Men As Peacemakers

Join the Men & Masculine Folks Network for our next Kitchen Table Conversation, where together, we are shaping new meanings of masculinity that are authentic, caring, and thoughtful.

For the month of August, the guys will be talking about transphobia & homophobia as community-level conditions that contribute to harm and violence in our communities. They will be welcoming GUEST STAR Mak Mars to the kitchen table to share about his work at PAVSA (the Program to Aid Victims of Sexual Assault in Duluth, MN). Catch this upcoming conversation on today at 12pm (CST), live on Facebook and YouTube!

On Wednesday, Sarah & Kia got the opportunity to meet with a group of folx from Palestine to discuss innovative prevention and restorative justice strategies through programs aimed at youth and culture change.

Join the Men & Masculine Folks Network for our next Kitchen Table Conversation, where together, we are shaping new meanings of masculinity that are authentic, caring, and thoughtful.

For the month of July, the guys will be talking about “potholes” in prevention work. What’s a pothole and how can we avoid them? Catch this upcoming conversation on TODAY at 12pm (CST), live on Facebook and YouTube, to learn more.

Intro/outro music: “Hot Box” by Ketsa Music

Come on down and see us at Sidewalk Days in downtown Duluth! ☀️

UPDATE: due to some tech issues, we will be postponing this conversation.

Come on down and say hi to Katey and Kia at the NAACP Juneteenth Jubilee in Hillside. We will be here until 7pm!

Today, we honor Juneteenth, a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. But our celebration of Black voices, achievements, and contributions should not be confined to just one day. Let’s commit to uplifting and amplifying Black voices year-round! Our stories, struggles, and triumphs are integral to the fabric of our society.

As we reflect on the significance of this day, let’s also take concrete actions to support Black communities. Whether it’s through supporting Black-owned businesses, advocating for policies that promote racial equity, or simply educating ourselves and others about Black history and culture, every effort matters!

Together, we can create a legacy of joy and acceptance for future generations, ensuring that the progress we celebrate today continues to grow and flourish. Happy Juneteenth!

-Kia Ronning
Mission Support Coordinator

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Today, we hold space for

💙New fathers
💙Fathers experiencing loss
💙Those who wish to be a father
💙Those who have lost their father
💙Fathers who are struggling with their mental health
💙Those who have a complicated relationship with their father
💙Those who live far from their father
💙Stepfathers and other non-biological fathers
💙Those who never met their father
💙Everyone who finds today hard

No matter what Father’s Day means to you, you don’t have to hide it. Whether this day is harder than normal, a time to celebrate, or a day full of mixed emotions, you are valid.

If you need a safe place to process, you can text TWLOHA to 741741 for free, 24/7 support.

You are not alone.

Men As Peacemakers is SO EXCITED to be a 3 year sponsor of Trans Joy Fest! The event is happening today from 11-7pm at Park Point Rec Area!! 🏳️‍⚧️ Most of our amazing staff will be there volunteering, so come say hi! 👋🏾

"As a q***r, trans guy, Pride is a very important time for our community and it means a lot to me. It's a time to remember our trans ancestors and all they went through, and it makes me think of our future generations of q***r and trans youth. Pride is not just about wearing rainbow gear or slapping a rainbow over your business logo for the month of June...Pride serves as a reminder to all that the LGBTQ+ community has fought hard for the rights we have today. And yet, our rights are actively being stripped away from us all over this country. In order to move forward in a good way, I call on our aspiring allies to get activated! Find something you can do to show love to your LGBTQ+ friends and family members, not just this month, but every month!"

-Sean Hayes
Don't Buy It Project Coordinator

Join the guys at their next LIVE Kitchen Table Conversation next Thursday, June 13th at 12pm (CST)! The new topic for the month of June will be 'inherent dignity & belonging' so we hope you'll tune in to learn more!

"If you had asked me 10 years ago, I would have told you Pride was a party, a celebration of joy and love but as the world has changed, so have my views on Pride month. Pride has become a much larger reminder for folks, a reminder of tolerance, and celebrating differences, of histories and stories.
Pride Month serves as a platform for LGBTQ+ individuals to be visible and recognized in society. It is an opportunity to be proud of who we are and to assert our right to exist without fear or discrimination.
Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Riots of June 1969, a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history when members of the community, particularly trans women of color, fought back against police harassment and discrimination.
Pride Month fosters a sense of community and solidarity among LGBTQI folks. It's a time to come together, celebrate diversity, and support one another in the ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance.
Pride Month is also a platform for advocacy and activism. It's a time to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues, challenge prejudice and discrimination, and push for legal and social change to ensure equal rights and protections for all.

Overall, Pride Month Pride is still about joy, love and celebration. It also represents a multifaceted celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, history, community, and resilience. It's a reminder of the progress that has been made and the work that still needs to be
done to achieve full equality and acceptance for all LGBTQ+ individuals."

-Katey Carter
DVRC Co-Coordinator

On this MEGA Monday, what does Pride mean to Nick?

"There is *SO* much to be frustrated about living in the world we do today - hmm, whose rights were impeded upon or entirely taken away most recently? In complete antithesis to that - to me - pride speaks of celebration in what we have through all the noise and unabashedly sharing joy of "self" even while others fight to take it away. Oppression has no chance when love and pride exist."

What are your values and how do you live into them?

This is the question that the guys discussed at the last Kitchen Table Conversation. Check out what Sean Elmquist had to say about it: “There’s the values that we’re sort of indoctrinated into growing up, and then there are the ones that emerge through experience over the course of your life. When we get to a certain age, you can look back to the times when you didn’t live up to either set of values. It makes you realize how important it is to have clear values to live by.”

FYI - the guys will be back with their next Kitchen Table Conversation on Thursday, June 13th at 12pm (CST) where they'll talk about 'inherent dignity and belonging.'

Have you been looking for a reason to get involved? To serve your community? To pay it forward? Check out our restorative justice programs today!

Men as Peacemakers is so excited to announce that our Mission Support Coordinator, Nykia Ronning, received Duluth News Trubune’s 20 under 40 award!!!

We could not be more proud of this community centered, dynamic and inspiring leader! Celebrating you today and every day!!!
Your MAP family💜

“My values remind me of the importance of being ourselves, of having integrity, to be respectful, and to have empathy for others. That’s the key for myself, that helps me do a better job every day. We have the power to embrace values that fit our communities, and that reflect a new understanding of masculinity.”

Watch our latest Kitchen Table Conversation about our individual & community values here: https://youtu.be/MoDmjiSrSOo?feature=shared

Rain wasn’t a problem on Friday when MEGA helped out with Farm Field Day at Lincoln Park Middle School! There were stations set up for the Seventh Graders to learn about agriculture-forward topics such as composting, tree tapping, and biodiversity. NOT PICTURED: the goats that stole everyone’s attention. 🐐

Join the Men & Masculine Folks Network for our next Kitchen Table Conversation, where together, we are shaping new meanings of masculinity that are authentic, caring, and thoughtful.

For the month of May, our conversations are focused on our values, as individuals as well as the values our communities hold collectively. Tomorrow, we will be digging in deeper about how we can live into our values in a good way, and what that looks like in practice. As a reminder, it’s important to reflect on and explore our values throughout our lives. We hope you’ll join us!

MEGA MONDAY!
Jessica our Director of People and Culture and Bella MEGA Youth Volunteer dressed like Wednesday Addams and Enid 💕🖤 We love when Bella Volunteers for our youth 🖤💕