Our Stories — Gibrán Rivera

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It has been a good week for the Better Men Project. Yesterday I recorded video interviews with Eroc Arroyo Montano (check out Tender Masculinity) and with Lawrence Barriner (check him out on Post-Patriarchal Radio). They both hold men’s space. They are part of our project. And they are graduates of the Evolutionary Leadership Workshop. I can’t wait for these interviews to be produced and released. They are medicine.

I am appreciative of the way we are in community. You sent me links to inspiring articles about men stepping up:

We are part of something so much larger than ourselves. Men are stepping up. I am looking forward to our having more conversations about creative ways to do this. I want us to follow adrienne’s invitation:

practice taking action together. go to marches to protect women’s rights, volunteer to hold the line at abortion clinics, intervene on observed acts of misogyny and patriarchy in private and public!

But my sense is that right now it is best for us to continue sharing our stories with each other. Specially those stories of the times we have fallen short due to patriarchy.

I will share a bit more of my story tonight. Then we will break up into small groups, and some of you will have the opportunity to share yours. Let’s hold each other with care as we do this. Remember our touchstones for being together.

Like adrienne says:

practice sitting in groups with other men (a group of two is a fine and valiant beginning) and speaking of feelings. do not offer solutions or try to cheer each other up. invite the feelings as they are – sadness, heartbreak, abandonment, fear, trauma from the process of masculinization. be there for each other. build friendships of radical honesty.

I am looking forward to being with you.