Nepantlah 2025-2026
ABOUT THE SESSION:
Growing up, boys and young men are often presented with an ideal of masculinity that is defined by very rigid characteristics: strength, aggression, dominance, etc. They are presented with some variation of this ideal masculinity in their families, at school amongst their peers, in their neighborhoods, and in the media. Over time, these boys can find themselves socially and psychologically constrained in their ability to express who they really are.
We created our Liberated Hijos workshop to have a much-needed conversation about the responsibility that comes with raising sons in today’s world. In this workshop, we will discuss how to help our boys challenge harmful conceptualizations of what it means to “be a man,” encouraging them to become their full authentic selves in the process.
This workshop was developed by Fernando Deveras, a Certified Educator and Resident Dad at Latinx Parenting. The series incorporates cited teachings from organizations such as A Call to Men and the National Compadres Network. Our goal for the Liberated Hijos workshop and extended series is to promote a culture of healthy, respectful masculinity, one in which boys and girls alike can feel safe, respected, valued, and free to be themselves.
Learning Objectives
Deconstruct stereotypes around masculinity, examining the roots of these stereotypes and the impact that they can have on boys and young men.
Understanding the importance of helping boys to develop their emotional intelligence, recognizing how unhealthy conceptualizations of masculinity can limit our ability to effectively communicate our emotions.
Examine the influence of media (TV, music, movies, social media, etc.) as well as peers in shaping our boys’ view of what it means to be “real men”.
Reflect on the ways that boys and young men have been socialized to view girls and women, challenging the normalization of violence against women.
Engage in community with parents, educators, and caregivers to discuss how we can collectively create a culture that encourages healthy masculinity for boys and young men..
About the speaker:
Fernando Deveras is a Certified Trauma-Informed Facilitator and the Director of Community Engagement at Latinx Parenting. He is the son of Mexican immigrants, a credentialed educator, and a community organizer. He and his partner Leslie Priscilla – founder of Latinx Parenting – work to bring family education and intergenerational healing to the Latino community in a way that is culturally relevant and compassionate. Fernando’s page on IG @fernando.deveras is dedicated to providing political education in a way that is accessible and action oriented, tackling issues from the local to the international.