2013 Center Council & I-Group Meeting
Over 70 Representatives of the almost 30 year old men’s personal development organization from across the United States met in Racine Wisconsin on August 8-11 to continue their work building and supporting communities of emotionally mature, accountable and compassionate male leaders and role models.
Well known for their popular New Warrior Training Adventure weekend for men, the ManKind Project USA is making strides on a number of new initiatives and celebrating some remarkable victories in the past year. A national restructuring effort is now underway within the ManKind Project USA to place primary emphasis on community building efforts in local geographies. Many of the regional MKP Training Centers are ready to localize their efforts at the level where the ManKind Project has always had the most impact – in face to face men’s groups and trainings.
Earlier in the year the ManKind Project in Chicago brought over 100 supporters to attend the live taping of Oprah’s Lifeclass with Iyanla Vanzant on “Fatherless Sons.” The show sparked a national conversation on the role of men in children’s lives, and garnered higher ratings than any Lifeclass program to date. Several men from the ManKind Project spoke from the audience during the live taping about the power and importance of men’s community, emotional work, and peer mentoring to support the kind of fathers we need in today’s society.
Other notable efforts are happening across the United States. For the past two years MKP USA has partnered with the Men’s Health Network to support Men’s Health Month in June, and with the National Suicide Prevention Network to support suicide prevention day in September. This spring men from the ManKind Project also participated in violence prevention efforts including the 10,000 Man March in Dallas and 1 Billion Dads Rising in western Massachusetts.
The ManKind Project, through training programs and men’s groups, stresses the importance of personal responsibility, vulnerability, authentic communication, life-purpose, and emotional intelligence – helping men redefine their roles in healthy and meaningful ways.
The group gathered at the Dekoven center was made up of community leaders and peer support group facilitators. At this once a year face to face gathering, they share best practices, get up to date with new technology and community building tools, share notable accomplishments happening in local communities, and connect as a brotherhood of men committed to making the world a safer, more sustainable, and more vibrant place for future generations.
“It’s important for us as community leaders to get together face to face as often as we can. As volunteers in the nonprofit world, sometimes it’s tough to see the forest for all the trees,” said Joel Burbach of the Wisconsin ManKind Project community, “the Dekoven Center is the perfect environment to do this reconnection.”
At the end of the weekend, these men returned to their home communities with new ideas, refreshed spirits, and renewed passion to keep ‘doing the work’ that needs doing in the world.
To learn more about the ManKind Project USA, visit mkpusa.org.
The ManKind Project USA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. MKP USA is not affiliated with any religious practice or political party. MKP USA strives to be increasingly diverse and culturally aware. The ManKind Project’s sister organization is Woman Within, created by women for women.
For more information on the ManKind Project in Wisconsin, contact Joel Burbach: joelburbach@mkp.org, 414-313-9646