YMCA Mohawk Valley community educator talks about his efforts to end violence against woman
By Barbara Pierce
Thirty-six-year-old DuWayne Engram of Utica is a community educator for the YWCA Mohawk Valley AMEND Together program. AMEND Together is a prevention initiative dedicated to ending violence against women and girls by engaging men and boys to change the culture that supports violence and cultivate healthy masculinity in men and boys.
He talks about his career and the program.
Q: You are passionate about the AMEND Together program and what it offers to boys. Please tell us more about how it operates.
A: The AMEND Together program has been running for five years, which is when I started. We bring boys together in a safe place and encourage them to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. We help them change the culture around them — they are the solution. We work with schools and other organizations, any boy in that school or that organization can join our club. We reach down to a young age, down to third grade. The schools and organizations involved in the program include Jarvis Middle School, Holland Patent Middle School, Midtown Utica Community Center, Rome City School District and Utica University. Three personality traits that describe me are passionate, determined and motivated. I seek to pass these traits to young men through this program.
Q: How do the boys you work with respond to this program?
A: They respond great! Our clubs allow them to talk about things they couldn’t talk about elsewhere. They’d be demeaned if they talked about these things elsewhere. We want to change what boys are being taught about male masculinity. We don’t focus on performance-based expectations. We don’t talk about anything having to do with performance. We talk about how you feel. We talk about what it means to be a man. We’re building healthy manhood. We’re teaching the boys that ‘You don’t have be tough; you can be your true self. It’s OK to be who you are, even when you don’t feel tough or strong or aggressive. I’d like people know that there is hope for boys and men. We try to reach as many boys as we can. We’re changing the culture for boys.
Q: What is your educational background?
A: “I started my freshman year in college, but didn’t finish. When I was in my mid-20s, I was struggling to keep a job. In high school, I had been involved in the Junior Frontier program, so I went back to them for help. The Junior Frontier Club of the Mohawk Valley works to enhance the potential of a select group of young people. Through Junior Frontiers, I was introduced to On Point for college. This is a local program that helps people get into college, helps them get through college and graduate — all for free. They helped me with the paperwork to apply for financial aid.
I was so lucky to be involved in Junior Frontiers and On Point for College. With support from them, I returned to college as an adult, obtained an associate degree from Mohawk Valley Community College, [where he was on the dean’s list for academic excellence]. I went on to the University of Albany, where I obtained my bachelor’s and master’s degree in social welfare.
Another program that helped me at both colleges was the Collegiate Science and Tech Entry program, CSTEP. CSTEP’s mission is to increase the number of students from under represented groups who are pursuing careers in science, technology and health.
After I obtained my master’s, I worked as a mental health counselor for The Neighborhood Center. I started at the YWCA in 2020.
Q: What are the rewards of this position?
A: I always tell the boys that I work with that I’m on the journey to become a man with them. The journey never stops. I’m learning to ask for what I need, express my emotions and be vulnerable. I have to practice the same strategies I’m teaching. I share my experiences. Another good thing is that nine other Y’s in the state have people doing the same program, so I have connections. I’m the only facilitator in our county.This program is helping me develop into a man. It a great program; I love it!
Q: What are the challenges of this position?
A: The challenge is adjusting to the new influences on boys today. They’re not bad kids; they just have a different set of challenges. Many do step up when they’re given a chance. I love them. I hold them accountable. Many do step up.
Schools and organizations interested in learning more about hosting AMEND Together may visit ywcamv.org/AMEND or contact info@ywcamv.org.
This curriculum is provided free of charge.