Men As Peacemakers Letter to County Board

Peacemakers call County Board members to account

Men as Peacemakers was founded in 1996 to respond to the noticeable absence of men in peacemaking and violence prevention efforts in the Duluth community. As our group has grown, the areas of our work have grown as well.

In 2005, the Minnesota Department of Health hired Men as Peacemakers to assist in developing a statewide effort to involve men in the prevention of sexual violence. Like any prevention effort, to be effective, we must change the norms that support negative behaviors.

The recent actions of certain St. Louis County commissioners, exempting themselves from responsibility for sexual harassment, were examples of a norm that must change. As board members of Men as Peacemakers, we felt compelled to speak out and let the community know our position on this issue. As leaders, we believe that sexual harassment is wrong and unacceptable under any circumstance, especially by a community leader. Sexual harassment is about the misuse of power and is defined by the victim, not by the offender. In this case, it is about the incredible power elected officials have over those who work for them.

The County Board’s recent decision to develop a policy that will hold members accountable for acts of sexual harassment was an example of how community initiative and County Board response can promote positive change. Changing policy is only one example. Further examples include acknowledgement of the harm that was inflicted and displays of attitudes and behavior that will prevent further harm.

Each time an organization sets and enforces a policy, it changes the way those actions are seen in the community and affects the behavior of others. Elected officials must lead by example. By apologizing and holding themselves accountable for their actions, they can do just that.

Ken Schoen, Patricia Behning, Marcus Brunning, Jim Cherveny, Blair Gagne, Fletcher Hinds, Matt Johnson, Ken Muckala, Deb Sauter, Don Streufert, Robert Wahman and Chuck Walt

Duluth

The writers are board members of the Duluth-based grass-roots nonprofit Men As Peacemakers.