At the Youth Service Bureau, we know increasingly negative messages are targeting boys ages 8 to 12. Messages about being an “alpha” male equate being a man with anger, violence and misogyny. Kindness, compassion and emotional expression are seen as weaknesses. Voices promoting anger, violence and misogyny are distressingly popular.
The YSB would like to explore how we could create a fun social program for upper elementary and middle school boys that would also promote a view of what it means to be a man in a society that values strength, compassion, kindness and assertiveness.
We would like input from parents as we develop an outline of what this programming might look like. What are our core values as a community regarding being a young man? What are the realities of being a young man in our society? Can our boys afford to be taught that voices like Andrew Tate’s are harmful and wrong without them risking being labeled as weak? Where is the line between being strong and being aggressive?
If you have an interest in being part of a focus group to brainstorm ideas about how the YSB might approach, this, please call AnneMarie Cox at 860-844-5355.