Published January 15, 2021
MELROSE — The Men4MAAV (Melrose Alliance Against Violence) is hosting a program entitled “Raising Boys to Men,” a free virtual discussion of strategies for raising boys to exhibit healthy masculinity, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom.
It’s a one-hour panel featuring local experts followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session that will focus on empowering fathers to serve as positive male role models and support healthy growth and development.
The moderated discussion will include local experts discussing strategies to support parents to raise healthy young men. It will focus specifically on parents’ roles in supporting the growth and development of boys so they can become responsible, respectful and successful men. Panelists will offer tips and strategies for parents, advice for tough conversations, share examples of how to model healthy behaviors, and provide guidance for dealing with difficult situations.
Email rsacco425@gmail.com for the Zoom link or go to the MAAV Facebook page.
The panel will include local licensed clinical social worker Sam Healey; Program Director of Maine Men to Boys Heidi Randall, and the Coordinator of the Children’s Trust and the Fatherhood Initiative, Michael Ramos. The conversation will be moderated by Craig Nordberg-Bohm, consultant and founder of the North American MenEngage Network.
While the event will be highlighting the important role of fathers, this event is free and open to all parents or guardians.
About the Panel
Sam Healy is a Melrose-based licensed individual clinical social worker who has been dealing with kids, adults and families for over 25 years. He employs the Nurtured-Heart Approach and focuses on strengths, solutions and an inherent drive toward success, alignment and well-being. He has worked in the school providing training and support to schools and after-care centers. Healy was the Director of Corps Support and Education at City Year, served as Clinical Director at the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, and was featured in the PBS special “Raising Cain: Exploring the Inner Lives of America’s Boys.”
Heidi Randall is the Program Director at Maine’s Boys to Men. Maine’s Boys to Men seeks to address the healthy development of boys in the context of their relationships, socialization process and cultural environments. Randall brings over 25 years’ experience in program design, development and delivery and created a youth engagement program that spanned all of Maine serving diverse communities and promoting adult and community partnerships with young people. Maine’s Boys to Men offers Boot Camp for New Dads, the Modern Masculinity Training Institute, Men Connect, and Men Connect for New Mainer programs for male-identified adults. www.maineboystomen.org
Michael Ramos works for the Children’s Trust and coordinates the Fathers and Family Network, a statewide networking and training group for family support professionals to help them enhance skills, learn strategies for engaging fathers and coordinate services across the state. He also coordinates the Nurturing Fathers Program, which helps fathers build and strengthen positive parenting attitudes and behaviors. He was nominated for The Fatherhood Award for his positive parenting, mentoring and role modeling.
Craig Norberg-Bohm is a consultant, recently retired from 15 years working with Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. He is founder and past director of Jane Doe Inc.’s Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Campaign. In addition, in 1978, he was one of the founders of RAVEN (Rape and Violence End Now) in St. Louis, one of the earliest men’s centers in the U.S. established to engage men to end men’s violence against women. Norberg-Bohm is a founder and present administrator for the North American MenEngage Network, a regional member of the international MenEngage Alliance. He is also currently president of Community Works, a fundraising federation made up of cooperating social justice organizations across Massachusetts.
