SILENT WARRIORS are a group of Deaf, deaf, Deafened, and Hard-of-Hearing men who have completed their NWTA weekend long before the advent of SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND. (Please check Deaf. Deaf, Deafened, and Hard-of Hearing Men for detailed information.) The first, second, and third successive SILENT WARRIOR WEEKENDs fueled this growing group into what is now known as a community today.

SILENT is a word we borrow from Deaf people who use this word to describe themselves other than deaf or other terms that were or still are used, which are not always positive or complimentary.

We are taking this word: SILENT and empower (why not?) to be an inclusive term to describe both Deaf, deaf, Deafened, and hard-of-hearing people who have various degrees of hearing loss from mild to profound deafness.

It is not about how much Deaf, deaf, Deafened, or hard-of-hearing people made noise or sounds---this term, SILENT is a reflective of how silent their world is from their perspective range from muted to complete silence.

Many hearing men came to a SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND expecting it to be a quiet place and it is NOT. Visually it is a very "noisy" setting and there is unexpected music from the boom boxes, hands, and voices.

Another misconception that a hearing person might have about Deaf, deaf, Deafened, and hard-of-hearing people; is that they are "silent." In fact, they have A LOT to say like others.

This is the beauty of paradox in this word, SILENT because as a rule, Deaf people are noisy people just because they can't help themselves when they make noise and sounds that occasionally startle a lot of hearing people and even deaf people themselves!

If you take the word, SILENT and mix up all the letters like in the game. Scrabble to make a new word, what would it be?

LISTEN...it is no mistake. In order for a man to listen, he needs to silence his mind from the constant "chattering" that goes on with judgment and projection to really LISTEN with full attention of mind and heart. The essence of a SILENT WARRIOR enables a man to be silent by active listening.

A very spiritual deaf person shared a tidbit with a deaf man. He said that being deaf enables him to hear spiritual sounds more clearly. A hearing person would have a hard time to determine whether it is an actual sound or spiritual sound. Silence enables a Deaf, deaf, deafened, or hard-of-hearing to go inward to hear spiritual sounds more clearly.

Deaf, deaf, Deafened, Hard-of-Hearing Men, hearing men who are children of Deaf Adults (CODA) and Interpreters who complete a regular NWTA or a SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND are called SILENT WARRIORS.

The genesis of SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND came from the ManKind Project's New Warrior Training Adventure (NWTA). (Please check ManKind Project and New Warrior Training Adventure for detailed information.)

SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND is a specialized training weekend for Deaf, deaf, Deafened, hard-of-hearing, hearing men who are CODA, Teachers of the Deaf, those having deaf family member, and hearing men who may known some American Sign Language (ASL)---signing or not. It has resources to meet the needs of these men that a regular NWTA does not have.

This NWTA weekend is, of course, open to ALL men.

This specialized training embraces the concept of integrating all men in the group, rather than separating either Deaf, deaf, hard-of-hearing, Deafened men or hearing men. The emphasis is placed more on communication through ASL. SWW is not a weekend about Deaf, deaf Deafened, and hard-of-hearing men. It is a weekend that embraces Deaf, deaf, Deafened, hard-of-hearing men and hearing men as a whole.

SWW is organized by the SILENT WARRIORS and fully staff by men who are either Deaf, deaf, Deafened, hard-of-hearing, interpreters, or fluent in ASL along with non-signing hearing men who have completed their NWTA weekend.

There are 32 men who went through NWTA. The number of SILENT WARRORS is growing as time goes by as the news of SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND formerly known as the New Warrior Training Adventure for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Men is spreading throughout Deaf communities here in U.S.

SILENT WARRIORS was born out of the ManKind Project, a largest peer-support network for men in the United States and 7 other geographical regions around the globe. This movement began in January 1985 when 18 men went on the first weekend training session in Haimowoods, Wisconsin. From these modest beginnings, the ManKind Project has created trainings and groups that are powerful, effective and proven over two and a half decades---positively changed the lives of over 45,000 men.

You can check this website at: The Mankind Project

The journey to becoming a New Warrior begins with this training weekend called the New Warrior Training Adventure (NWTA). It is sponsored by the Mankind Project International (MKPI). The NWTA is a process of initiation and self-examination that is crucial to the development of a healthy and mature male self.

NWTA is about take a look at our lives as men–how they work and how they do not work. It encourages all men to learn new ways to stretch beyond their limitations, face their fears, embrace their strengths, and let go of their judgments that men make about people they think they do not understand.

This training focuses on empowering men to develop their own mission of services in the world and to live more healthy and authentic lives. As a result of this work, many men find the courage within themselves to step into leadership in their workplaces and their communities.

The design of the New Warrior Training Adventure Weekend helps men to examine those aspects of their lives that are non-productive and to begin to create new, healthy ways of living. A series of activities, including group discussions, games, guided imagery visualizations; journaling and individual work facilitate this transformative change in men who attend this training weekend.

It was adapted from the article "Planning a Deaf-HH NWTA Weekend" penned by AJ Roupp for the BullSkin, January, 2008, pg. 22-23

For the simplicity's sake and for this section, the terms Deaf and deaf are used interchangeably throughout to indicate both deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Wherever it needs to be specific, the term, hard-of-hearing or abbreviate "HH" or "hh" is used in its place.

