UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Tony Porter is an educator, activist and lecturer who has been working in the social justice arena for more than 20 years and is internationally recognized for his effort to end men's violence against women and to promote healthy and respectful manhood. Porter returns to Penn State at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 19, in 105 Forum Building.
The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Gender Equity Center and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, units of Penn State Student Affairs.
“The ‘Man Box’ is very real and Tony does a wonderful job correlating issues of unhealthy masculinity and violence in ways that really connect with students and others in the audience,” said Jennifer Pencek, programming coordinator of the Gender Equity Center. “He is a leading voice on male socialization, the intersection of masculinity and violence against women, and healthy, respectful manhood. Looking at issues like sexual violence and relationship violence through the lens of masculinity is incredibly powerful and needed.”
Porter is the co-founder and co-director of the organization A CALL TO MEN: The Next Generation of Manhood. He is the author of "Well-Meaning Men... Breaking Out of the Man Box: Ending Violence Against Women" and visionary for the book "NFL Dads: Dedicated to Daughters."
He is a consultant and trainer with the National Football League, having also worked with the National Basketball Association. He is working with numerous colleges and universities throughout the country and has also worked with the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. He also provides training and technical assistance to grassroots community-based organizations to include local, state and national domestic and sexual violence initiatives and programs.