Reunion Online

Here on the east coast, the nights are getting crisp and the leaves are beginning to change. Fall means only one thing around here: football season. As a child growing up in a rural town, football was a central part of folks’ lives. Football culture defined what it meant to be a male. Back home, true American males embodied football. 

In my work with 1in6, I’ve heard many men’s stories of trauma and recovery, each one unique. 

I’ll admit that when I first listened to David Holthouse’s startling declaration that he’d once planned to commit murder, I was a bit shocked. It would have been difficult then to imagine how his searing story of recovery from a childhood rape could be transformed into a play that would leave me feeling, not just moved, but inspired. 

Just accepting that the result of a sexual experience in childhood was “unwanted” is enough to start the process of reclaiming a healthy and happy life.”

So I was particularly pleased last week to travel to State College, Pennsylvania to mingle with local supporters of the recently formed Peaceful Hearts Foundation, an organization founded by Matthew and Kim Sandusky to support those who experienced childhood sexual abuse.

My experience last week at the National Sexual Assault Conference (NSAC) in Pittsburgh convinced me there’s been a shift toward a widespread commitment to focus on helping the 1 in 6 men that have experienced childhood sexual abuse.

This past week, I met with our attorneys for two and a half hours as we are again depending on their expertise and guidance as we embark on another exciting project. I was reminded as I sat across the table from Todd Schneider and Laura McGurty that their deep care and commitment to 1in6 and the men we serve makes our work possible.

With 1BlueString, our hope is to provide an opportunity for individuals to be creative and find their own unique voice in the important, challenging and rewarding mission to build a network of support for male survivors and their loved ones.

Pope Francis made some significant pronouncements this week about confronting a culture that allowed sexual abuse to run rampant in the Church. I and billions of Catholics and non-Catholics alike will “wait and see” if he actually seizes the opportunity to create a safer world for kids in a meaningful way.

Check out some of the tweets from yesterday's marathon—from Mariska to Meloni, to our partners, to the many people who shared why they say NO MORE!

I was reminded recently of an important lesson about trauma recovery. The teacher was the son of a friend, a young man who spoke at his bar mitzvah about the competing motivations of fear and hope.