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The Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Program, founded
in 1993 by Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society
(CSSS), is a leadership program that motivates student-athletes and student
leaders to play a central role in solving problems that historically have
been considered "women's issues": rape, battering, and sexual harassment.
Until recently, few campus or community-based programs have encouraged
young men to work actively on these issues. The mixed gender, racially diverse
MVP Program, composed of former professional and college athletes, motivates
men and women to work together in preventing gender violence.
Program Goals
The four main goals of the MVP Program are to:
- Raise Awareness of participants about the level of men's verbal, emotional,
physical and sexual abuse of women.
- Challenge Thinking by countering mainstream messages about gender, sex
and violence.
- Open Dialogue by creating a safe environment for men and women to share
their opinions and experiences.
- Inspire Leadership by empowering participants with concrete opinions
to effect change in their respective communities.
The Bystander Approach to Prevention
Utilizing a unique bystander approach to prevention, the MVP Program
views student-athletes and student leaders not as potential perpetrators
or victims, but as empowered bystanders who can confront abusive peers.
This emphasis reduces the defensiveness men often feel and the helplessness
women often feel when discussing issues of men's violence against women.
Participants in MVP sessions learn to serve as role models working to prevent
this violence.
The MVP approach does not involve finger pointing, nor does it
blame participants for the widespread problem of gender violence. Instead,
it sounds a positive call for proactive, preventive behavior and leadership.
MVP Institute
The MVP Institute for Gender Violence Prevention and Education
provides certification in gender violence prevention and education. Male
and female student affairs staff and athletic personnel are encouraged to
attend. Check
back soon for future dates.
Click
here to see video footage of MVP in action.
MVP National is presented in partnership by the Center for the Study of Sport in Society and the National Consortium for Academics and Sports
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