Yep this one will be long…
Today on Men’s Mental Health Day, we’re setting out to defy harmful notions of what masculinity “should” look and feel like with The NO PAUSE™ Project. This project takes a stance against emotionally damaging vernacular to elevate conversations about mental health amongst men.
Have you heard of the term “pause”?
In jest, the term “pause” gained popularity in culture as a way to poke fun at men, specifically Black and Brown men, for saying or doing things that were perceived as “gay.” Today, “pause culture” has become commonplace and has gotten out of hand because it forces men to be unduly conscious about the most commonplace behaviors for fear of being labeled “homo.
The NO PAUSE™ Project is meant to reshape these unhelpful conversations around masculinity and, ultimately, end the toxicity of “pause culture.” Join us by:
- Following our Instagram, TikTok, X and Youtube channels @nopauseproject
- Visiting https://lnkd.in/e729H-fY and take various actions
- Downloading and playing the game
- Donating a therapy session to one of the 5000+ Black men and boys on the waiting list to receive free therapy sessions from our partners at Therapy for Black Men. https://lnkd.in/eAyjRuaR
While I am in love with this campaign, I can’t end this post without saying why it is important to hire, retain, and empower young talent. As Kendra Malone created this idea, the entire agency got behind her to bring this to life. When you lean into the brilliance of talent at any level and various backgrounds, you beget ideas like this. Ideas that are designed to help the unseen. Guided By Good is in the name and I cannot think of a better place to foster ideas that engender change. I have to thank my executive peers at 22Squared and Trade School who encourage us all to think big, be bold, and innovate.
To the ad world: There are countless ideas like this sitting at your agencies housed in the minds of junior talent, Black talent, Brown talent, talent with disabilities, women, talent within the LGBTQ+ community, and the list goes on and on. My point here is to lean in. Lean in and listen. Even if you can’t do something right now, continue to look for ways to bring groundbreaking ideas to life. It took two years and countless conversations, but we are better for it because we’re helping more people than we ever thought we could.
We’re done with Pause. We’re on NO PAUSE Now, bruh.
Go hug a man today! Like right now!