********************************************************

The answer is to this question is definitely "YES"!

Initially, the Deaf/HH NWTA committee was formed because we want deaf/hh men to have this opportunity to experience with resources that are not available at other regular trainings. It takes a small group of men consists of deaf/hh and hearing men to champion this "specialized" training.

Having a Deaf/HH NWTA now known as SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND, serves and fills two important functions. First, it provides resources to meet the needs of deaf men that a regular NWTA does not have. Secondly, it fosters a safer environment than a usual NWTA for this target group and for a good reason. These two points have led to the following rationale in pursuit of conducting SWW annually:

It provides resources to meet the needs of deaf men that a regular NWTA does not have.

To name only a few, it provides a practical immersion in diversity/multiculturalism for the MKP community. In fact, the majority of hearing men does not know what it is like to be deaf, and by large, do not know ASL since English usually is not the first language for deaf men.

It gives hearing men an insight into communication/cultural etiquette (i.e. circle formation for meetings and group discussions) and an opportunity for them to experience how things are done a bit differently from a regular NWTA.

By providing interpreters in ASL to facilitate communication between deaf and hearing men to makes communication more efficient than other methods (i.e. writing method or lip reading) and it also supplies deaf men in staff capability for visibility, role model, and to fill in certain functions where interpreters are insufficient for visualization process.

To make this training happens; money has to be solicited from different sources to supplement financial assistance provided from any centers. In addition, air transportation is provided by using frequent flier miles donated, which exceeded 2006's amount of 250,000. It is used to bring deaf men, interpreters and signers from all over the United States for first and second weekends.

Behind this generosity, is that on average, Deaf individuals earn and have significantly less income than hearing people. One of the biggest obstacles to a deaf man attending is not being able to afford it.

It fosters a safer environment than a usual NWTA for this target group and for a good reason.

Having a SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND counters a predominantly hearing setting---and surprisingly a predominantly straight setting too, which is a boon. It is no accident that those staff men, both deaf and hearing whose are largely sought after for both weekends---which they reflected the demographic of initiates very well.

It is no secret in the Deaf community at large, that the Deaf people was abused in many forms such as verbally, mentally, sexually, spiritually, or/and physically by hearing people who were entrusted with them in their care. This problem was furthered compounded from some of the Deaf people themselves in the wounding cycle too. The majority of deaf brothers had experienced different forms of abuse.

It came out during the carpet work on both weekends---especially the second weekend. In the light of what transpired during that weekend, it is imperative that SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND continues to retain hearing men both as initiates and staffers among deaf men as a part of the healing process, which is vital for all men.

In closing, since MKP does not mention specifically "specialization" but it states that it empowers men to fulfill their potential, that it is inclusive and affirms cultural differences, as well as other differences.

SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND embraces the concept of integrating all men in the group, rather than separating either deaf men or hearing men. The emphasis is placed more on communication through ASL. This is not a weekend about deaf men. It is a weekend that embraces deaf men.

Deaf brothers have shared their testimonials from both weekends---is behind the real reason why the committee continues this endeavor. Is it worthwhile?

Definitely yes!

No, that is not a typo: the word Deaf with a capitalized "D" indicates a person immersed in Deaf culture and American Sign Language (ASL), and identifies with Deaf people. The word deaf with a lowercase "d," indicates a person with a severe to profound hearing loss who does not considered himself culturally Deaf.

Deafened refers to people lose their hearing after they have already develop language skills. This can happen anywhere from late childhood to the senior citizen years. Late-deafened people face unique challenges as they adjust to new lives as people with hearing loss.

Hard-of-Hearing refers to people who have various degrees of hearing loss but usually not enough to be considered deaf. Many people who are deaf consider spoken language their primary language. They consider themselves "hard of hearing" or not.

The phrase hard-of-hearing refers to people with hearing impairment or disability as the hard-of-hearing. People who consider themselves culturally Deaf, prefer the term hard-of-hearing or deaf, and perceive hearing-impaired as an insult.

How they classify themselves relative to their hearing loss or deafness is a very personal decision and reflects much more than just their ability to hear.

After the NWTA weekend, MPKI offers the Primary Integration Training for 8 to 10 weeks for initiated men.

It gives men the opportunity to deepen their learning experiences that start during their weekend and to integrate their newly perspectives into their daily lives.

Following the initial NWTA, men are encouraged (not required), to participate in an ongoing I-group, which meets on a regular basis and serves as a continuing support network.

There is an I-group for Deaf men in Houston.



SILENT WARRIORS assist Deaf and hard-of-hearing men in a new PIT group in Houston, TX.

SILENT WARRIORS are aware that SILENT WARRIOR WEEKEND sends some men back to his local community alone after the weekend ends. SILENT WARRIORS will make every effort to connect each man to warrior brothers in his community. SILENT WARRIORS encourage every man who attends the weekend to contact a center that is close to his home.

The rest is up to him.

Sometimes SILENT WARRIORS only plant seeds; sometimes we have great impact. Most of the time, we will never know. Therefore, for SILENT WARRIORS to keep going, we must really believe that what we are doing is for a greater good and makes a difference.