Blue and Green Striped Bow Tie

These satin bowties are pre tied and adjustable

MEND is an innovative, primary prevention initiative dedicated to ending violence against women and girls by engaging and educating men and boys.

MEND seeks to:

Elevate the conversation about violence against women and girls

Engage men to be part of the solution

Educate men and boys to challenge and change the current culture

End violence against women and girls

In Nashville, one report of domestic violence takes place every twenty minutes.

Tennessee ranks 6th in the nation for the rate at which men kill women.

For too long, men have been conspicuously absent from prevention and intervention efforts. We have been missing 50 percent of the population, thus half of the equation. It is time to involve men and make them part of the solution.

Men need to be part of the solution because men are the primary perpetrators of domestic violence and sexual assault. For instance, 97 percent of rapes (both women and men victims) are perpetrated by men. MEND recognizes that the majority of men are KIND, CARING, and RESPECTFUL. Most men do not commit these crimes, but every man plays a critical role in preventing them.

MEND will identify, recruit, educate, and equip coaches and athletes to serve as positive role models in violence prevention and cultural change, for young men and boys in the greater Nashville area. MEND will provide hands-on tools to help men and boys change the mentalities, language, and behaviors, thereby transforming the culture that perpetuates the violence. MEND will not only raise awareness and change mindsets, but it will also create real, measurable change by educating, inspiring and equipping men and boys in the greater Nashville community to take action and mend a culture that perpetuates violence against women and girls.

Our vision is simple: to make Nashville the safest city in the nation for women and girls. It is what every parent wishes for their daughter: the right to grow up in a community free of domestic violence and sexual assault, where she can achieve her full potential. We believe in the ability and responsibility of men and boys to be part of the solution – to step up and help end violence against women and girls.