When a man steps into the centre of A Band of Brothers’ circle for the first time, Conroy Harris, the charity’s CEO, admits feeling uncertain. In the past, the man may have been dismissed by Harris as he carried preconceived notions of what a ‘real man’ should look and act like. However, after doing some inner work and learning that accountability and compassion can lead to life-changing results, Harris now sees the potential in every man who is willing to be helped and supported by his community. The charity aims to provide young men who have been incarcerated with positive role models in their community, and to teach them about accountability and the power of community support.
Men, particularly those that have grown up with masculinity stereotypes, face a mental health crisis. Life’s confusing demands on men to always be tough, dominant, and assertive creates a struggle for young men to balance their identity as men and as vulnerable individuals. A Band of Brothers believes that men need compassion and support to help with their struggles. The charity focuses on developing healthy masculinity; consequently, it is important to offer compassion and accountability for young men.
Harris has experienced the lifelong challenges and consequences of growing up with a violent mother and school experiences. He speaks of how having compassion and understanding towards others has helped him better understand the young men he works with. Harris understands that for men to transform, they need to be accountable for their actions, while it is essential to embrace compassion from those around them and from within themselves. Suicide is not uncommon among men under 50 in the UK; creating a space for young men to speak openly and honestly with peers is critical to do.
A true gift that A Band of Brothers offers is encouraging and motivating men to take accountability for their actions while fostering compassion and support from others around them. Harris was once hesitant and dismissive of the men he worked with. However, he now recognizes the importance of giving young men a chance and transforming them into positive role models. Through community support, compassion, and accountability, men can learn from their past actions, grow, and develop healthy masculinity.
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