Safe Futures, Think S.A.F.E. and the Rose Conrad Memorial Fund will be hosting a local screening of The Mask You Live In on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. at Olin Hall, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Avenue in New London. After the screening, there will be panel discussion led by Patrick Sheehan-Gaumer, Community Educator at Safe Futures. The free event is open to the public. Men, teens and boys are especially encouraged to attend.
For more information and to pre-register, visit www.SafeFuturesCT.org.
The documentary presents the personal narratives of young boys and men and features experts in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, sports, education, and media, further exploring how gender stereotypes are interconnected with race, class, and circumstance. The Mask You Live In ultimately illustrates how we, as a society, can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men.
The Mask You Live In follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity. Written, produced and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2015.
Safe Futures is pleased to partner with the Think S.A.F.E. Project at Connecticut College and the Rose Conrad Memorial Fund/Power of Purple Campaign to present the screening. The screening is a constructive way to involve men and boys in conversations about the role men play in ending violence against women.
“Just as our culture has harmed women and girls, so too are we harming our boys, which has led to a ‘boy crisis’ in America,” said Newsom. “Our intention is that this film sparks a national conversation around masculinity and helps our boys overcome limiting stereotypes, encouraging them to stay true to themselves.”
“When we heard about the film, we immediately became interested in hosting a screening locally. Safe Futures has had a Men Against Domestic Violence campaign for over 20 years. More recently, Patrick Sheehan-Gaumer joined our staff to move our men’s initiative to a new level,” says Emma Palzere-Rae, Director of Development and Communications at Safe Futures. “This screening will be just one of several ongoing activities to involve men in being a part of the solution in ending domestic violence.”
Safe Futures has previously screened Newsom’s first film Miss Representation in partnership with its Rose Conrad Memorial Fund, Writers Block Ink and the Provenance Center. Miss Representation premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and exposed the ways in which mainstream media contributes to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. In response to overwhelming public demand for ongoing education and social action in support of the film’s message, Newsom founded the organization that has become The Representation Project a few months later.
Using film as a catalyst for cultural transformation, The Representation Project inspires individuals and communities to challenge and overcome limiting stereotypes so that everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation or circumstance can fulfill their human potential. Take the pledge and join The Representation Project’s movement at www.therepresentationproject.org.
Safe Futures, founded in 1976 as the Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut, operates two 24-hour hotlines, an emergency shelter and a transitional living program for families working to rebuild lives shattered by domestic violence or sexual assault. Safe Futures also provides legal assistance, counseling and advocacy, case management, support groups and educational programs for schools as well as community groups. All 21 towns in New London County are served by the agency.
During 2014, Safe Futures sheltered 166 women, children and men fleeing abuse in its safe house or other safe shelter; provided free, confidential counseling to 5,130 clients seeking assistance for domestic violence and sexual assault; and educated over 4,300 students in violence prevention education. A hotline and shelter services are available 24/7/365. For more information, visit www.SafeFuturesCT.org.
Safe Futures is part of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV). Safe Futures is also a Partner Agency of United Way and its programs are funded in part by the State of Connecticut’s Departments of Social Service, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Office of Victim Services, Judicial Branch.
About the Think S.A.F.E. Project
The Think S.A.F.E. (Sexual Assault-Free Environment) Project at Connecticut College envisions a safe campus climate that is free of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. To that end, our mission is to partner with campus members and community agencies to foster individual and collective action to end sexual and relationship violence by:
- Promoting a greater awareness and consciousness regarding sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking.
- Providing violence prevention education and intervention strategies to the campus community.
- Fostering a safe environment where survivors are empowered to access resources.
- Providing advocacy and support to survivors and their allies through a coordinated community response effort.
Think S.A.F.E. is an intentional collaboration with faculty, staff, students and community partners to foster an environment that truly engages students to act with integrity, civility and the utmost respect for the dignity of all human beings, as inspired by the Connecticut College Honor Code.
About the Rose Conrad Memorial Fund
The Rose Conrad Memorial Fund was founded in 2005 by Rose’s attorney, Sheila Horvitz, to memorialize her life and dedicate resources to the issue of domestic violence, which Rose’s life and death symbolize. On Labor Day 2004, in Norwich, CT, Rose Conrad was killed in a murder-suicide by her husband, a day before their divorce would be final. The fund is particularly interested in including the criminal justice, legal, education, medical and mental health communities in their work in order to prevent domestic violence which damages the lives and healthy development of children and families.
In its mission to raise awareness, educate and take action for change, the fund partners with Safe Futures and Hadassah of Eastern Connecticut in the Power of Purple Campaign, which annually presents a community forum and an awareness walk.