Backbone Zone: Partners in Progress

For over 30 years, the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA) has represented and served Maine's sexual violence service providers. MECASA works toward ending sexual violence by providing public policy advocacy, assistance to Maine's sexual violence service providers, public awareness and prevention activities, and statewide training.

Our efforts include:

Initiating and advocating for victim-centered public policy;
Providing support and assistance to Maine's sexual violence service providers and serving as a liaison between the centers and our statewide and national partners;
Reducing common myths and misperceptions about sexual violence through building and sustaining public awareness; and
Providing expert training, statistics, and resources about sexual violence to organizations, groups, and individuals throughout the state.

The Mission of Boys to Men is to reduce interpersonal violence by offering programs that:

Support the healthy development of adolescent boys
Provide assistance and educational resources to boys and those who help raise them
Increase community awareness about the specific needs of boys.

Boys to Men envisions a world in which:

Boys and men are loved and valued for who they intrinsically are without regard to arbitrary cultural stereotypes of masculinity, femininity, and gender roles.
All boys have the opportunity to develop into healthy men, supported by adult mentors who model healthy masculinity and respectful, nonviolent relationships.
The absence of violence and fear frees all people to be caring and productive members of society.