Updated 2017May07
—
The Good Men Project’s original mission, one it has stayed true to all these years, was “spark an international conversation about the changing roles of men in the 21st century.” That conversation has taken many forms—articles, blog posts, videos, podcasts, books and e-books, comments, classes and speaking engagements and live storytelling events. People have described us as thought-provoking, addictive, provocative, diverse, visionary, even heroic. There is a general consensus (tell us if we’re wrong!) that no other media company is having the large-scale discussion we are having about men, manhood, and masculinity. You’ve perhaps heard our numbers: 100 million visitors since we began, 350,000 comments, and 60,000 posts. We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. We are “The conversation no one else is having.™“
We are a participatory media company, changing the face of media in the 21st-century.
Most media companies have a standard way of operating. The create content, and people come and “consume” that content. There may be online comments (although many media companies are shutting those down as they become increasingly unwieldy). Or perhaps people will share a story on Facebook or Twitter, prompting online conversations there.
Yes, we have all of those kinds of digital conversations.
◊♦◊
We also believe in the power of hearing someone’s voice. To be able to formally introduce yourself to someone. To be able to ask questions in real time. To be able to clarify a point, or to add your own insight.
Remember the conversations you used to have as a kid when you all slept over at a friends house? Or at your college dining hall, where you could stay for hours debating the happenings of the day. Or at a really good party, where you say “wow, those were the interesting people I met all week.”
We have actual conversations, where groups of people get on phone calls—and the experience is just like that. Some people say these calls are the most interesting calls they have all week. One person called them “heroic” because we tackle some of the most difficult topics on the planet. One participant recently said, “These calls open doors I didn’t even know were closed.”
Social Interest Groups
Exclusive benefits for The Good Men Project Premium Community Gold and Platinum Members.
—
You already know we are The conversation no one else is having.™ Well, that conversation has been getting better and deeper and even more connected to actual social change. We have been rolling out “Social Interest Groups”—groups of people who are coming together to discuss specific areas of interest. Each group has a weekly phone call and then stay in touch during the week Premium Member Facebook community and our Facebook Groups. Each group will create content, interface with other groups working in the area, and forge a path to actual social change.
Each Social Interest Group will have: (1) A clearly defined problem that we actually think we can help solve; (2) A clear group of people we want to change; and (3) A way of measuring results.
The groups will hold weekly phone conference call for one hour every week, so you can talk to other members of the community and share ideas. Then, in between calls, an email thread will connect the community and allow further ways of communicating with the other members throughout the week.
We have group meetings every day of the week!!
Sundays:
Conscious Intersectionality
Meeting Schedule: Sundays at 9 p.m. Eastern Time/6 p.m. Pacific — Rolling schedule, join anytime.
So you’ve got an understanding of what sexism, racism, homo/transphobia, etc is and you’re looking to take an even deeper dive into the issues? The Conscious Intersectionality group is a place to de-mystify where, why, and how various systems of oppression intersect and how the lack of acknowledgment of said intersections can render groups of people invisible and denied agency. The group is facilitated by Emily LaDouceur, with the goal that both leaders and participants will be given space to share their truths and lived experiences. As we share and challenge each other, we will become more effective and inclusive change agents and better purveyors of humanity in our homes and our communities. Together we will forge a path to actual social change.
RSVP to join weekly calls on Conscious Intersectionality
Mondays:
Stop Sexism
Meeting Schedule: Mondays at 7:30 pm Eastern Time/4:30 pm Pacific — Rolling schedule, join anytime.
NEW! #StopSexism Social Interest Group
The #StopSexismSocial Interest Group aims to address the issues of everyday sexism, identify contributing factors, and discuss the implications and effects of sexism. We will hold weekly calls by phone, and together will explore ideas to combat inequality, gender bias, and society’s expectations. The group is led by The Good Men Project editor Jeremy McKeen and writer Gretchen Kelly.
RSVP for #StopSexism Weekly Calls
The Leadership Salon
Meeting Schedule: Mondays at 8:30 pm Eastern Time/5:30 pm Pacific — Rolling schedule, join anytime.
This group – The Leadership Salon – couldn’t come at a more crucial time. We need more leaders to stand up and create a vision of the world that is conscious, inclusive and on the side of humanity So many on both sides of the political aisle are looking at a deeply divided nation, and asking: “What can I do?” Do this. Come together with a diverse group of like-minded individuals who take turns leading this group. We will identify critical issues of the world today that immediate attention and long-term commitment. Moderated by Daniel Pohnke, and co-led by Carol Bluestein and Terry Nichols. This group is a ground-up approach in claiming our personal power and then giving it back to where it is needed most, at home and in our communities.
