This year the Eastside Football program started the first Men's Group at East High in partnership with DAIS (Domestic Abuse Intervention Services) to build community, deconstruct gender and masculinity, discuss privilege and oppression, relationships and consent, representations in the media, a culture of violence and being an ally.
Last week they discussed "Being a Professional Winner as a Man of Color" with East Business Teacher, Dr. Andre Small and former East Teacher, Jeremy Thornton, who has been the Head Coach of East's Football Program for 6 years and recently took a position the coordinator of UW-Madison's Posse Program, which identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes.
"I am so proud of these young men," said East AVID and Credit Recovery Teacher and Football Coach, Wilson Seely, who coordinates the group. Although the group is currently comprised of a limited number of East football student-athletes, Seely says, "My hope is we develop our current group into leaders and promote the group and what they are learning in creative and positive ways this year, and hopefully create the right community and expectations so next year we can add students from beyond football."
