Men from across Vancouver and North America will gather in East Van this weekend for a day-long conference in an attempt to reconcile and deal with their sh*t.
Capitalizing on the growing momentum behind the #metoo and #howiwillchange movements, the March 3 conference at the Ray-Cam Community Centre will focus on male accountability and behavioural changes through a series of keynote speeches and workshops.
The tagline promoting the event reads: “A conference for men to deal with our sh*t.”
“We want to promote men building the infrastructure to unlearn their violent behavior, socialization and shift from outdated models of macho men towards nurturing men with rich emotional lives who can support women and children in their lives,” Ray-Cam coordinator Kate Hodgson said in a news release.
The conference is formatted in two streams: one for professionals who come into contact with men in community spaces and can gain from professional development, and another for men new to the issues and want to influence change.
Oregon-based psychologist Chris Huffine’s keynote speech will hone in on his 25 years’ worth of experience working with abusive men. Huffine’s talk will contextualize male violence and he’ll also lead a separate session on male accountability.
Front-line community workers, prison therapists, church pastors, pro-feminist activists, athletes, academics, and youth leaders will be among those leading the dozens of other workshops offered.
A “sanctuary room” for men-only who need time to talk with a counsellor or speak with another men confidentially will also be offered.
The day ends with men feeding women from two parallel events happening that day at 5:30 p.m.
“We see men increasingly showing up asking how they can be part of the solution to support ending violence in their lives and picking up skills for their intimate relations and in building healthier communities for their kids,” Hodgson said. “The epidemic of male violence against women and children has to stop and men play the most important role in this issue. Often left as women’s work, violence against women is actually a men’s issue.”
Registration to the full-day conference (including two meals) is $25, $60 for institution or agency reps, or anywhere between free and $10 for low-income men. More details are online at www.HowIWillChange.ca.
@JohnKurucz
