By: Habtom Keleta-Asst. AD for Media Relations
GRAMBLING, La. | Tony Porter, adviser for the NFL, spoke to Grambling State Universtiy male student-athletes at a recent event called A CALL TO MEN: The Next Generation of Manhood. The purpose of this initiative is to educate male student-athletes on healthy manhood and violence prevention.
"It's just really important that they understand that their responsibility is bigger than the X's and O's of the game," said Porter. The "A CALL TO MEN" CEO followed up with "when they speak, boys listen."
130 student-athletes were in attendance to hear the international leader speak about issues of manhood, male socialization and its intersection with violence, and preventing violence against all women and girls. The training was generously funded by Jonesboro State Bank.
"Jonesboro State Bank believes in A CALL TO MEN's mission of educating young men on healthy manhood, and we were happy to bring that message to our young men in North Louisiana," said Thurston Allen, president of Jonesboro State Bank.
Porter explained how modern day society looks at expressing your emotions and feelings as being 'weak' or characterized as a female trait.
"It's okay to talk about your feelings and emotions," said Porter. "As men we've been taught to stuff that all away and almost act like we don't have them. And that's killing us as men."
Overall, Grambling male student-athletes received a version of the Healthy Manhood/Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Prevention Training that A CALL TO MEN provides to the NFL. Athletes, specifically college-level and professional athletics, is one of the most hyper-masculine subcultures in our society.
"As student-athletes we have a different platform from regular students, so we can really pass this information on to different people," said Grambling Tigers red-shirt junior outfielder Ian Bailey.
Furthermore, some student-athletes understood the reality of domestic violence and sexual assault in our world today.
"Just because it doesn't happen to you doesn't mean it's not happening in the real world," said Grambling Tigers senior wide receiver Quinton Guice.
Click
here to view KTVE's coverage on Grambling State University's special male initiative, and click
here to view KNOE's coverage.
ABOUT A CALL TO MEN
A CALL TO MEN is internationally recognized for training and educating men to embrace and promote a healthy, respectful manhood. The organization's approach is grounded in the social ecological model, advocated by the Centers for Disease Control, as a framework for primary prevention of gender-based violence, and supports the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Goal 5: Gender Equality). A CALL TO MEN has 20+ years of experience working with and training men and boys, including the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Hockey League, the United States Military, the Department of Justice, the United Nations, corporations, organizations, and educational institutions across the United States and abroad. For more information, visit
www.acalltomen.org. Follow A CALL TO MEN on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin @acalltomen.
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