We are your husbands, sons, fathers, boy-friends,
brothers, grandsons, grandfathers, uncles, friends,
neighbors and co-workers! We care! And we are willing to
do something to make your world safer!
Schenectady Stand Up Guys (SSUG) is about raising
awareness and engaging well
meaning men and women in the process of standing up and
speaking out about men’s violence against women and
girls. It is our belief that while the vast majority of
men are well intentioned and non-violent, the majority
of perpetrators of sexual assault, domestic violence and
child molestation are in fact men. For too long the
effort to stop this abuse has been primarily led by
women.
It is time for men to understand that
this is not a “women’s issue”, but it is equally a man’s
issue and, most clearly, a community issue. The time is
now for men to begin to take an active part in Standing
Up and Speaking Out, so that we can together, break the
male silence that quietly and subtly colludes with male
offenders, the “bad guys”. Stand Up Guys need to send
the message that it is NOT ACCEPTABLE to abuse, rape,
hit, assault, objectify, stalk, harass and/or control
women. The silence of men can be interpreted as
permission and we have to do something to stop that!
In order to get the word out we are
looking for Stand Up Guys willing to get involved in any
or all of the following activities:
- Be willing to identify yourself as a
“Stand Up Guy” - Take the Stand Up Guys Pledge!
- Participate in an “awareness”
activity
- Be willing to speak out about
violence against women and girls
- Become a volunteer, educator or
trainer
- Help plan or facilitate a community
workshop or training
- Share a story, testimonial or write
a letter to the editor
- Get involved on the Advisory Board
- Donate money or help organize a
fundraising event
- Provide in-kind donations such as
free products, professional services, or items like
office equipment and supplies or gift cards
Please call on any of the SSUG organizers (Ed Guider, Mark Chaffin,
Wendi
Gapcznski, Carole Fox
or
Jeff Gaul via email at info@schenectadystandupguys.org)
for more information or if you are willing to lend a
hand.
