STORIES OF MEN

Stories of Men is a global community of male-identifying individuals gathering virtually to share our stories, question cultural norms, and explore the power of healthy vulnerability.

WHY: For millennia, men gathered together around campfires to share our stories. Stories of the hunt, of battle, of right-of-passage experiences, of our families, tribes, and communities. Today, many of us feel disconnected from this primal, embodied sense of belonging amongst men. Stories of Men is a call back to community and brotherhood, in service to a more just and thriving world for all.

How did we get here, anyway? Our society teaches men to bottle up our emotions, to abandon intimacy and connection in order to avoid looking weak, and to pursue status and power over others in an attempt to affirm our self-worth. Stripped of the ability to express feelings in healthy and authentic ways, our fears drive us to become numb to the raw power, beauty and sensuality of existence. This deep disconnectedness often leads to destructive behaviors such as violence, addiction, and a need for control. What most men truly want is to feel loved, connected and alive – and yet far too often we allow our shame to keep us distant, detached, and depressed.

Today, men all around the world are co-creating a new story of masculinity and discovering who we truly are by exploring the power of healthy vulnerability. We are actively working to heal our wounds from the old story of masculinity that has left many of us emotionally shut down, sensually deprived, and too ashamed to discover our true power and purpose in the world. We are leaning into our fears and celebrating our failures as we discover what it means to live a life of deep connection, purpose and fulfillment – as wholehearted men. We are redefining what it means to be a man in the 21st century, starting from within our own hearts. Join us.

WHAT:  Stories of Men gatherings are 90 minutes long. Each event begins with a welcome and overview, community agreements, and an introduction to the theme of the night. We then break into small groups (of 4-5 men each) to engage in storytelling, story-listening, and emergent learning. Finally, we come back together to reflect on the experience and explore opportunities to engage more deeply.

Stories of Men is made possible by a growing group of skilled facilitators who are trained to hold courageous space for participants throughout the experience. We call ourselves the Facilitator Collective. There is one facilitator for every 3-5 participants, allowing for intimacy and support in our small-group format.

Join us for Stories of Men. No need to think of yourself as a storyteller or have a specific story in mind, just come to the session prepared to listen deeply, connect, and share.

WHO: Stories of Men gatherings are open to all individuals who identify as male, inclusive of all backgrounds and identities. Ages 18 and older.

Why only men? We believe that some of the deepest, most important personal work that men need to do is best held in spaces with other men. We believe that women and non-binary folks have important stories to share, as well, and fully support spaces in which that sharing happens. As men, we often don’t have a lot of places in which we feel safe sharing our emotions and our vulnerability – that is what this space is for. Over time, we hope to create all-gender opportunities to engage in this work together.

INCLUSIVENESS: We seek to create spaces in which all male-identifying people feel a sense of belonging and brotherhood. We believe: #BlackLivesMatter and we are committed to cultivating antiracism and racial justice in the Stories of Men community. We support the #MeToo movement and stand for gender equity as a vital affirmation of our common human worth and dignity. We recognize that we are guests on this land and that we are all interconnected in a larger community of life.