AMEND Together

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Changing a culture that supports violence against women by teaching healthy masculinity and respect.

AMEND Together is a primary prevention initiative of YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee dedicated to ending violence against women and girls by engaging men and boys to change the culture that supports violence. Together, we seek to challenge the culture that supports violence, cultivate healthy masculinity in men and boys, and change the future for women and girls.

Click here to visit the AMEND Together national website.

AMEND Together partners with Metro Nashville Public Schools to provide AMEND clubs across the city where hundreds of boys are provided a safe space to talk about healthy masculinity and gender-based violence.

AMEND Ambassadors are prominent members of the Nashville and Middle Tennessee community. These men and women lend their expertise to help the YWCA achieve the AMEND Together goals. Ambassadors work with the AMEND Together team on strategic planning, fundraising, outreach, and events.  Click here to inquire about becoming an AMEND Together Ambassador.

AMEND Together’s Good Guys Project helps support our work in MNPS elementary schools.  Learn more and apply below.

AMEND Together works with boys and young men in MNPS elementary, middle and high schools.  During the 2022-23 school year, we are serving boys in the following schools and community programs:

  • HG Hill MS
  • McMurray MS
  • Antioch MS
  • Haynes MS
  • East HS
  • Shelby Park Community Center
  • Whites Creek HS
  • Jere Baxter MS
  • Wright MS
  • Hillwood HS
  • Hillsboro HS
  • Paragon Mills ES
  • Bellshire ES
  • Maplewood HS
  • West End MS
  • Pearl-Cohn HS
  • JT Moore MS
  • Margaret Allen MS
  • Thurgood Marshall MS
  • Madison MS
  • Isaac Litton MS
  • JFK MS
  • Robert Churchwell ES
  • Youth Encouragement Services
  • Hispanic Family Foundation
  • 100 Kings

YWCA Central Alabama
YWCA Central Virginia
YWCA Dayton (OH)
YWCA Lubbock (TX)
YWCA Mohawk Valley (NY)
YWCA Silicon Valley (CA)
YWCA South Hampton Roads (VA)
YWCA Spokane  (WA)
YWCA Toledo (OH)

In 2020, AMEND Together expanded to serve youth through YWCA affiliates in Dayton, OH, Mohawk Valley, NY, Central Virginia, South Hampton Roads, VA, Lubbock, TX, and Greater Memphis. YWCA Silicon Valley in California launched its affiliate in 2021. YWCA Central Alabama in Birmingham launched its AMEND Together program in 2022. These AMEND Together affiliates utilize the community-based model created by YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee.

You can support this important work by making a donation TODAY!

AMEND TOGETHER PODCAST

BECOMING A MAN, THE PEOPLE WE LOVE, SECURING THE BAG, and everything in between! Author, speaker, and AMEND Together Executive Director Shan Foster talks with guests from various backgrounds,  including sports, business, and education, to explore this journey called manhood and the challenges we all face. Tune in as Shan explores the many blueprints for healthy masculinity, lasting relationships, and showing up authentically without compromise. Some truths may hurt, but they don’t have to hinder!  Download and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

 

APPLY HERE

Are you ready to be part of the solution to ending men’s violence against women and girls? It starts with us—ALL of us. That’s why we are partnering with MNPS, from elementary school through high school, to create happy, healthy, and safe communities.

Join the Good Guy Project! 

As a Good Guy facilitator, YOU get to work hands-on with students to deliver our elementary school curriculum. We accept applications for both the fall and spring semesters (or both). For the fall semester (September 2022 – December 2022), the application is currently open through August 24th at 11:59 PM. To apply, click here.

The Good Guy Project is a paid, train-the-trainer type facilitation opportunity. We provide training in youth facilitation, the AMEND elementary curriculum, and principles of men’s role in preventing violence against women. Throughout the semester, Good Guys gain experience in the classroom as mentors thanks to our partnerships in MNPS elementary schools. Altogether, facilitators can expect to receive approximately 10 hours of training and 30+ hours of classroom facilitation. Good Guys will work in pairs, devoting about 2-3 hours per week to leading small group workshops with (10-20) elementary school students in 3rd-5th grades.

Think you might be a Good Guy facilitator?  You probably:

  • Like working in groups or pairs

  • Are 18-26 years old

  • Have an interest or passion for working with youth

  • Are thinking about a career in education, social work, childcare, sports administration, etc.

  • Care about gender violence prevention and raising healthy boys

  • Want to make Nashville a safe community for all of us

  • Believe that you have the power to impact the people around you

  • Are fun, thoughtful, a good listener, and willing to look silly in front of kids

  • Can pass a background check

 Details:

  • 10-hour training in early September or January

  • 2-3 hour/week commitment September – December or January – May

  • Facilitators paid a monthly stipend at ~$22/hr

Click HERE to download our Good Guy flier.

Tennessean – Nov. 3, 2020 Teaching Healthy Masculinity & Respect 

Tennessean – Oct. 12, 2019  YWCA Receives Grant to Break Cycle of Abuse

FOX 17 – WZTV – June 18, 2019 Actor Terry Crews, Eddie George Speak at Conference on Violence Against Women 

Tennessean – May 2019 – Titans Caravan Visits AMEND Together Students

Tennessean – Jan. 25, 2017 Predators Make $500,000 Pledge to MEND Program

WKRN – http://wkrn.com/2015/07/23/former-vanderbilt-star-looks-to-coaches-to-help-end-domestic-violence/

Tennessean – http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/06/17/mend-end-violence-against-women/28880325/

Tennessean – http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2015/06/06/vanderbilt-great-shan-foster-takes-stand-domestic-violence/28611299/

WSMV – http://www.wsmv.com/story/29248504/ywca-working-to-educate-coaches-about-domestic-violence

VANDY SPORTS – http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/052715aab.html

Tennessean – http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2014/10/14/ywca-hopes-mend-domestic-violence/17271227/

 

I hope all young men learn to respect people. You don't want to be known as someone who's not kind. You don't want to be remembered as a bully. You want to be a good person all around. I want to get that out there: Respect people.
Joeuan, McKissack Middle School
Of the many things I’ve learned in the AMEND club, learning about the objectification and violence against women touched my spirit the greatest…I have a wonderful mother and beautiful sisters that I love dearly, I can’t imagine anyone verbally, physically, and mentally destroying their being and self-worth because society has given men the “green light” to treat and display women in a negative light.
Josiah P., Hillsboro High Student
Dating abuse is when one person tells another person in a relationship what to do. It's taking away their rights and humanity. No one should have their choice taken away.
Marquarious, Pearl-Cohn High School
A look inside our AMEND Together clubs in Metro Nashville Public Schools
Shan Foster speaks with United Methodist Men about the AMEND partnership

In the Press

How You Can Help

Every dollar helps.
We are investing in the lives of hundreds of boys each year in Metro Nashville Public Schools. Help us continue to challenge the culture that supports violence against women by cultivating healthy masculinity in men and boys. Donate now.