New Ravens Linebacker Helps Issue 'A Call To Men' To End Domestic Violence
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—A look at the statistics shows that in the time it takes you to read this, another woman in the United States will be the victim of domestic violence.
As Mike Schuh reports, representatives from CBS Sports, Verizon and the Ravens are trying to intervene.
Organized sports can be a pretty macho experience. And the team leader, the coach, is in a unique position to influence young men long after the game has ended.
"But we have to ask ourselves as men, how many of us talk about love out loud?" a man said.
Now the Verizon Foundation has paid for 400 high school and college coaches to learn ways to teach young men how to avoid being an abuser.
"We want them to get the tools and resources, hear the stories from the rest of us in terms of what we can to shape healthy men out there," said CBS sportscaster JB Brown.
A group called "A Call To Men" is the organizer. Ted Bunch is one of its co-founders.
"While the overwhelming majority of violence against women is men's violence, the overwhelming majority of men are not violent but are silent about the violence that other men perpetrate," Bunch said.
Though domestic violence is a worthy topic, organizers realize they may not get 400 coaches in the room to hear about it. But get JB Brown here to interview new Raven linebacker Chris Canty, and you'll fill the room to hear the message.
"I wanted to use the platform of playing in the National Football League to make a difference in young people's lives in my community," Canty said. "I realized it's a very unique opportunity when you have the attention of young men, you have the attention of men that look up to you as well, that you can mobilize that and you can use that for something really positive."
That conference will reach about 1,200 coaches. Its next stop will be in Seattle in May.
