For more information on the below conference, go to
http://mencanstoprape.org/conference/ This is one of the only conferences on
this issue that truly speaks about primary prevention. VDH is a co-sponsor and
would be happy to answer any questions about it.

-----
Rebecca K. Odor
of: 804-864-7740
email: Becky.Odor@...

WHAT: Men and Women as Allies: National Conference on the Primary Prevention of
Men's Violence Against Women
WHEN: April 14-15, 2009
WHO: Men Can Stop Rape, Inc. (MCSR) and Sponsoring Organizations
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20001

About the Conference
On April 14-15, 2009, organizations, agencies, and individuals from around the
globe will gather in Washington, DC to discuss how men and women can best ally
to prevent violence against women. Hosted by Men Can Stop Rape, Inc., the
international leader in the primary prevention of men¢s violence against women,
Men and Women as Allies will:

* Present cutting-edge theory and practice
* Feature keynote addresses by members of the new presidential
administration
* Offer meetings with congressional members
* Set a new agenda for prevention-focused collaborations
* Emphasize the voices of young people

Co-sponsored by more than 45 organizations - sexual assault and domestic
violence coalitions, service providers, men¢s groups, and youth-serving
institutions - this two-day conference will bring together a broad coalition of
support to find paths for greater collaboration in the future.

Opening Session - Eve Ensler
Eve Ensler, playwright, performer, and activist, is the author of The Vagina
Monologues, translated into over 45 languages and performed in over 120
countries, including sold-out runs at both Off-Broadway's Westside Theater and
on London's West End (2002 Olivier Award nomination, Best Entertainment). Her
experience performing The Vagina Monologues inspired her to create V-Day, a
global movement to stop violence against women and girls. Ms. Ensler has devoted
her life to stopping violence, envisioning a planet in which women and girls
will be free to thrive, rather than merely survive. In 2007 Men Can Stop Rape
honored Eve with our Lifetime Ally Award for her work in ending violence against
women.

Byron Hurt
Male Reflections
Byron Hurt is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, a published writer, and an
anti-sexist activist. His most recent documentary, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and
Rhymes premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. In addition to being a
filmmaker, Hurt is a nationally respected activist, having served as a long-time
gender violence prevention educator. The former Northeastern University football
quarterback was also a founding member of the Mentors in Violence Prevention
(MVP) program, the leading college-based rape and domestic violence prevention
initiative for college and professional athletics.

Voices of Men: An Educational Comedy
Ben Atherton-Zeman
Voices of Men actor Ben Atherton-Zeman performs new celebrity impersonations
created especially for "Men and Women as Allies." This multi-media play deals
with several important issues:

* Sexual assault and consent
* Sexual harassment and objectification

The play uses humor and celebrity male voice impressions to bring these topics
to audiences in a way that minimizes male defensiveness. Each male character in
the play is forced to deal with one of the issues listed above - in doing so,
they come to the realization that they are, in fact, both part of the problem
and part of the solution. The process each male character goes through has led
many boys and men to become involved in both self-reflection and in violence
prevention efforts.

*Warning: this performance includes some graphic images of violence


Workshops: A Partial List
* Blended Domestic and Sexual Violence Coalitions: Challenges and Benefits
* The Complexity of Consent
* Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Men¢s Organizations: Allies in
Prevention
* Federal Programs that Support Prevention Efforts
* How Race, Class, and Sexual Orientation Affect the Process of Creating
Allies
* Lessons Learned in the Military: Don¢t Create a Social Marketing Campaign
for Men Only
* Preventing Youth Sex Trafficking in the U.S.
* Professionalizing the Field: Creating a Masters Program
* Research and New Trends in Prevention
* Should Primary Prevention Focus Only on Men?
* When Women are Responsible for a Campus Men¢s Group
* Young Men and Women Speak about Preventing Sexual and Dating Violence