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New call to action in Norfolk to help address trauma among men

The "Iron Sharpens Iron" event on Thursday at the Chrysler Museum aims to bring men together to address traumas facing neighborhoods.

NORFOLK, Va. — There's a new call to action in Norfolk; a city leader is calling on men to come together to find solutions to traumas affecting local neighborhoods. 

An event at the Chrysler Museum this week aims to get men of all ages and walks of life under one roof. 

The Chrysler is a place where art brings people together. Norfolk City Councilman John "JP" Paige hopes to do just that but for a different cause: connecting men in the community. 

“For us to kind of deal with the problems that we have amongst ourselves, and to not to talk about them as problems, but to talk about them as solutions and to set an agenda moving forward," said Paige. 

On Thursday, the first day of Black History Month, Paige is hosting what he's calling, "Iron Sharpens Iron." 

It's a call to action for men in Norfolk to come together and talk about issues facing communities, especially among Black males, and to talk about solutions. 

The event page says "Iron Sharpens Iron" is "for men of all ages, religious beliefs, and political affiliations to strategically set the agenda for the future of our community and provide tools for Norfolk's transformation."

Paige wants to get younger and older generations in the same room to share and learn from each other's experiences. 

Credit: City of Norfolk

"We need to sit down in one place where we are all comfortable and get to know each other again, so we can understand where we are going we must seek the guidance of those who came before us," said Paige. 

"And also for those who have come before us to hear the voices and to understand the impact of the trauma on our young people."

There will be city, community, and business leaders, along with mental health professionals. 

Men will be asked to volunteer as mentors, and Paige hopes the encounter will inspire young adults to see new possibilities, as they all work together to move the city forward. 

“We want to reach out and touch each part of the community in a way where not just on Thursday, but on the day after we all have 'to-do’s' and places to go for what it is we need to address and make it better," said Paige. 

The "Iron Sharpens Iron" gathering is scheduled for Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk. 

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