June is our annual Men's Month celebration at Paroled2Pride. We honored unseen men of excellence who make a positive impact on their families and communities.
During the celebration of Men's Month, we shared the stories of several awesome men via social media and highlighted their strengths. We also invited our participants, staff, and followers to join in!
It is important to acknowledge the positive ways that men impact our lives, as they are often required to take on heavy loads of responsibility without many opportunities to be emotional or vulnerable. Societal stress can impact men in harsh ways that they may not mention due to societal standards of masculinity. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Americans ages 10 to 34, and the fourth leading cause of death in the 35-to-54 age group. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Between 1999 and 2017, the overall suicide rate in the United States increased 33 percent. Men account for 75 percent of those deaths.
We believe that uplifting the men who complete our program before, during, and after they're fully self-sufficient is impactful on their self-esteem in the workplace. Our participant Kourie Johnson is a shining example of successful reentry into the workforce and his community. He was the winner of our $100 giveaway and it was nice to see him smile as our Executive Director showered him with compliments. (Video Below) As you move forward with the rest of your obligations, take the time to uplift a man in your life and celebrate his strengths. Men play valuable roles in families and communities around the world and should be applauded for doing so.
Watch our Executive Director Announce Kourie Johnson as Men's Month giveaway winner: