Here and There - December 2007 / January 2008

Upcoming Monthly Men’s Sunday Brunches (bring something to share/cook up): December 16th at Rick Gravrok’s 2925 Monterey Ave S, St. Louis Park, 55416, 952-926-6655. (on the west side of Lake Calhoun, off Lake St.). January 20th at Frank Brandon’s, 975 Como Blvd E, St. Paul, 55103 651-487-3008. (on the east side of Lake Como). 17 men attended October’s brunch at The Men’s Center and 12 men attended the November brunch at Stephen Sewell’s. - Andy Mickel, 2007-11-19.

Charlie Borden and Kevin Obsatz of the group Boys to Men Mentoring Network of Minnesota <http://www.boystomenmn.org/> produced, directed a 1-hour documentary film entitled “Journeyman” which premiered on 2007-11-15 at the Riverview Theatre in Minneapolis. 520 tickets were sold, and most folks agreed that the movie made quite a statement about boys rites-of-passage and the need for adult men to step up as mentors. Scores of people from ManKind Project Minnesota, Woman Within and Twin Cities area mentoring groups such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters were in attendance. The film follows two Twin Cities boys, Joe and Eric who attend a Boys to Men weekend and then are mentored by two men. Read about the film and buy the DVD at the website: <http://www.mirrormanfilms.org/>. - Andy Mickel, 2007-11-16.

“Thanks for being an organization that supports the whole man—body, mind & spirit and the lives we live. For Peace in the World & a Healthy Environment, Bruce Kessler, 2007-10-16.

Key of See Storytellers events: the next Storytelling for Adults at Dunn Bros by Loring Park is December 15 at 7 p.m. Elaine Wynne and Larry Johnson doing COLD PAWS, WARM HEART, with a surprise guest from one of our classes. A podcast on HOW STORYTELLING IN YOUR CLASSROOM CREATES SUCCESSFUL LEADERS is up for replay at www.storytellingwithchildren.com where you’ll also find many guests from around the country, talking with Eric Wolf, about the importance of storytelling with children. There’s a new show almost every Tuesday evening. In January we are creating Mitosis with our class, dividing it into (1) STORYTELLING FOR ACTIVISTS, TRAINERS, AND LEADERS, and (2) STORYTELLING FOR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT CHILDREN. Times and places TBA. Larry Johnson is presenting 61 LESSONS FROM A 61 MILE HIKE (with music played on 6.1 pieces of trash picked up on the walk) is to adult groups see: <http://www.iam.mn/61/> Questions to 612-747-3904. <topstory7@comcast.net> - Larry Johnson, 2007-11-06.

Men and Women Who Work With Men (MWWWWM) meets informally to network every 1st Friday morning at Maria’s Cafe, 1113 E. Franklin Ave., in Minneapolis 55404. Randy Genrich, 2007-11-12.

Register now for the Minnesota Fatherhood Summit. Plan to join Minnesota Fathers & Families Network at their 5th annual winter conference at the St. Cloud Civic Center on Monday & Tuesday, January 14 & 15, 2008. Confirmed keynotes include “What is the State of Fatherhood in Minnesota? “Dr. Glen Palm, St. Cloud State University and “Addressing Children and Families in the Minnesota” Senate Senator Tarryl L. Clark and “Working with Low-Income Fathers: Child Support, Marriageability, and More,” Jacquelyn Boggess, Center for Family Policy and Practice. “Players, Predators, Partners, and Parents: Educating Young Men about Healthy Relationships,” Bill Taverner, American Journal of Sexuality Education. Registration materials are now available. FFI: <http://www.mnfathers.org/summit.html>. - Paul Masiarchin, Executive Director, MFFN, 161 St. Anthony Ave. Suite 845, St. Paul, MN 55103, 651-222-7432, <pmasiarchin@mnfathers.org> - 2007-10-18.

The next ManKind Project-Minnesota New Warrior Training Adventure will be held April 25-27, 2008 at Eagle Lake Camp near Brainerd, MN. The cost is $650, with many payment plans and a robust scholarship fund available. To learn more, attend an Open Circle event: Observe, Ask Questions (or Participate if you like) in a safe container with a group of men who are practicing authenticity and connection to feeling at Open Circle of Warriors events at the Men’s Center every 2nd Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. Contact Andy Mickel with any questions 612-279-6416 or see: <http://minnesota.mkp.org/> for Open I-Group dates/times. Register online at <http://minnesota.mkp.org>. - Andy Mickel, 2007-11-15.

According to the Verizon Foundation website, <http://foundation.verizon.com> they give support programs which encourage “Home / Safety and Health / Domestic Violence Prevention by working in partnership with nonprofits to prevent domestic violence and help victims.” The website notes these statistics::

  • 57 percent of teenagers know someone who has been physically, sexually or verbally abused in a dating relationship.
  • 21 percent of adults employed in the United States are victims of domestic violence (65% female, 35% male).
  • More than 5,000 cases of workplace violence are reported every day in the U.S.
  • Domestic violence is the single greatest cause of injury to women ages 15 to 44 in the United States - more than muggings, car accidents and rapes combined. Incidences and types of domestic violence in same-sex relationships are comparable to that in hetrosexual relationships.
  • One in four women will be a victim of domestic violence during her lifetime.

Look for a modernized Men’s Center website <http://www.tcmc.org/> soon, which will allow you to bookmark interior pages. - Andy Mickel. - 2007-09-14