YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee recently was awarded a generous federal grant to support its AMEND Together programming. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) selected nine organizations for its Grant to Engage Men and Boys as Allies Program. The funded projects engage men as role models and key influencers in primary prevention strategies addressing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sex trafficking. YWCA will receive $350,000 over the next three years for this project. This is the second OVW award for the AMEND Together program.
“By granting YWCA this significant funding once again, the U.S. Department of Justice sees value in our innovative work through AMEND Together,” said YWCA President & CEO Sharon K. Roberson. “We know that the end of violence against women and girls begins with men and boys. For the past decade, we’ve been focused on challenging the culture that supports violence and cultivating healthy masculinity in the boys and men we serve.”
YWCA is continuing its partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools to expand programming in up to 15 elementary schools, launch a leadership program for middle and high school boys, and recruit and train at least eight men to co-facilitate AMEND clubs. YWCA will also develop and offer up to six community presentations per year to assist men and/or boys in developing healthy relationships, challenging social norms that support violence against women and girls
AMEND Together was launched by YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee in 2013 as was previously called the MEND program. The initiative currently serves boys and young men in 26 MNPS schools and community organizations. The Nashville Predators are a long-time supporter of the program, and recently committed $100,000 to further this work. The local program was rebranded as AMEND Together – empowered by the Nashville Predators this past October. In 2020, AMEND Together expanded to serve youth at YWCA affiliates across the U.S. The program is currently active in nine different YWCAs across seven states.
