About Rus Funk

Welcome!

Here you will find out a brief overview of the kinds of training, Technical Assistance and other services I provide in order to help you improve your organization or community.

You want to make a difference! There are a lot of people who can speak eloquently about the need to engage men and boys, promote equity and inclusion in the workplace, prevent violence in your community… I offer you specialized training and technical assistance that help you do what it is you want to do. I can offer a view of what it is, but more effectively, I can help you create a plan on how to get there!
In my efforts, I help you develop a strategic plan, increase your confidence and skills, examine your organizational structure and culture, and develop the resource streams to help sustain your efforts.

I offer services in three areas:  engaging men and boys (supporting social services, community-based agencies, and others to effective reach out to and connect with men and boys), violence prevention, and equity and diversity.  

 I offer these services, by providing training, ongoing technical assistance and policy review.    

CURRENT PROJECTS:

• I'm currently working with the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence to increase the Coalition's Capacity to help local programs engage men and boys in the prevention of sexual and domestic violence; and with five local programs to develop their confidence and capacities to develop strategic community-based plans for engaging men and boys.
• I'm coordinating the  Fatherhood Engagement efforts for the Healthy Babies Louisville Coalition, and designing a 4-part training to increase the capacity of agencies and professionals who work with pregnant, delivery and newborns on effectively engaging fathers.
• I'm developing a web-based training series with NAMEN to enhance the knowledge capacities of practitioners on effectively engaging men and boys.
• I am working with the new Coalition "World Without Exploitation" to develop a campaign and support materials to educate and empower men to become actively involved in efforts to combat sexual exploitation.

A HISTORY OF SUCCESS:

See my CV here

• In 2014, I began coordinating the Own It Initiative of the Center for Women and Families (as a result of the merger between MensWork and CWF).  In less than 6 months, I grew the email list from 35 to 750, helped them to initiate 2 male engagement strategies. In 2015 we organized the inaugural "Male Voices against Violence" breakfast that drew more than 150 people (mostly men) to learn how they could speak out againsgender based violence. 
• In 2012-2013, I worked with the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence to create the Ohio Men's Action Network (Oh-MAN) to help support efforts to engage men in boys at the local level across the state.
• In 2011-2012, co-organized the North American Men Engage Network (NAMEN) and currently serve on the Steering Committee.
• In 2011, I co-founded the Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Coordinating Council,  to enhance the capacity of state/territory domestic violence coalitions and community-based domestic violence programs to advance a comprehensive national prevention agenda and broaden support for its full implementation at the national, state, territory and local levels
• In 2006, I co-founded MensWork:  eliminating violence against women inc., a community based organization in Louisville, KY that became a national model of engaging men in efforts to end gender based violence.  in 2014, MensWork merged with the Center for Women and Families, and became the Own It Initiative.
• In 2007, I wrote Reaching Men:  Strategies for Preventing Sexist Attitudes, Behaviors and Violence (Jist Publications) which has become a key resource for programs working on gender based violence about how to effectively talk with men and boys.
• In 1999, I became a founding board member of the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence.  I continue to serve as the Board Secretary.
• In 1993, I wrote Stopping Rape:  A Challenge for Men (New Society Publishers).  The First book written by a man for men about ways that men can stop rape and domestic violence.