LCMRC Mission and BackgroundThe Men's Resource Center model is now 22 years old. What started off as a single center, the MRC of Western Mass. located in Amherst, Mass., has now grown into an international coalition of communities. The Lake Champlain Men's Resource Center (LCMRC) follows in these footsteps and was incorporated as a Vt. nonprofit in Dec.'04. LCMRC Mission StatementThe LCMRC is dedicated to challenging and changing the culture of oppression and men's violence on both the individual and societal level. We encourage the growth of men, women and children by providing guidance, education and support in relationships, parenting and leadership. LCMRC Core Values StatementThe LCMRC is a convergence of the two streams of the modern day men's movement. Firstly, it is male positive and embraces the inner cycle of men's work which allows for a man to do his inner healing work and to develop a mature, generative masculinity. Secondly, it embraces the pro-feminist or outer cycle of men's work in which men can work in unison with women to create the social change necessary to achieve social justice, equality and to dismantle the legacy of patriarchal oppression and violence. Together, these two streams of awareness and work feed the individuals need for wholeness, which in turn creates a more balanced community and society. We are:a vital presence for social change in our community; male-positive, pro-feminist, gay-affirmative, anti-racist and anti-violent; encouraging all men to acknowledge, embrace and live from their heart and soul as part of healing themselves and their community; here to be a clearinghouse for men, women and children offering resources and services to help end oppression and violence in their lives; and here to provide the means for healing and growth in all our relations. The Lake Champlain Men’s Resource Center is now forming a coalition of men and women interested in realizing the goal of a new masculine paradigm, free from oppression and violence. The LCMRC will offer individuals a place to be supported as they work through their individual issues. In addition, we will offer resource referrals for men to specific agencies. The LCMRC plans to:Organize weekly support groups for various populations which will be facilitated by trained volunteers in Chittenden County, VT. Groups will be run on a donation basis and no one will be turned away for a lack of money. Possible groups include:
Print and distribute a newsletter focusing on men’s issues in relation to personal healing and social activism. Provide educational outreach on men’s issues to the community and educational systems. Provide a lending library of books, magazines, videotapes and DVD’s for participants on related topics. Partner with other organizations to work towards this mission. To date, the LCMRC has run a Community Film Series in the Greater Burlington area, featuring films such as Wrestling with Manhood, Tough Guise, Game Over and Killing Us Softly, which all expose and challenge the current oppressive masculine paradigm as well as presenting ideas for a healthy and balanced masculinity. The LCMRC also organized and staged a silent protest at Burlington Memorial Auditorium on Father’s Day 2006 when the World Wrestling Entertainment group came to the area. The protest was coordinated with an op/ed piece penned by the LCMRC board and mailed to a number of local media outlets. In the light of the Michelle Gardner Quinn homicide, The LCMRC board co-authored another op/ed calling out the nature of the recent murders of women and calling them what they were – male violence against women. Currently, the LCMRC has been in communication and collaboration with The Burlington Men’s Group, Men Alive and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England providing referrals and organizing future groups. |
