Seven years ago I joined 1in6 as a founding board member. At the time, 1in6 was little more than an inspired idea. Now, seven very busy years later, it is a thriving organization working on multiple fronts to serve and support men—and those who love them—whose lives have been affected by childhood sexual abuse. 

At our December board meeting in Los Angeles it was my honor to be elected president of the 1in6 board. In taking on this new role I follow in the footsteps of Greg Light, who for three years has led our board with wisdom and a calm guidance that we are all immensely grateful for. To Greg, our heartfelt thanks for his commitment to our cause and his long hours of work on behalf of 1in6 and the men whom we serve. 

As we close out on 2013, I am enormously proud of the organization’s many accomplishments over the past 12 months. Through our 1BlueString and Bristlecone awareness campaigns we are working to reshape public dialogue. Through our website, we are serving hundreds of thousands of men, their partners and families. Through our 24/7 SupportLine and Lending Library, we are helping men to take the first steps toward healing. Please take a moment to read our year end report for 2013.

All the best to you in the New Year!

-  By Dr. David Lisak

Dr. David Lisak is the President and a founding member of the 1in6 Board of Directors and a retired Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He has studied the long term effects of childhood abuse in adult men, and the relationship between early abuse and the later perpetration of violence. His research has been published in leading journals in psychology, trauma and violence, and he was the founding editor of the journal, Psychology of Men and Masculinity. In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Lisak has served as faculty for the National Judicial Education Program and the American Prosecutors Research Institute and he consults frequently with law enforcement and prosecutors on sexual violence and homicide cases across the country. Dr. Lisak has conducted workshops in all fifty states, and he also consults widely with universities, the U.S. military, and other institutions regarding sexual assault prevention and policies.

The mission of 1in6 is to help men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood live healthier, happier lives.

1in6′s mission also includes serving family members, friends, and partners by providing information and support resources on the web and in the community.

Joyful Heart and 1in6 invite you to visit 1in6.org for info, options and hope, and to learn more about our partnership and Engaging Men initiative at joyfulheartfoundation.org.

The views expressed above are not necessarily those of the Joyful Heart Foundation or 1in6.