The Mankind Project

[Steve Pavlina]

Is anyone here familiar with The Mankind Project? Several people have recommended it to me over the past few months, so I'm curious if anyone here has been involved with it. If so, what do you think of it?

[demk]

dont think the link works...

it sent me here

Elsevier: Computing - MK

[Frans]

Here's the correct link: The ManKind Project

[ReallyGoodIdeas]

Haven't been involved myself, (wrong gender), but it sounds terrific! Anything that helps men express and process their feelings in a healthy way, sounds good to me.
Joy to you
Hazel

[Akashic_Librarian]

Whao sounds pretty cool. I am liking what I am seeing but I am also getting a little signal going off in my brain saying be wary...so I will just tread carefully.

[MarkWorthen]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Is anyone here familiar with The Mankind Project? Several people have recommended it to me over the past few months, so I'm curious if anyone here has been involved with it. If so, what do you think of it?

Yes, I've been a member for nine years. Doing the New Warrior Training Adventure and getting involved in a weekly Integration Group (I-Group) afterward have helped me tremendously. The I-Groups are men's groups with a specific structure designed to help men develop and live a mission-centered life.

MKP is not affiliated with any religion or other organization. It's a non-profit corporation that had its genesis in the 1980's men's movement.

Like most personal growth organizations, if you search the 'Net you'll find some negative stuff about MKP. Review that info along with videos, blogs, etc. from active members and form your own judgment. Or, better yet, go to an "open" I-Group (a group that welcomes visitors) to see what it's like first-hand.

Best Regards,

Mark

[PipHunn]

I find that stuff interesting.

My father attended a local men's group for many years, and I definitely know it made a powerful difference to him - being in an inclusive group of other men made him a better father to me, and a better husband to my mother.

Of direct benefit to me out of that community (apart from all the close family friends we made over time!) was access to the first Pathways to Manhood workshop, which I attended as a very young man - I think I was 13 on the first one I went to.

Yes, there are strong cultural overtones to a lot of these groups. The local chapter and the Pathways were both led by a man who had a strong background in Native American culture and mythology.

However, even as a strongly-inclined atheist, I still got a lot of value out of the experience.

The men's groups that I've seen aren't entirely New-Agey, huggy-touchy, although there are elements of ritual involved that sanctify the spaces used and provide a feeling of security. But it still comes down to real men, with real problems - suicidal feelings, difficulties raising children, with work, with their partners - doing what they can to help each other out.

That makes a big difference.

IMO, most men's groups fill a much-needed hole in modern cultures - a bit of 'cave time', some open, honest emotional connections with other men, and support to get through the thornier and uglier of life's problems.

[ChaosKiwi]

My dad went on a mankind project weekend a couple of years ago.

When he came back he was super excited about it. He took my mum, brother and me to a "graduation" type thing for the weekend. While there all the men were hugging and stuff, which I remember being really weird to me as my dad is not a hugger.

He seemed much happier for a while, and made more of an attempt to convey feelings, but the effect faded reasonably quickly (within 2 months or so). He didn't attend the followup meetings for very long I think in part because my mum was somewhat bewildered by the change and not hugely supportive.

Most of the guys who were at the graduation seemed to be either really hard bastards, or really low self-confidence shy guys. Both groups seemed to get a lot out of it at the time.

Personally I think it added some joy into my dads life, if only for a short while. I'll ask him if he recommends it.

[Migs Halpern]

Hi,

I am familiar with the ManKind Project (MKP). It starts with a powerful initiation of adult men and then provides men's circles that are nurturing and authentic. Something rare in this world. That has been my experience.

[James81]

Originally Posted by MarkWorthen

Yes, I've been a member for nine years. Doing the New Warrior Training Adventure and getting involved in a weekly Integration Group (I-Group) afterward have helped me tremendously. The I-Groups are men's groups with a specific structure designed to help men develop and live a mission-centered life.

MKP is not affiliated with any religion or other organization. It's a non-profit corporation that had its genesis in the 1980's men's movement.

Like most personal growth organizations, if you search the 'Net you'll find some negative stuff about MKP. Review that info along with videos, blogs, etc. from active members and form your own judgment. Or, better yet, go to an "open" I-Group (a group that welcomes visitors) to see what it's like first-hand.

Best Regards,

Mark

Can you give us a rundown at what goes on at a training? There's one that's pretty close to where I live that's coming up soon and I'm interested, but I'm also completely skeptical about any training program that is not forthright and upfront about what they are going to be doing.

[James81]

Holy crap, nevermind:

Houston News - Naked Men: The ManKind Project and Michael Scinto - page 1

thanks, but no thanks.