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While it is obvious that we are proposing this workshop in response to incidents of violence, we are not suggesting that the thrust of the program be specifically "anti-violence" or "fixing a crisis". We are strongly advocating that the direction of the curriculum be toward an experience of those positive traits which would, by their very nature, begin to counter those forces that lead to violent behavior. We are also recommending that the curriculum includes processes and exercises designed to uncover, in a non-shaming and non-punitive way, the tendencies that live inside each of us, as humans, to project our pain, suffering, and judgments onto others. Another large portion of this work is designed to encourage and facilitate the creation of support teams (the young men who go through the training together), to provide the ongoing tools and resources to carry forth the learning, clarity, and safe & accountable behavior into the "real world" - in their daily interactions with team-mates, other male and female students, teachers, the campus, and the local community. The support teams would have access to trained adult mentoring and leadership in the local community. The mentors are available from the large network of men throughout the country. These men practice living these principles in their daily lives, and offer themselves in living a mission of service. A number of these men are part of The ManKind Project International (www.mkp.org). The MKPI offers men's training programs across the globe, and the availability of leadership, mentorship, and eldership is considerable. The design team would secure and train these resources to make them available as needed. Our team is prepared to conduct a series of programs designed to incorporate a strong "service learning" component, by training men in the mentoring process, and preparing them for staffing future AIM trainings. Following on the success of early trainings, we believe in incorporating a peer mentor/leader process in which students help other students develop and succeed. Many of the young men who complete the program will be able to directly relate to the challenges of the young men they are mentoring. Creating opportunities for male student/athletes to mentor, lead and educate one another can lead to an enhanced learning process that can be powerful for all involved. Coaches and faculty members are strongly encouraged to participate in these programs, as these are the men whom the trainees will be looking towards for daily support and mentorship. |
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