MEN OF CODE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Young men have an important role to play in curbing and preventing domestic violence.
Working in middle and high schools, in partnership with male athletes, coaches, and mentors, we have a unique opportunity to create long-term change.
MEN OF CODE IS AN INITIATIVE designed to transform young men and coaches involved with athletics into allies and leaders in the movement to end intimate partner violence against women and girls. Men of Code stands for Men of Character and Ownership Dedicated to Leading by Example (CODE).
MOC has been recognized as an exemplary violence prevention program working with men and boys by the Office of Violence Against Women, Department of Justice, and President Joe Biden. MOC is unique in its efforts to cultivate positive self-esteem and self-efficacy among young men by facilitating introspection and personal growth, building key competencies, and teaching important leadership and life skills to use beyond the playing field. Program participants explore oppression, bystander intervention, consent, how to help someone who is in an abusive relationship as well as skills for coping with trauma and learning how to manage stress. Curriculum topics include leadership, healthy masculinity, healthy relationships, domestic violence, consent and sexual assault, bystander intervention, prevention, trauma, stress, mental health, and financial literacy.
Men of CODE works to empower young men to see a life for themselves beyond the playing field, develop the skills necessary to thrive regardless of negative external factors, and lead by example. The ultimate goal of Men of CODE is to create male leaders who are allies to women and girls, create change in behavior and thinking around healthy relationships, and show a decrease in violence in the school and community over time.