When Don McPherson, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, came to Easton to speak in November 2018, people in the audience engaged in the topic of gender-based violence like never before. The presentation, titled “You Throw Like a Girl: A Conversation to End Sexual Violence,” encouraged those in attendance to get comfortable with an uncomfortable conversation. As a result, Don is now working with Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director of For All Seasons to create a dialogue across the Mid Shore regarding the culture of unhealthy masculinity at the core of all forms of men’s violence against women.
Gerson Martinez, Executive Director of Talbot Mentors (left) with Don McPherson.
Don observed, “When I was here in November, I saw the willingness for the community to have that conversation. Beth Anne and I were on the same wavelength on how to make that happen.”
For more than 34 years, Don has used the power and appeal of sports to address complex social justice issues. He has created innovative programs, supported community service providers and has provided educational seminars and lectures throughout North America addressing men’s violence again women.
According to Don, the #MeToo movement presents a seminal moment in American culture that requires a collective community response commensurate with the overwhelming and pervasive nature of gender-based violence. He wants to engage boys and men in the prevention of men’s violence against women by creating a cutting edge, community-wide and gender transformative approach that meets the broad challenges posed by the #MeToo movement.
He states, “Beth Anne’s leadership has created an ideal environment for a comprehensive community initiative to be successful.” This was evident in the response to Don’s November visit. He adds, “Remedies must be sustainable and replicable; engaging communities and individuals previously left out of the discussion to promote healthy relationships and proactively engage boys and men.”
The partnership between Don and For All Seasons will deliver proactive education that permeates the entire community, emanating from four primary engagement areas; 1) local businesses 2) community partners 3) schools (K-12) and, 4) higher education. Training and educational materials and curricula are currently under development which will introduce “aspirational masculinity,” healthy relationships and bystander leadership with several integrated touchpoints in the communities served by For All Seasons. The impact is three-fold; to engage those previously missed by outreach programs, coordinate common messaging throughout the community and establish sustainable, inter-generational dialog about healthy masculinity, relationships, and community.
Future outreach and engagement include providing sexual harassment training to employees who are also parents, neighbors, and members of youth activity organizations and faith communities, as well as community partners such as mentoring groups, youth sports groups and the faith community. For All Seasons staff has already begun training with Don, to deliver bystander behavior and leadership programs in schools (K-12) in conjunction with its role to provide support for “trauma-informed” classrooms. Finally, For All Seasons has a federally mandated MOU to provide services and resources to Chesapeake and Washington College. This relationship positions For All Seasons to serve as an educational provider for Title IX compliance which has been the focus of Don McPherson’s work for more than 25 years.
Don explains that because of the work women have done in raising awareness recently around the #MeToo Movement, there has been more progress toward promoting healthy relationships. He adds, “There needs to be discussion about masculinity, separate from the issue of men’s violence against women. The goal is to advance our understanding of masculinity beyond the narrow, and often destructive ways it’s currently defined. The blind spot of masculinity is rooted in the nobility associated with ignoring our pain and vulnerabilities and the silence of men that limits the true and whole understanding of masculinity for boys.”
A challenge facing communities today, according to Don, is that we have no central place where people can come together and have these conversations about gender. He states, “We are starting to share it one-on-one with community leaders and identifying people who want to make a difference. We intend to create a sustainable model that seizes upon that opportunity and can be replicated elsewhere.”
Since November, more men are asking ‘What can I do in the #MeToo movement that doesn’t perpetuate the problem and how can I be part of the solution?’
Derek L. Simmons, Ed.D., Director, Student Services, Caroline County Public Schools, comments, “I had the pleasure of meeting with Don to learn more about the work he is doing in partnership with For All Seasons. As a man, who also is blessed to be the father of two daughters, I engaged in deep conversation around the male social construct and issues of toxic masculinity. That dialogue opened my eyes to the realization that the women in my life navigate the world much differently than I, and that I have been preparing my daughters to do the same. This does not empower them but supports the current construct.”
He adds, “Don’s work along with For All Seasons has the opportunity to create a shift in our community that can raise the standard for gender equity. If we can adjust the accepted notion of masculinity, our daughters will not live in a world that attaches their value to objectification.”
For further information about For All Seasons’ Healthy Masculinity Project, contact Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director at For All Seasons at 410-822-1018.
For All Seasons serves Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne, and Talbot counties. For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center offers certified sexual assault victim advocates; counseling and support groups, free and confidential services in English and Spanish, support in the hospital, police department, and court, and referrals to social and legal services. For All Seasons English Hotline is 1-800-310-RAPE (7273) and Spanish Hotline is 410-829-6143.
