Friday, November 6, 2009

‘More Than a Few Good Men’

Violence-prevention educator to speak next week in valley

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By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

Jackson Katz’s work in violence prevention education with men and boys is significant in sports culture and the military. Photo by Courtesy photo

Gender-violence prevention educator Jackson Katz will speak at two free events next week in Hailey and Ketchum.

Katz is the author of "The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help" and creator of educational videos for college and high school students.

The events are sponsored by the Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to wrap up the group's Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities.

Katz will present "More Than a Few Good Men" on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at The Mint in Hailey. Men, women and high-school-age youth are encouraged to attend this presentation. The evening will start with a reception and a book signing for "The Macho Paradox." Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.

"Taking It Personally: Why Gender Violence Is an Issue for Men" workshop will take place on Thursday, Nov. 12, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the Wood River Valley YMCA in Ketchum. It is a half-day training for school administrators and educators, sexual-assault and domestic-violence program staff, health care and human services professionals, law enforcement personnel (for POST credits), religious leaders and any interested community members.

Katz' video "Tough Guise: Violence, Media, and the Crisis in Masculinity" is used at Wood River High School. In addition, he created "Wrestling With Manhood" and Spin the Bottle: Sex, Lies and Alcohol."

Katz is also co-founder of the Mentors in Violence Prevention program at Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society. The program is used as a sexual- and domestic-violence prevention program for professional and college athletics. Seven NFL teams and several Major League baseball clubs have implemented it.

Since 1990, Katz has lectured at over 950 colleges, prep schools, high schools, middle schools, professional conferences and military installations in 44 states. He holds academic degrees from the University of Massachusetts and Harvard University. He is a doctoral student in cultural studies and education at the University of California in Los Angeles.

For details, call 788-4191 or visit theadvocates-aplacetogo.org.

Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com