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The Manhood Tree is an exploration of the four “hoods”: Boyhood, Brotherhood, Fatherhood and Manhood using the analogy of a tree. The goal of the Manhood Tree discussion is to allow men to discuss and address each “hood” and how it currently impacts the man they are today or will be in the future. Men and boys have been socialized not to speak openly about their true self, their issues, problems and concerns; or the ideas, thoughts and feelings they have. When a group of men are in a room together, the discussion usually remains at the surface focusing on sports, debates or goes to our lower level thinking. The Manhood Tree discussion is an opportunity for men to express their thoughts about their personal boyhood to manhood journey and learn from experiences of other men.
"The goal of the Manhood Tree discussion is to allow men to discuss and address each “hood” and how it currently impacts the man they are today or will be in the future. Men and boys have been socialized not to speak openly about their true self, their issues, problems and concerns; or the ideas, thoughts and feelings they have." |
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Through The Manhood Tree discussion, the goal is to help men look at their life, where they have been, where they want to go and make a determination of the changes they will make to improve and encourage growth in the future. The Manhood Tree Discussion seeks to get men to think about their lives fully from boyhood up and identify their flaws, recognize areas of their life they are deficient and celebrate their growth.
The Manhood Tree discussion provides men with a platform to view the four hoods (Boyhood, Brotherhood, Fatherhood and Manhood) from a bird’s eye view. The benefit of being in a room with men of different ages and experiences allows young and old men to learn from each other’s experiences. The process of The Manhood Tree discussion is to focus on one topic for 2 hours. Each session will have no more than 15 men participate (in order to allow each man to have the opportunity to express his thoughts, ideas and feelings). The discussion can also be conducted as a full day discussion with men. There are a total of six sessions. The session topics are:
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"WHEN A GROUP OF MEN ARE IN A ROOM TOGETHER, THE DISCUSSION USUALLY REMAINS AT THE SURFACE FOCUSING ON SPORTS, DEBATES OR GOES TO OUR LOWER LEVEL THINKING. THE MANHOOD TREE DISCUSSION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEN TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL BOYHOOD TO MANHOOD JOURNEY AND LEARN FROM EXPERIENCES OF OTHER MEN." |
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Each session begins with a review of The Manhood Tree rules, agreement to participate in the discussion and a quote related to the discussion topic. The facilitator then provides some facts about the topic of discussion and introduces questions for the men to answer. The questions are meant to make the men reflect and think about their life in a way they have never likely done. Sessions end with meditation to allow the men to center themselves after the discussion and put their mask back on.
In addition to The Manhood Tree, we have developed an array of programs and events to support men in sharing their truth, spending time with their children and expressing the journey of manhood fully. Included in our manhood focused events and activities are: |