Jackson Katz: The Macho Paradox

As we quickly approach the start of the White Ribbon Campaign period (November 25th - December 6th) many events aiming to raise awareness and education in communities, globally and here at home, are gaining momentum.

One event that White Ribbon Canada is especially proud of is a discussion with Jackson Katz, one of America's leading anti-sexist male activists, titled The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women And How All Men can Help.

Date: November 21st, 2008
Time: 9am until 11am
Location: University of Toronto Multi-faith Centre, 2nd Floor, Koffler Institute, 569 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON [Map]

This event is free and open to the public. You can register to attend via our website at whiteribbon.com/katz. Space is limited so register early!

This event is made possible by a partnership with YWCA and University of Toronto.

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There's Still Time!

With just over one week left until the start of the campaign period, you might think it's too late to order materials in time for your event(s).

WRC offers many different shipping options, from same-day within the GTA, overnight to many locations across North America and often less than a week to most other destinations.

We have plenty of ribbons and posters left in stock, although items are selling out fast!

Visit our secure online order form to place your order. We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. If you would like to pay at a later date, we also have invoicing options.

Together we can make this the greatest campaign year to date!

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Common Ground Wrap-up

The first ever Common Ground conference was a huge success. With over 160 high school age boys and girls from all over Toronto in attendance, the energy was high and the workshops packed.

The day consisted of a number of exciting workshops aimed at addressing young people's concerns about gendered violence in their schools and communities. Examples of the workshops that were offered include; poster design, movie making, hip-hop and visual art sessions - all focused on using these mediums to make positive change.

WRC facilitated a very spirited workshop with a group of young men that looked at our society's expectations of manhood and how this impacts our relationships and our lives in general. The group members had a lot to say and a lot of passion about how their lives are affected by gender. We talked a lot about homophobia, pressure from the media, stereotypes and healthy relationships.

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Ending Violence Against Women,
One Nation at a Time

Very few people imagined back in 1991 that a locally grown movement would expand so rapidly throughout the world. Yet, today, the White Ribbon Campaign, has been organized in fifty seven countries and the movement to involve men and boys in the promotion of gender equality and prevention of violence against women continues to gain momentum at all levels of society.

Our efforts at the Toronto office include supporting that expansion and providing assistance to individuals, organizations, and governments interested in organizing a local White Ribbon Campaign. Lately we have received requests for support from Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Chile, Argentina, Cape Verde, and Kenya.

Of particular note, is the Cape Verdean government’s interest in working with White Ribbon in Canada to organize a national campaign and promote activities engaging fathers. The Cape Verdean Institute for Gender Equality and Equity is promoting initiatives that support women and girls who have experienced violence and those that raise public awareness about violence against women at various levels in Cape Verdean society. Cape Verde is a small group of islands off the west coast of Africa.

Elsewhere in South America, Chilean organizations CULTURASALUD and EME (Masculinities and Gender Equity) have joined efforts to create Chile’s first White Ribbon Campaign. The goal of this initiative is to sensitize, involve and mobilize men towards ending gender-based violence, through campaigns and other actions focused on gender equity and respect for human rights. Proposed activities include the development of local internet outreach tools, adaptation of WRC Canada’s educational materials, development of a poster campaign, and public distribution of ribbons and postcards.

Without a doubt, in order to eradicate violence against women, a concerted effort needs to take place throughout the globe to work with men to promote gender equality at the individual, family, community, institutional, national, and regional levels. Effective public education and advocacy efforts, combined with strong policy development are sure ways to bring about the change we envision – a future with no violence against women. We at the White Ribbon Campaign in Canada are invested in being part of a global strategy to bring that vision to fruition.

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Your Support is Critical

Our vision is a future without violence toward women; and one of the ways we work to achieve this is to educate young men and boys. We have produced a powerful series of education and communication materials that have proven to have a huge impact toward educating young men and boys on the issues of gender equality, respect and healthy relationships. Some of these tools are:

Education and Action Kit

• A teacher resource on gender inequality, healthy relationships and ending violence against women

Campaign in a Box

• Ready to use educational activities for teachers and community leaders
• Social norms tools that address the gap in perceived and real group norms of how youth feel about violence against women, gender equality and healthy relationships

Boys Conference

• An annual conference in partnership with the Elementary Teachers of Toronto
• Bring boys together to discuss issues of equality, respect, and healthy relationships

Public Awareness – Choices Campaign

• Through provocative campaigns, we encourage men and boys to think about their use of language, and their definition of strength
• Designed to confront men with use of language and the meaning of symbols about which their choices make a difference in ending violence against women
• Designed to bring men closer to appreciating the conditions and fear of violence that women live under

Developing and maintaining these highly effective tools takes resources, let alone the cost we incur to get them out there. That’s where your help is critical.

