derecho a la vivienda y la sanación de sobrevivientes, hasta la justicia restauradora, cada une de nosotres juega un papel fundamental en la creación del mundo en el que queremos vivir juntes. En palabras de Gwendolyn Brooks, “Somos la cosecha del otre; somos el asunto del otre; somos la magnitud y el vínculo del otre”.

Associated Links

Registration Link

Video Recording - Day 1 (English)

Video Recording - Day 1 (Spanish)

Video Recording - Day 2 (English)

Video Recording - Day 2 (Spanish)

Associated Files

Attachment	Size
Event Program (English)	5.7 MB
Event Program (Spanish)	3.16 MB
Presentation Slides - Day 1 (English)	15.51 MB
Presentation Slides - Day 2 (English)	11.18 MB
Presentation Slides - Day 1 (Spanish)	14.46 MB
Presentation Slides - Day 2 (Spanish)	9.35 MB

Material Categories

Coalition Building

Collaboration / Bridge Building

Community Organizing / Mobilization / Engagement

Coordinated Community Response

Movement Building

Cultural Competence

Nontraditional Programming

Prevention Programming

Disability Rights

Immigration / Resettlement

LGBTQ Rights

Racial Justice

Attitudes / Perception / Awareness

Communities of Color

Disability

Domestic Violence

Health / Public Health

Immigrant / Refugee

Race

Health Equity Prevents Gender-Based Violence: Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience optimal health and well-being!

ckeene — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 17:12:05 +0000

Health Equity Prevents Gender-Based Violence: Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience optimal health and well-being! ckeene Wed, 08/28/2024 - 13:12

General Material

NRCDV Publications

Published Date

August, 2024

New Resources Added

August 28, 2024

Publisher(s)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

This graphic illustration tells the story of how health equity is connected to preventing gender-based violence, and describes meaningful ways to advance these shared goals through collaboration. This resource utilizes NRCDV’s Storytelling Framework to make the case for advancing wellness through an anti-oppression lens.

Drawing on the experiences and lessons learned from advocates leading impactful social change efforts across the country, this story was designed as a tool for building partnerships with those poised to engage with the gender-based violence movement. It is intended for use with adjacent sectors and potential allies working on intersecting issues to enhance buy-in and collaboration.

This resource was developed by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence in partnership with the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence, Ohio Domestic Violence Network, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence, to whom the quotes within are attributed.

Associated Links

PreventIPV Website

Associated Files

Attachment	Size
Health Equity Story - Spanish	25.09 MB
Health Equity Story - English	24.4 MB

Material Categories

Collaboration / Bridge Building

Community Organizing / Mobilization / Engagement

Coordinated Community Response

Movement Building

Raising Awareness

Prevention Programming

Health / Public Health

Mental Health

Race

Sexual Health / Literacy

Community Violence Prevention Resource for Action: A Compilation of the Best Available Evidence for Youth and Young Adults

ckeene — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 12:42:40 +0000

Community Violence Prevention Resource for Action: A Compilation of the Best Available Evidence for Youth and Young Adults ckeene Fri, 08/16/2024 - 08:42

General Material

Published Date

August, 2024

New Resources Added

August 16, 2024

Publisher(s)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

Author(s)

Mandy K. Cohen

Allison Arwady

James A. Mercy

This resource was developed to help communities and states focus on strategies with the greatest potential to prevent violence and promote health and safety. This prevention resource brings together examples based on the best available evidence. It outlines seven strategies to prevent community violence to ensure everyone can live in safe, healthy, and thriving communities.

The strategies and approaches described in this prevention resource are supported by the best available evidence and can be a critical tool for communities in their violence prevention efforts.

The prevention strategies are:

Strengthen economic security.
Provide quality education.
Create protective environments.
Promote healthy family relationships.
Strengthen youth and young adults’ skills.
Connect young people to caring adults and activities.
Intervene to lessen harms and prevent future risk.

This resource is an update to the Youth Violence Prevention Resource for Action released in 2016. It includes updated evidence for preventing violence in youth (ages 10-24) and adds examples for preventing violence in young adults (ages 25-34).

Community violence is a serious public health problem in the United States. For youth ages 10 to 24 years, homicide is the second leading cause of death, and for young adults ages 25 to 34, it is the third leading cause of death. Additionally, approximately 800,000 young people are treated in U.S. emergency departments each year for injuries resulting from interpersonal violence. This resource also describes the social and structural contexts for community violence that these strategies might help address. Throughout the document, we focus on improving the conditions that increase risk for violence. Communities can prioritize a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying drivers of violence while also reducing the immediate risks.

Many communities are implementing effective strategies for prevention. The strategies and approaches in this prevention resource are intended to be combined with existing community-led prevention approaches. Everyone can play a role in putting the evidence into action as we work together towards communities free from violence.

Associated Links

Community Violence Prevention Resource for Action

1-pager

About Community Violence

About Youth Violence

Material Categories

Collaboration / Bridge Building

Community Organizing / Mobilization / Engagement

Coordinated Community Response

Movement Building

Core Competencies

Prevention Programming

Child Welfare

Economic Justice

LGBTQ Rights

Health / Public Health

Human Trafficking

Young People

Heal, Hold & Center Reflection Guide

berdman — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 19:21:27 +0000

Heal, Hold & Center Reflection Guide berdman Tue, 09/12/2023 - 15:21

General Material

NRCDV Publications

Training Tools

Published Date

March, 2024

Publisher(s)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

Author(s)

Jacqueline Miller

Torrie Bethany

Victoria Ferguson-Young

Aida Negron

David Lee

For DVAM and beyond, the Domestic Violence Awareness Project calls on us to Heal, Hold & Center survivors, especially those navigating anti-Blackness and other systems of oppression. We know there is no survivor justice without racial justice. We must work together to embrace the many cultural ways we can heal from violence and oppression, hold space for survivors, and center those most marginalized in all of our efforts to end domestic violence.

This guide offers an opportunity to dig deeper into each piece of the theme – Heal, Hold & Center – as well as its connection to the broader core message, No Survivor Justice Without Racial Justice. The prompts throughout the guide can be utilized through personal reflection, in organizations with fellow advocates, with survivors who may or may not access formal services, in community spaces with those invested in peace and justice, with the general public via social media or awareness events, and elsewhere.

In this guide, you will find conversation starters, considerations, and prompts for personal and organizational reflection. Marketing materials, sample social media posts, and related materials featuring the #HealHoldCenter theme are available for your use and adaptation at: www.dvawareness.org/HealHoldCenter.

Associated Links

#1Thing Action Guide

Associated Files