Sport in Society Unveils Campaign to Eradicate Gender Violence
(11-14-06) BOSTON, Mass. � Every minute a women is being abused and no one says anything. This is a harsh reality that the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University hopes to change through its new campaign called Leaders Act. The campaign, which is designed to draw attention to the serious issue of men�s violence against women, has enlisted Boston Red Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler as its spokesperson.
�Leaders Act is a simple message. Every person, man or woman, has the power stand up for victims of violence,� said Kapler, a longtime advocate against gender violence. �I have the opportunity to work with Sport in Society toward eradicating men�s violence against women. It is tremendously important for me as an athlete to set an example.�
The campaign, which was developed by the integrated marketing communications agency Manasian Inc., uses the power and appeal of professional athletes to help create awareness about gender violence and to stop the abuse. It features Sport in Society�s flagship program Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) as a tool to stop gender violence. Kapler, who generously donated his time to the campaign, will be the first in a series of athletes to support the cause.
�The campaign is asking people to act as leaders to combat gender violence. Gabe [Kapler] is taking the leadership responsibility seriously by stepping up, using his likeness and personal story to get the message out,� said Director of Sport in Society Peter Roby. �The Boston Red Sox have also shown its commitment to this issue as the first Major League Baseball team to use Sport in Society�s Mentors in Violence Prevention program to educate its� minor league players about gender violence.�
Sports Illustrated donated a full advertising page of its northeast regional addition. Billboards and posters will also be distributed throughout Boston, in addition to the web and radio components of the campaign.
MVP is a leadership program that motivates men and women to play a central role in solving problems that historically have been considered "women's issues": rape, battering, and sexual abuse. The MVP program views men and women not as potential perpetrators or victims, but as empowered bystanders who can confront abusive peers. This unique strategy for fighting domestic abuse is called the bystander approach. This emphasis reduces the defensiveness men often feel and the helplessness women often feel when discussing issues of men's violence against women.
For more information about how you can get involved please visit www.leadersact.org.
About the Center for the Study of Sport in Society
The Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University is one of the world�s leading social justice organizations that use sport to create social change both nationally and internationally. The flagship organization located in the heart of Boston, Mass. was founded in 1984 by Dr. Richard Lapchick. Through research, education, and advocacy the center promotes physical activity, health, violence prevention, and diversity among young people and college and professional athletes. Sport in Society�s innovative programs are all staffed by former college or professional athletes and have been awarded America�s most successful violence prevention program by Lou Harris, the Peter F. Drucker Award as the most innovative non-profit program in the social sector, and most recently was recognized by the Boston Red Sox for its dedication and service to the community. Visit Sport in Society at www.sportinsociety.org
