As New York continues to observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a partnership has been reached between the State’s Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV), former Syracuse University and NFL quarterback Don McPherson, and the Alliance of New York State YMCAs. Through this partnership, 140 YMCA facilities in communities across the state will begin working in collaboration with OPDV and Aspire NY, McPherson’s innovative program to help prevent gender-based violence. This continues the Governor’s ongoing commitment to protecting New Yorkers through record investments in law enforcement, nation-leading financial assistance for survivors, expanded community partnerships and new programs focused on combating domestic violence and better addressing the needs of survivors.
“New York is standing up against domestic violence by giving law enforcement more funding to stop abusers, expanding our partnerships with community leaders, and elevating innovative approaches,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “I’m pleased to have our team working with Aspire NY and YMCAs across the state to expand our tools and resources to prevent all forms of gender-based violence.”
The Aspire NY program is based on McPherson’s concept of Aspirational Masculinity – a philosophical approach to engaging men and boys in conversation and encouraging them to live in AWE (Authentic, Whole and Evolving). This approach is rooted in ongoing work to end men’s violence against women, and the initiative works with men and boys within their local social ecosystems such as schools, community centers and families.
In addition to being a former NFL player, All-American quarterback at Syracuse University and member of the College Football Hall of Fame, McPherson is a leader on speaking to young men about gender-based violence, which he has done since 1995. The author of “You Throw Like a Girl: The Blind Spot of Masculinity,” Don has twice testified before the United States Congress and has worked closely with the U.S. Departments of Education and Defense on issues of sexual violence in education and the military, respectively.
OPDV first joined forces with McPherson in 2023, by including McPherson’s message of Aspirational Masculinity in its “Start the Conversation, Engaging Men and Boys” campaign.
This new partnership with the Alliance of New York State YMCAs will bring McPherson’s Aspire NY program to leadership, staff and members at YMCAs all across the state. There are 36 regional YMCAs in New York, with a total of 140 individual YMCA facilities among them. Each year, the Alliance serves 1.5 million New Yorkers through its programs, including after-school and summer camp programs.
Executive Director of the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Kelli Owens said, “For too long, the gender-based violence movement has focused on the dangers of toxic masculinity and telling men and boys what they shouldn’t do. This mindset has often led to men and boys not participating in the conversations around gender-based violence. It is time that we give men and boys the tools to have healthy relationships in their lives. Don McPherson’s approach of Aspirational Masculinity brings a necessary perspective to the conversation. Joining forces with the Alliance of New York State YMCAs allows us to get that message to communities all across the state. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your dedication and support to finding innovative and culturally responsive ways to combat gender-based violence.”
Don McPherson said, “We need to instill the belief in our boys that they are capable and worthy of their authentic wholeness as men and, we must be intentional and deliberate in how we inspire them to be aspirational about themselves. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the Alliance of the New York State YMCAs and OPDV to further the idea of Aspirational Masculinity to new communities and I am excited to begin this partnership.”
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