In 1982 a group of men in western Massachusetts founded the Men’s Resource Center (MRC), one of the first centers of its kind in North America. The MRC was at the forefront of a burgeoning movement promoting positive masculinity and engaging men to challenge men’s violence against women. Over time, its local focus grew and it became a regional and national model for socially engaged men’s centers. It trained and consulted with several such men’s initiatives, helping to launch centers in New Hampshire, New Y
In 2004, a new organization grew out of the MRC, Men’s Resources International (MRI). It carried forward core elements of MRC’s work into the developing world through training and consulting services. It became a recognized leader around the world, promoting both positive male engagement and gender-based violence prevention strategies. Together, MRC and MRI served as important catalysts in what has become a global movement to engage boys and men in gender equality and violence prevention.
In 2013, MRC and MRI engaged in a visioning process that culminated in creating an exciting new program: the Healthy Men and Boys Network. This next generation of the MRC/MRI approach to advancing gender equality strongly resonated with stakeholders from dozens of agencies and organizations throughout Massachusetts and beyond. New and former supporters rallied around the new Network. Partnerships with both local organizations and international campaigns emerged. The message was clear: merging the work into