The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) will promote a series of events in the community to mark the 2021 White Ribbon Day campaign throughout March. The international human rights campaign invites men and boys to be a part of ending violence against women and all forms of gender-based violence.

Throughout the month, the MAPS Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault team will bring the campaign’s message to many barbershops and other businesses in Lowell and Greater Boston. The health and social services organization will engage male clients and business owners about the importance of calling out everyday acts of gender-based violence, regardless of how minor they may seem.

In addition to promoting positive masculinity, gender equity, and racial justice, the campaign urges men to take the White Ribbon Pledge: “From this day forward, I promise to be part of the solution in ending violence against women and all gender-based violence.”

“Everyone is invited to take the pledge and wear a white ribbon this month,” said Paulo Pinto, MPA, MAPS Executive Director. “I hope that the men in our community show their support for this campaign by wearing the white ribbon, and use it as an opportunity to educate others about this campaign’s crucial message.”

White ribbons are available at all MAPS offices for free.

MAPS will also ask the clients attending its March 9th virtual Driver Alcohol Education class to take the pledge and share it with their friends and loved ones. In the last week of March, MAPS will join Espaço Mulher Brasileira – EmuB, for a social media event.

Before these events, MAPS will be taking part in the Massachusetts White Ribbon Day 2021 virtual launch on Thursday, March 4 at 1:30 PM, organized by Jane Doe Inc., the statewide coalition of organizations providing support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The White Ribbon Day Campaign started in 1991 on the second anniversary of one man’s massacre of 14 women in Montreal to urge men to speak out against violence against women. MAPS has been part of the initiative since its inception in Massachusetts in 2007.