MANkind - Counter Violence & Hate

The MANkind program focuses on countering violence and bigotry through a structured approach aimed at replacing hostility with kindness, dignity, and respect. Here are the key elements: Purpose and Philosophy: Core Belief: The opposite of random acts of violence is random acts of kindness. Transformation Goal: Participants commit to a 180-degree course correction from violence to kindness, motivated by personal reasons such as family, faith, or a desire for a better future. Violence Addressed: Includes domestic violence, intimate partner violence, child abuse, road rage, robbery, gang violence, elder abuse, and physical altercations. Methodology: Step-by-Step Guide: Use kindness as a conflict management technique. Develop self-control and de-escalation skills. Manage anger while understanding its health risks and societal repercussions. Teach the repercussions of violence compared to the benefits of kindness. Break systemic cycles of violence and harm. Modules and Sessions: Program Structure: Develop a 36-hour program that meets court sentencing and probation standards in California. Components: Self-control as strength. Counteracting the notion that masculinity equates to anger or violence. Exploring the environmental and learned aspects of anger and violence. Educating on the benefits of kindness and dispelling myths of toxic masculinity. Communication training and practical tools for lasting change. Expanded Scope: Bias and Bigotry: Address and counter gender, sexual, cultural, and religious disparities. Encourage self-awareness and acceptance of differences. Promote kindness, tolerance, and peace. Learning Objectives: Understand that self-control is an act of kindness. Explore how anger and violence are learned behaviors. Develop empathy and see commonalities in others. Emphasize the benefits of a peaceful life over destructive cycles. Impact Goals: Stop the cycle of violence and harm, ensuring that participants replace toxic behaviors