Spanish-Speaking Men’s Group Offers Support and Connection in Kings Beach
On a tranquil Monday evening, a group of men gathers at Sierra Community House in Kings Beach. They engage in conversations about family, relationships, and personal struggles, including grief and alcohol use. This setting is part of “Consejo de Líderes: Hombres Unidos,” a newly established support group for Spanish-speaking men.
The initiative emerged from a recognized community need, as explained by Paul Bancroft, the executive director of Sierra Community House. “Historically, domestic violence, sexual violence was seen as a women’s issue… this is about engaging men. This is a men’s issue, because men are overwhelmingly the ones who cause the harm and are abusive in a relationship,” he stated.
Bancroft emphasizes the importance of not only holding men accountable but also preventing issues by equipping them with resources and a safe space for dialogue. “Men tend to be more isolated, less connected, especially in rural or mountain town communities… there hasn’t always been a forum or opportunity for men to come together and to connect and build community, build relationships with each other and to share stories,” Bancroft added.
Ricardo Oropeza, hired as a promotor to reach out to Latino men, initially doubted whether the group would attract participants. Describing his initial skepticism, Oropeza said, “I said, ‘I think it’s going to be a taboo, it’s something very complicated to have to connect, to have to sensitize the male directly… the belief that the Latino man is strong, he doesn’t need help, he doesn’t need advice, everything is fine, he doesn’t suffer, he doesn’t cry… but it’s not impossible.’”
Gradually, attendance at the meetings increased. Trust among participants built over time as the group grew from three to nine men. “It was very difficult for them to share something. I had to share [my story] first to give them confidence and now we really need even more time because we don’t stop sharing,” Oropeza revealed.
Aníbal Córdoba-Sosa, director of community engagement, views the group as a significant achievement for the nonprofit. “The promotores are members of the community, but they are leaders… Ricardo’s role today is he is building a new link with the local community… it’s the first time we’ve had a male promotor in, well, in many years actually,” he stated.
The group met every Monday for three months, with eight to nine regular attendees. The final session took place on June 2, leaving participants feeling deeply connected. Oropeza noted the intergenerational nature of the group, with ages ranging from 21 to 68. “The young people listened to the experiences of the adults and said: ‘This is definitely going to help me a lot because I don’t want to go through what you went through’ … even I said: if I had met these people here who already have a lot of experience, well, my life would have been different,” he reflected.
Participants now see each other as brothers, and the group plans to reconvene in August, inviting new members to join. For those interested, Sierra Community House can be contacted at (530) 546-0952 or through their website.