As we enter into our White Ribbon Campaign Days we would like you to consider making a significant one time gift to honour White Ribbon Activities around the world.

Look at what your support can do:
$500 = will enable us to send 10 Boys to our annual Boys Conference
$250 = will allow us to reach 1,000 youth with our Choices Campaign
$100 = can help us deliver 5 more “Education and Action” resources to teachers.
$75 = will help us deliver 2 Campaign in a Box to youth 8 – 14 years old.
$50 = will support our efforts to train 1 educator on the issue.

White Ribbon Campaign receives no core funding from any level of government. Except for some very limited project specific funding, our work is made possible only through the generosity of the foundations, corporations, and individuals like you who donate to our cause. Your support is critical so that we may continue to make a difference in the lives of women everywhere. Give the gift of hope for a future without violence toward women, today.

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WRC Teams Up With Interval House and Ivanhoe Cambridge

As we enter into the holiday season, White Ribbon Campaign is pleased to announce a partnership with Interval House and Ivanhoe Cambridge Malls this campaign period.

This partnership will enable us to raise awareness to help ending violence against women during this holiday period throughout Southwestern Ontario.

At least one woman is killed by her partner each week in Canada and tragically, the holiday time is a period when domestic violence tends to escalate with more women and children seeking refuge in shelters.

White Ribbon and Interval House, with the help of 13 Ivanhoe Cambridge malls, will be selling gift bows at the malls’ customer service booths from November 25 through December 7, 2008.

The white gift bows sold for $1 each will be offered as an add-on to holiday mall gift card purchases. All funds raised go towards supporting educational programs provided by White Ribbon and toward the women and children staying at Interval House.

Customers purchasing a white gift bow, will also have the opportunity to win a weekend getaway for two to see Dirty Dancing and stay at the Hilton Toronto, when opting in on a ballot to receive a White Ribbon/Interval House newsletter.

As you are thinking about that special someone on your holiday shopping list - head out to an Ivanhoe Cambridge Mall today and help end violence against women.

Centre	Address	City
Burlington Mall	777 Guelph Line	Burlington
Conestoga Mall	550 King Street North	Waterloo
Devonshire Mall	3100 Howard Avenue	Windsor
Dixie Outlet Mall	1250 South Service Road	Mississauga
Lynden Park Mall	84 Lynden Road	Brantford
Mapleview Shopping Centre	900 Maple Avenue	Burlington
Oakville Place	240 Leighland Avenue	Oakville
Oshawa Centre	419 King Street West, Office Galleria, Suite 120	Oshawa
Quinte Mall	390 North Front Street	Belleville
Tecumseh Mall	7654 Tecumseh Road East	Windsor
Upper Canada Mall	17600 Yonge Street, P. O. Box 256	Newmarket
Vaughan Mills	1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Management Office	Vaughan

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Shop to end violence against women!

If you could have a percentage of every online purchase you make support our work to end violence against women, would you?

Of course you would! Especially if you found out how easy it was!

White Ribbon has recently partnered with We-Care.com. This partnership allows us to receive a donation when you shop at more than 600 participating merchants. All you need to do is click through our We-Care.com marketplace and then chose from the merchants you use everyday – directly from their websites. There are no extra charges, and you may even save money with coupons and special offers.

Participating merchants offer retail, travel, financial services, and quite a bit more. Book your flights and hotel. Rent a Car. Shop for a book. Get contact lenses. Buy furniture and household items. Send gifts. Order office supplies. Subscribe to magazines, DVD services and even satellite TV. You get the idea.

We-Care.com isn’t about making one big donation, nor does it replace the donations you normally make. It’s a simple, effortless way to further your support of White Ribbon Campaign. One click at time. So make it a habit every time you shop on-line and make a difference.

Visit whiteribbon.we-care.com

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Support the White Ribbon Campaign

• Become a monthly donor. This enables us to plan our fiscal year more securely, and helps us with a more consistent source of donations.
• See if your workplace has an employee charitable program. Many corporations help employees by supporting causes they are aligned with – see if you company is one of them.
• Tell your friends, family and colleagues about the White Ribbon Campaign!

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