COMMUNITY POLICING
There is a gap in the knowledge and education within the law enforcement community as it pertains to the existent culture of hyper-masculinity. Intersections of socialized hyper-masculinity and critical incidents - job related trauma - contribute to a culture of heightened stress, anxiety, and at times, difficult morale. Unaddressed, these felt experiences perpetrate violence at multiple levels: 1) intrapersonally - poor health at the individual level, 2) interpersonally - how law enforcement members engage with one another, and 3) at the community level - escalated and sometimes avoidable violent behavior between law enforcement and community members. This educational experience works to create a new narrative around masculinity within the culture of law enforcement at the institutional level - one predicated on health, safety and well being. This preventative “ground up” educational program works to enhance a healthier culture, and thus, improve the engagement and relationships between law enforcement and community residents - helping put an end to violence.
This workshop is designed as an engaging educational experience rooted in innovative methodologies and evidence based practices. This hybrid-interdisciplinary approach draws on cross sections of multiple fields including: conflict resolution, restorative practices, critical intersectional identity work, and trauma informed approaches designed specifically to proactively mitigate violence between law enforcement and community residents.
The learning outcomes of the course are obtained using a critical self-reflection approach both at the intrapersonal and interpersonal level to include a deeper understanding of structural and systematic violence. Through a classroom setting, law enforcement members will be given the tools, knowledge, and wherewithal to enhance their critical understanding of self and identity through healthy gender and masculinities education. Coupled with conflict resolution and tier-one restorative practices - trust and relationship building - law enforcement will be equipped with the understanding to engage more authentically and enhance capacity/relationship building with community residents through understanding human needs and conflict.
It’s important to note, this educational experience is by no means exclusive to men. Gender and masculinity is discussed and examined through a non-binary and critical lens. Therefore, any law enforcement member who experiences the impact of socialized hyper-masculinity would qualify as a beneficial candidate for this educational experience. We make the distinction between men and masculinity insofar as women law enforcement members can and do hold elements of masculinity, or at the very least, traits that society deems to be masculine (e.g. assertive, strong, powerful, resilient, capable, etc.)
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Learning Outcomes for this educational training include:
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A deeper and more critical understanding of their intersectional identity as it relates to gender, leadership, authority, and power dynamics
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Effective skill sets for integrating healthier masculinities at multiple systems levels as a precursor to violence prevention and de-escalation
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A more nuanced understanding of relationship and capacity building with community members through tier-one restorative justice practices
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Effective tools for mitigating violence and resolving conflict through a deep assessment of harm, needs, and creative solutions
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