On Monday, May 2, YWCA Central Alabama and the Megan Montgomery Domestic Violence Prevention Fund welcomed Shan Foster, Executive Director of AMEND Together and Vice President of External Affairs at YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, for an informational presentation of the AMEND Together program.  

AMEND Together is a primary prevention initiative that works to end violence against women and girls by engaging and educating men and boys. AMEND Together challenges the culture that supports violence and cultivates healthy masculinity in men and boys to change the future for women and girls. This program works by: 

• Raising awareness about the prevalence of violence against women, 
• Uncovering subtle ways our society reinforces sexism and objectification, 
• Connecting the dots between harmful jokes and violent acts, 
• Unpacking the difference between healthy and unhealthy masculinity, and 
• Challenging participants to help create a community that respects and values women and girls. 

More than 65 people were in attendance for Foster’s hour-long introductory presentation, including eight area mayors, city and county officials, coaches, law enforcement, counselors and more.  

YWCA Central Alabama will serve as an AMEND Together affiliate in Central Alabama. This program aims to work with local schools, boy’s clubs, places of worship, sports teams, colleges, police academies and other places where men and boys gather. Services will include AMEND Together clubs and workshops, train-the-trainer opportunities and technical assistance.  

Programming will launch in the fall of 2022. If you are interested in learning more about the AMEND Together program, becoming a funding partner, sponsor, or bringing this program to your community, organization or group, please email [email protected]. 

Event Media Coverage 

Hoover Sun | Parents of slain Hoover woman, YWCA launch new program to prevent domestic violence 

280 Living | Homewood Library to host AMEND program on May 2 

Talk of Alabama | AMEND Together 

Over the Mountain Journal | ‘A Huge Step in the Right Direction’: Amend Together Fights Domestic Violence by Changing Male Attitudes