Founder
Reese Kirdar
My name is Reese Kirdar, and I am a high school junior from New York. As a freshman, I attended an assembly in which two seniors talked about an affinity group called “Boys Leading Boys,” which engaged men and boys in conversations about sexual assault, and created space for discussions on topics like toxic masculinity and men’s mental health. I had never heard of anything like this before. I took the plunge.
I found such affinity in this group that in sophomore year, I attended the Georgetown Day School Consent Summit, where I heard from students of all genders, and from across the country, about experiences surrounding consent. This event further highlighted for me how few spaces there are where men and boys can talk about these subjects and have genuine, vulnerable conversations.
I created Open the Malebox to further these discussions, create more of these spaces, encourage men and boys to have these conversations, and fight the stigma and inaccessibility surrounding them.
President
Cass Murtagh
My name is Cass Murtagh, and I am a high school junior at The Hotchkiss School. My mental health journey has played a major role in shaping the person I am today. Throughout middle school, I struggled with my mental health and often felt isolated from discussing my struggles with my peers. I let myself conform to common societal expectations imposed on males, such as feeling worried about judgment from others and appearing weak. I grew up with the expectation that men were supposed to suppress their emotions and “handle them on their own.” For a long time, I remained hesitant to seek help, which in turn negatively affected my mental health. Eventually, however, I realized that avoiding self- care was only making things worse. I sought help from my school counselor, and I slowly began to improve my mental health.
After hearing about the mission of Boys Leading Boys from Reese, I thought Hotchkiss could truly benefit from the club. My roommate and I founded the club in my sophomore year of high school and created a safe space for male-identifying students to discuss topics ranging from toxic masculinity to consent and men's mental health in order to encourage young men to practice healthy masculinity. At a boarding school, I have seen firsthand how mental health struggles can often remain hidden and spiral negatively when individuals refuse to seek help. Boys Leading Boys strives to combat these toxic masculinity stereotypes and build a community where male-identifying students can be honest and supportive towards each other.
I am excited to join the Open The Male Box Team to facilitate key discussions among like-minded peers, serve as a key resource for young men, and continue to challenge the idea of the “male box.”
Ambassador: Theo Nakios
My name is Theo Nakios, and I'm currently in the 11th grade. Mental health has been a major theme throughout my life, and it's affected not only me but also those around me. With the pandemic bringing mental health issues to the forefront of public consciousness, I've become increasingly passionate about understanding the nuances of mental health and illness.
In particular, I've taken a deep interest in men's mental health and the stigma that often surrounds it. As a member of the Boys Leading Boys group, I've found a supportive community where I can raise awareness of this issue, help young men develop leadership skills, and foster a sense of solidarity among male individuals.
I believe that mental health is a crucial component of overall well-being, and by challenging the stigmatization that men face from an early age, we can save and improve lives. That's why I'm excited about Open The Male Box, an initiative to expand the conversations that we've been having within Boys Leading Boys and raise awareness of the struggles that men face in society.
Ambassador: Ben Shpritz
My name is Ben Shpritz, and I am a high school junior from Chicago. In my early years of high school, I dealt with lots of anxiety. While I was getting help for it, I was very underground about it and really kept it to myself. I felt uncomfortable and weak that I was a male going through this and that I just needed to be tougher. I have now realized that I am not the only one, as many people I know have come to me for help when dealing with mental health. Learning more and more about male mental health has really been helpful for me.
As a board member of the mental health nonprofit organization Youareenough, I have really begun to express interest in men's mental health as an aspect that is not always highlighted enough. Learning and researching about men who are very successful in their profession and incredibly talented male athletes who have gone through and are going through mental health issues have really made me realize that these struggles are not uncommon.
I believe that mental health is an essential part of our everyday lives. By eliminating the stigma around it, we can help open up discussion and save people from going down that dark path. That’s why I am super excited to be joining Open The Male Box, an opportunity to build a community around men's mental health and battle the stigma around it.
Ambassador
Application
We are always on the lookout for people to join our cause. If you are interested in contributing to Open the Malebox with research, articles, podcast episodes, or helping to run social media or plan and host events, please complete the form below.