The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) is participating in this year’s White Ribbon Day (WRD) campaign in Massachusetts by inviting men and boys in the community to learn more about the gender-based violence prevention international movement and take the campaign’s pledge.

Throughout March, MAPS will host several events encouraging men and boys to “reimagine manhood” by challenging traditional notions of masculinity and promoting a culture of respect and positive emotional expression.

On March 8, the MAPS Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault team will bring the White Ribbon Day Campaign to Djony Barbershop in Dorchester at 11:00 am and encourage men to take the campaign’s pledge: “From this day forward, I promise to be part of the solution in ending violence against women and all gender-based violence.”.

The following week, on March 15, MAPS brings the critical conversation to the Oliveira Salon in Everett at 2:00 pm.

On March 22, MAPS will host a screening of the new documentary “Intentionally Erased” from the organization A Call to Men at their Cambridge Office (1046 Cambridge St), which features four Black trans women in conversation with Black cisgender men about their “experiences, challenges, and the humanity of Black trans women in the United States.” Following the screening, MAPS will promote a conversation among those present, and light refreshments will be served.

“MAPS is proud to bring this crucial campaign to our community each year and highlight the importance of engaging men in this much-needed conversation,” said MAPS CEO Paulo Pinto, MPA. “It is essential that we continue to question outdated stereotypes, reimagine the concept of masculinity, and promote healthy and positive emotional expression among boys and men.”

Throughout the month, the MAPS Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault team will encourage men visiting its offices and those attending MAPS Health Clinics and other events to take the White Ribbon Day pledge.

The White Ribbon Day (WRD) Campaign, commemorated every year in March, is an international human rights movement 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 and all gender-based violence.

MAPS is a member of Jane Doe Inc., the Massachusetts coalition of organizations providing support to victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault who launched the Massachusetts White Ribbon Day campaign in 2007. For more information about Jane Doe Inc., please visit janedoe.org.