Board of Directors
Mark Miller, President
As a family therapist working in the field for over a decade, I have seen the consequences of violence towards women in every job I’ve held. Far too often, men’s violence towards women leads to tragic outcomes. I felt there was something more I could do than help to pick up the pieces afterwards. MensWork is all about being proactive and identifying how the world should and could be. What keeps me involved with MensWork is seeing the “ah-ha” moments in people as we talk about MW and our ideas. It all starts with a simple premise that we as men can be allies to help other men make positive choices instead of continue on in a bystander role. I love seeing people get it and get that change starts with them on such a simple level. I believe MensWork has the potential to effect lasting change throughout our community.
Richard Barnett, Vice-President
When my wife was a volunteer at the Rape Relief Center many years ago, occasionally she would tell me the stories of the female survivors (names withheld, of course) that she had helped at the hospital. I was both moved and angered to hear stories in which a man or men had placed so little (if any) value on the well-being or life of another member of our human family. Traumatized sexually, physically and mentally, many of these women and girls will carry the scars of their assault with them for the rest of their life…and all because some man/men were not given the proper “tools” in their early formation to know that what they chose to do to another human being was a violation that they themselves would surely not wish to endure.
Not one of us (men) is perfect, like everyone, we are flawed human beings and have made our mistakes. But we are also, intelligent, compassionate, gifted men whose lives will be immeasurably better if we put our efforts toward making our communities safer places for all women and children. If as adult men we do not take up the charge to mould the young men around us into those that respect all women and girls…we will accomplish less than we should have. We must challenge our adult male friends, family members, co-workers, acquaintances and even strangers to speak out against violence against women and girls and to stand with women and girls as allies for peace. Additionally, we must combat the messages that tell young men that young women’s bodies are simply for their pleasure…but to develop and nurture mutual, caring, respectful relationships.
For these and other reasons, I am a volunteer, officer, and Board member of MensWork…and I truly hope that you will soon join us in the process to end sexual and domestic violence!
Amy Roth, Secretary
“MensWork focuses on human relationships, specifically on relationships where problems are solved with violence, whether it be emotional, mental, or physical. This is a mammoth task in a society where it is acceptable to use violence in a global sense but not in an individual one. Where most agencies use a palliative approach, mostly with women, MensWork moves in the social change arena, educating men and boys to raise their awareness of the problem and ultimately to prevent it. This is a long-range, far-reaching vision of a world without intimate partner violence—it is an exciting vision, and I am proud to be a part of it.”
Jill Adams, Treasurer
I’m part of MensWork because problems such as domestic violence and sexual assault aren’t ‘women’s issues’–they’re human issues and we all have to be part of the solution. Having worked several years for a d.v. program, and as a professor of women’s and gender studies, I firmly believe that our limited social definitions of gender are part of the problem. Creating more men as allies to talk about healthy relationships, about what to do when someone you know is in an unhealthy one, and how to take action to stop violence against women is the solution. And we can only get there by working together.
Darin Smith
I am excited to be part of MensWork for so many reasons. Initially I was drawn in by the name and mission alone. Then I was fortunate to get to know the people behind this incredible mission. Their experiences and passion made this even more attractive to support. There are many wonderful organizations that focus on caring for women (or anyone) after something has happened, but that’s not enough. At MensWork, we are getting to the root causes and lowering the chances of occurrence with a goal of eliminating violence against women. There are many effective ways to do this, both locally and globally. It’s very rewarding to be a small part of this awesome journey and to learn and grow along the way!
Lawrence Wilbon
Accountability Board
Cathe Dykstra, Project Women
Renee Campbell Mapp, Wesley House
Pam Johnson
Sharon Larue, PEACC Program
Marta Miranda, Center for Women and Families
Stacy B Bailey-Ndiaye, Muhammad Ali Institute
Marsha Weinstein
