UNM departments co host first ever The Real Flex Conference

Did you know, according to The National Sexual Violence Resource Center, that 81% of women and 43% of men in the United States experience some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime?

For this reason, since its founding in 2001, the U.S. has nationally recognized April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). This month is dedicated to various activities aimed at increasing public awareness and prevention strategies toward ending sexual violence.

In this light, join The University of New Mexico's Coordinated Community Response Team, managed by the Women's Resource Center, LoboRESPECT and Sigma Chi Fraternity, in an engaging discussion at the first-ever The Real Flex: Engaging Men & Masculine People in Violence Prevention conference.

The conference is Tuesday, April 8, 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. in the Student Union Building on UNM's main campus. It is open to all UNM students, alumni, staff and faculty. Lunch is provided for those who sign up for the whole day. Those interested in attending can register here.

"One way we honor the lived experiences of survivors on our campus and the trust they place in us is by doing everything possible to prevent these harms from occurring. That's why discussions about prevention are inspiring; everyone has a role to play."

- Àine McCarthy, director of UNM's Women's Resource Center

With the participation of Sigma Chi Fraternity members, the conference highlights men as survivors, allies, and active bystanders while promoting a culture of consent among UNM fraternities, setting an example for current and future members.

"We are proud to work with the leaders of Sigma Chi Fraternity. They have worked hard to make this conference impactful to every attendee," said Àine McCarthy, the director of UNM's Women's Resource Center.

Opening Remarks, 9 a.m.

UNM's vice president of Student Affairs, Eric Scott, will give an introduction and welcoming remarks.

Embodying Consent, 9:15-10:15 a.m.

Embodying Consent is an interactive workshop co-led by WRC and Sigma Chi leaders. It allows attendees to practice bystander intervention strategies and review UNM's consent policy through real-life scenarios.

To learn more about what the real flex means, watch Sigma Chi's Instagram video.

Survivor's Panel, 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Four survivors will share their experiences, the justice they sought, the people who played a role in their healing and what role men can play in preventing sexual violence. WRC advocates will moderate the session.

Keynote Presentation, "A Night to Forget: The Intersection of Alcohol and Consent," 12:30-1:45 p.m.

Participants will walk away with an understanding of how alcohol affects the mind and body and be able to recognize social cues to intervene better while developing an action plan to address community culture around social events and individual care.

Repair and Restoring, 2-4 p.m.

Tonya Covington of Peacemakers LLC is well known in Albuquerque for her work with Restorative Justice. She will offer an introduction to how RJ works, focusing on how we do repair and apology.

"The Masks We Live In," 4-5 p.m.

Social worker and CARE Team Coordinator Jose Sam Lechuga and Associate Dean of Student Well-Being Greg Golden (himself a Sigma Chi alum) will lead an interactive session and discussion on unlearning toxic masculinity as the closing session.

"We are incredibly proud to work with survivors," said McCarthy. "One way we honor the lived experiences of survivors on our campus and the trust they place in us is by doing everything possible to prevent these harms from occurring. That's why discussions about prevention are inspiring; everyone has a role to play."

To attend this inaugural event, register here.