East Bay group fighting domestic violence asking men, boys to join conversation

CONCORD, Calif. (KGO) -- A group fighting domestic violence in the East Bay is asking all men and boys to join the conversation about what it means to be a man.

ABC7 News anchor Cheryl Jennings had the great privilege of emceeing the "STAND! For Families Free of Violence" fundraiser in Concord.

The keynote speaker was Jennifer Siebel Newsom -- mother of three, a CEO, filmmaker and wife of Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

"We need to have a national conversation that really redefines healthy masculinity. Our men are learning, they're socializing to this culture of violence. And until we have enough people, men and women, speaking out and connecting the dots between this learned behavior and the violence you're seeing in the larger society, we're not going to create the culture that we all want to raise our children in," Newsom said.

Menbere Aklilu donated a $5,000 check to STAND!

Aklilu survived horrific domestic violence. She left her abuser and created a new life and now owns the Salute restaurant in Richmond.

The event was sold out, with over 400 people to celebrate STAND!'s 22nd year helping families in the county.

Newsom's website witht helatest about the company's prjects can found here.

Newsom's latest project can be seen found at their website The Representation Project. The Representation Project is a movement that uses film and media content to expose injustices created by gender stereotypes and to shift people's consciousness towards change.