Violence captures our attention as we see and hear the latest news reports. Here are a few I read today:
- Girl, 5, dies after being thrown from bridge; father arrested
- France: Raids kill 3 suspects, including 2 wanted in Charlie Hebdo attack
- S. official on terror attacks: ‘This isn’t going to stop’
- A terror suspect who took over a kosher market and killed four hostages was also killed
- Boy, 13, stabbed after denying he belonged to a gang
One obvious thing, though it isn’t always talked about directly, is how often it is young males who are involved in violence. Actor LeVar Burton is one man who cares deeply about young men and wants to do something constructive to heal the anger and despair that leads to male violence.
Burton is best known for his roles as the young Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award-winning ABC television miniseries Roots and Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Most people don’t know about his involvement with the Men’s Center of Los Angeles and its program for young men.
I’ve known about the Los Angeles Men’s Center and their founder and director, Dr. Stephen Johnson, for more than 25 years. I believe they are doing truly revolutionary work to heal the lives of males of all ages and their families. I’ve been so impressed with their work that I took my grandson to their Young Men’s Call to Adventure weekend and wrote about our experiences. I called the article “Mentored Boys or Monster Boys.”
I’ve long believed that mentoring is critical to the well-being of our children and grandchildren, particularly the young men. It’s also critical to the well-being of our communities. Many years ago I attended a mentoring workshop with ritual elder, Malidoma Somé. He said, “Elders and mentors have an irreplaceable function in the life of any community. Without them, the young are lost—their overflowing energies wasted in useless pursuits.”
Malidoma goes on to remind us that “old must live in the young like a grounding force that tames the tendency towards bold but senseless actions and shows them the path of wisdom. In the absence of elders, the impetuosity of youth becomes the slow death of the community.” Psychologist Robert Moore offers a chilling recognition of what happens when young men are not mentored or given initiations into manhood. He says we move from healthy masculinity to monster-boy masculinity.
Without mentoring young males become increasingly disconnected and dangerous. This becomes fertile ground for young males to be recruited into violent terrorist activity or gangs. But it doesn’t have to go that way.
Two of my grandson’s live in areas where gang violence is ever present. I feel blessed that I’ve had the opportunity to have them experience the Call to Adventure that can save the lives of young men everywhere. Take a look at this short film and hear from some of the boys themselves. Hear how the program helped heal LeVar Burton and his relationship to his own son. Decide if you’d like to help us make these opportunities available to more young men.
What are your thoughts?
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Thank you Jed,
For over 30 years I have been able to count on your friendship and support of our work to bring out the best in good men. Our efforts to make a positive difference in the world are needed now as much as ever before. For decades, angry young men have joined neighborhood gangs in order to act their frustrations against property and others with a vengeance. Now, the new normal is enacted by disenfranchised youth, both male and female, who are joining terrorist gangs in distant lands or staying home to exact the savage brutality as dictated by radicalized Jihadi leaders. The work at Men’s Center Los Angeles has focused on our own community and yet I know that the influence that we can make on the home front can have a wide sweeping impact far beyond. The lives that we touch go forward to touch the lives of so many more. There are those in our organization who have served to make a positive difference where it counts both here and abroad. Many thanks, Jed, for bringing attention to our endeavors.
In brotherhood,
Stephen
It may seem easier to meet violence with violence. But like “fighting fire with fire” it will only serve to burn down all that we love. Much better to do the difficult, yet rewarding work, to meet violence with understanding, love, and healing. Your experience, passion, and commitment is the reason I trust you and was gifted to experience your program and to bring my grandsons. I hope everyone who cares about kids, the fate of the world, and creating a better future for all, will support your efforts.
It seems appropriate to quote Rev. King: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Best of luck with the Center Dr. Johnson.
We should never forget Dr. King’s words, though in the real-world, where so many of us live in cities blinded by “light,” its nice to remember the healing qualities of the night and real darkness outside the light pollution we see all over the world.
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This is more than important. It is crucial. When there are no elders to initiate the young men, they attempt to initiate themselves – so there are uninitiated boys attempting to fill that role, and it’s a disaster. I have participated in the Young Men’s Ultimate Weekend (www.ymuw.org) in Northern California, for young men from 13 to 20. It’s fantastic. In Canada, there is the Young Men’s Adventure Weekend (http://ymaw.com/), and the men’s organizations MDI (www.MDISuccess.com) and The Mankind Project (www.mankindproject.org) also have programs for young men. The organization Big Brothers / Big Sisters of America is less formal, and not initiatory, but does great work helping young people grow through mentoring and friendship. If you’re a man, you have an obligation to the young men around you to mentor them into manhood. It’s also completely fulfilling. Get involved. If you have a teen, get them into one of these programs.
Lion Goodman
Former Director of Men’s Programs, The Shift Network
Director of The Men’s Ultimate Men’s Summit – 80+ recordings still available at www. ultimatemenssummit.com.
Lion, Thanks for the reminder of the various organizations and programs now available for men and young men. You’ve certainly been a leader in this field for many years. Thanks for all you are doing.