MCSR Launches New Local and National Healthy Masculinity Programs for Youth and Adults to Address and Prevent Men’s Violence
MCSR, formerly known as Men Can Stop Rape, launched its dynamic rebrand today with a slate of new programs designed to address the future of violence prevention locally and nationally by engaging boys and men.
MCSR announced a new pledge to expand the reach of its premier violence prevention youth development program for boys and young men—the Men of Strength (MOST) Club—to up to 10 new locations in response to the tremendous need for diverse mentorship and safer, more inclusive spaces. For the first time ever, MCSR is waiving the licensing fee for its comprehensive, U.S. Centers for Disease Control-evaluated curriculum to support new community-based partners in bringing the MOST Club to the young people they serve.
“The continuation of healthy masculinity as a resource for preventing all forms of violence in our communities is our top priority,” said Neil Irvin, MCSR Executive Director. “We’re thrilled that as we rededicate to our mission with this rebrand, we're in position to extend the opportunity to expand the Men of Strength Club network and identify new leaders across the country who take responsibility and accountability for the humanity we want to see in the world.”
The announcement comes on the heels of RTI International and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest evaluation of the MOST Club, which found high levels of student engagement with the program in high schools and promising results regarding Club members’ peer leadership.
"MOST Club has unique strengths in its focus on issues relating to multiple forms of violence and flexibility to accommodate whatever is happening in young people’s environments and the broader culture," said Dr. Marni Kan, RTI International Senior Prevention Researcher. "We found that even when school buildings were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, MOST Clubs offered a valued virtual space for students and staff to connect. Ongoing implementation and evaluation of this program can support students in overcoming barriers to preventing violence."
MCSR is also expanding its training offerings with the return of the in-person Healthy Masculinity Training Institute on January 18, and the launch of new products containing multiple resources intended to assist organizations, agencies, and schools in organizing healthy masculinity events or conducting trainings related to healthy masculinity, in service of the primary prevention of sexual assault and gender-based violence.
Coinciding with 25 years of service, MCSR began its rebrand transition on September 1, 2022, by unveiling a new name, mission, and vision to honor the legacy of Men Can Stop Rape and more fully encapsulate the many areas of its work. The new visual identity reflects yet reimagines the spirit of the organization. Alongside the lively new color palette, the illustration at the end of the organization’s logo celebrates the ripple effect of its mission—from the young people reached in youth development programs, to the train-the-trainer model of its work with professionals and service providers worldwide, to the impact of public education campaigns and everyday conversations.
For more information and to keep up with what's next, visit mcsr.org.
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About MCSR
MCSR (formerly Men Can Stop Rape) mobilizes the infinite potential of boys and men as catalysts for positive change. Through its transformational youth development programs, pioneering trainings and consulting services, and acclaimed multimedia public education initiatives, MCSR has reached more than 200 million people. Founded in 1997 in Washington, DC, MCSR serves schools, organizations, businesses, and agencies locally, nationally, and globally. For more information, please visit mcsr.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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Contact
Adam Middleton, amiddleton@mcsr.org