Belmont University hosted the YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee community breakfast to engage men to stop violence against women and girls on Aug. 7 at the Curb Event Center. Nationally-recognized speaker, author and educator Tony Porter, co-founder of A CALL TO MEN, opened the program. TBI Director Mark Gwyn, Metro Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean also discussed the epidemic of violence against women.
“We must recognize the fact that helping domestic violence victims is only half of the equation. Because, while we may work hard to keep one particular woman safe, the truth of the matter is that there will be another woman just around the corner to take her place with that abuser. And for that reason, we need to help this generation of boys grow up to be better men,” Mayor Karl Dean said.
Tennessee ranks third in the nation for the rate of women killed by men. Last year in Davidson Co., an act of domestic violence was reported every 21 minutes. Across the state of Tennessee, 51 percent of all crimes against persons are domestic violence-related. The YWCA event mobilized men to start the conversation about violence prevention.