RSVP for The Leadership Salon SIG HERE
Tuesdays:
#StopRacism: The Conversation on Race in America That No One Else is Having
Meeting Schedule: Tuesdays at 8 pm Eastern Time/5 pm Pacific
This group—#StopRacism—will identify some of the ways in which racism manifests itself in our institutions and our communities, and how this is reinforced, both economically and culturally. We’ll then talk about how to remove that reinforcement and support, in order to make racism, in a word, “unprofitable.”
You will meet other people who care about racism, and learn together a common language. You’ll hear stories and history. You’ll form a community of activists that can create change. And you’ll learn how to mobilize other activists and become a leader in the conversation yourself.
RSVP for Stop Racism SIG HERE
Rising Stars Training
Looking for our Tuesday evening classes and training schedule? (How to be a Rising Star in Media, Advanced Writing, Advanced Platform Building, How to Be an Editor or How to Create Social Change) Click here.
Wednesdays:
The Disposability of Men/CTE Social Interest Group
Meeting Schedule: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Eastern Time/ 4 p.m. Pacific
The Disposability of Men/CTE Social Interest Group — will begin by focusing on concussions, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and violence, but we will also expand out to discuss the larger issues of how men are treated in times of war, in times of crisis, in the workplace, and how they are portrayed in the media. This is a way for people interested in these issues to come together to talk about it in a community of people who can learn, grow, and create social change together, whether through writing on the topic, creating videos, podcasts, activist campaigns, and building a network to amplify our message. The Disposability of Men Social Interest Group will create content, interface with other groups working in the area, and forge a path to actual social change.
This group will be led by Good Men Project Director of Special Projects (and former Sr. Editor of Good Men Project Sports), Michael Kasdan.
RSVP for The Disposability of Men SIG HERE
Men’s Mental Health Social Interest Group
Meeting Schedule: Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern Time/5 p.m. Pacific
The Men’s Mental Health will examine the stigma and prejudice against mental health issues in our culture that often prevents us—and men in particular—from getting the support that they need, and will work to de-stigmatize mental health issues. Part of that work often includes the sharing of our own stories.
The current group is led by The Good Men Project contributor Andre Vaughn and was previously led by GMP contributor Shawn Henfling. The premier group was led by Director of Special Projects and Senior Editor of GMP Sports Michael Kasdan. The first group created a video #NotWeakJustHuman.
Join the group that is working to change the perception of and destigmatize mental health issues.
RSVP for Men’s Mental Health SIG HERE
♦◊♦
Thursdays:
Sex, Love & Relationships
Meeting Schedule: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time/6 p.m. Pacific — Rolling schedule, join anytime.
RSVP to join weekly calls on Love, Sex & Relationships
The Art of Political Activism
Meeting Schedule: Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time/5:30 p.m. Pacific — Rolling schedule, join
Learn how to be a political activist and build a resistence movement. We will discuss what has been happening in real time during the week and figure out together what the most effective strategy is.
RSVP to join weekly calls on The Art of Political Activism
Fridays:
Call With The Publisher
Meeting Schedule: Fridays at 3 p.m. Eastern Time/12 p.m. Pacific — Rolling schedule, join anytime.
Premium members will receive call-in information. (More info will be posted here, soon.)
♦◊♦
Saturdays:
Columnist and Editor Training or Publisher’s Office Hours
Meeting Schedule: Saturdays at 1 p.m. Eastern Time/10 a.m. Pacific — Rolling schedule, join anytime.
Once or twice a month, we offer training for people interested in becoming a weekly Columnist and/or an Editor for The Good Men Project. Those sessions are held at this time, alternating with office hours. (More info will be posted here, soon.)
♦◊♦
Coming Soon (not yet scheduled):
The Environmental Activism Social Interest Group
Meeting Schedule: Coming Soon
This group will discuss not only how men relate to nature but also important environmental issues of our time and how we as a community can take action to solve them.
From climate change, deforestation, and species loss, to rising sea levels, and ocean acidification, people all over the world are feeling the impacts of environmental destruction.
Indigenous rights are being ignored while their land is being exploited for fossil fuel extraction More and more oil pipelines are spilling polluting our waterways. Marginalized communities are bearing the brunt of industrial toxic pollution. The list of environmental atrocities seem to be getting longer. This isn’t just a fight to save the environment, it’s a fight for justice. A fight for humanity.
Sign up for our Writing Prompts email to be notified of upcoming SIGs.
Looking for our classes and training schedule? (How to be a Rising Star in Media, Advanced Writing, Advanced Platform Building, How to Be an Editor or How to Create Social Change) Click here.
♦◊♦
Become a Premium Member, Here!
Social Interest Groups and Task Forces are for Gold and Platinum Premium Members only. It’s easy to become a member, and you’ll be helping to support our mission when you do. Become a Premium Member, here:
Register New Account
Payment is by PayPal. Your membership will begin once you receive the welcome email and click the link to return back to The Good Men Project.
Thank you for being a part of the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.
——
photo credit: Getty Images