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My Experience as a Warrior Brother
by
AJ Roupp
A few years ago, I came across the web site of the Mankind Project (MKP) that “offers trainings which support men in developing lives of integrity, accountability, and connection to feeling.”
I was intrigued by its invitation to take a journey over the course of a weekend to look at all aspects of my life, see which are effective and which are not, and then to create new ways of living.
Initially, I had my doubts because I am Deaf and I wasn’t sure how I could benefit from attending NWTA weekend. I said to myself, “Why not?” So, I gave MKP a chance by signing up, not knowing that there were surprises waiting for me.
The moment I arrived at the New Warrior Training Adventure (NWTA), I was met by two hearing men Greg Gondron and Chuck Daube who were brought in to interpret for me. They were both educators/advocates of the deaf who had done the weekend training themselves. I learned that only two deaf men had done this training before me.
My NWTA weekend made a strong and lasting impression on me for a long time. But what came after my NWTA weekend is an extremely powerful, positive experience for me. I made a strong connection with several hearing men who became my friends.
For the past two and half years, we have gotten together every week to discuss what’s happening in our lives. We work through important issues in our lives by challenging—and supporting—ourselves and each other. We also get together to socialize outside of our weekly meetings, to go bowling, celebrate birthdays, and take a part in community service.
I am constantly amazed with extraordinary lengths that my local MKP community goes in accommodating my needs. I never asked for any accommodations, having as do what I consider realistic expectations of hearing people about meeting my communication needs. The hearing men in this community, however, have pleasantly surprised me at every turn.
In 2005, I brought another deaf man to his NWTA weekend. It was a great experience for me during my first staffing during that time. It also was the first time there was another deaf man, Brian Determan from Texas on NWTA staff to work along with me. The success of this weekend helped me, Gondron, Determan, and Daube ---to make Gondron’s vision of holding a Deaf/HH NWTA weekend –a reality.
Fresh from my first staffing, I decided to staff again, this time without Gondron, Determan, and Daube. My community continued to surprise me when I least expected it. I started my second staffing with low expectations—since I decided to go solo without interpreters or signers.
With help from different warrior brothers who took turns to scribe what was happening during the NWTA weekend. So I remained being involved and participated in the whole process from start to end. What more, warrior brothers expected me to facilitate a hearing man’s work--without an interpreter! And I did!
Moreover, I think it is important to mention here that when my partner of six years suddenly and unexpectedly. Men from my weekly meetings rallied around me and I received so much outpouring of comfort and support from the MKP community at large---that amazed me during this sad period.
What they did, they literally demolished my old expectations for good. Never again, I will underestimate the power of MKP. Whatever old expectations I had before, they are now long gone.
Today, I am proud to be a part of the MKP community as a warrior brother.
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