u/Difficult-Spell-3202 — reddlx

safe streets summer kickoff BBQ

Community Safety & Connection Event — Vancouver, WA

Hosted by Vancouver Elite, Teen Spice Café, Shifted Theory, and Living Hope

Supported by The Gentle Strength Project

I'm just helping promote this event that's happening tonight, July 1st, 2026 in Vancouver washington.

Join us this evening for a family‑friendly community event focused on safety awareness, connection, and support. This gathering brings together children, teens, and families to learn, share, and access local resources that strengthen our neighborhoods.

The Gentle Strength Project is proud to stand alongside these organizations, because we do better together, and we could all use a little more community, care, and hope.

u/Difficult-Spell-3202 — 5 days ago

▲ 16 r/vancouverwa

Question about rock painting night for all genders

So I have a question for everyone who does not identify as a man. If The Gentle Strength Project created a rock painting events for you in the month of July and August, do you think that is something you would want to attend? It will most likely be held at one of the libraries in Vancouver around the same time I hold events for men, which is usually in the evening after most people get off of work. But I really believe in community, and supporting the mental health and well-being of the individuals in that community, and I want to create spaces and opportunity for adults to show up in humanize each other.

Again, this will be open to all genders in a public space. This is not a dating opportunity so guys who choose to show up to this, but do not want to show up to paint nights for men, this is just a disclaimer that the purpose of this event is not dating, period. I want to always make sure that The Gentle Strength Project events are safe, and feel safe, for the individuals that attend because it serves no one if women and NB folks have to look over their shoulder, and squirm in their seat, as they attempt to show up for each other and the children in the community.

So to recap, if you do not identify as a man or a male and would genuinely be open to attending something like this, let me know. If you identify as a man or a male and choose to come to this version of paint night instead of one that is designated for men, just keep in mind that this is not a dating / hook up opportunity. And if me saying that bothers you, I'm sorry 🤷🏿‍♂️. But for us to do better as a society, we have to make a conscious effort to do things differently and that also means checking behavior that has proven to be troublesome for all that it affects.

reddit.com

u/Difficult-Spell-3202 — 11 days ago

▲ 7 r/mentalhealth

Mental Health related - when did taking care of yourself start feeling optional instead of necessary?

So I'm a 36 year old father who resides in Vancouver WA and I work in education and advocacy. I've taken numerous psychology and education classes, attended Mental Health support groups, advocated on a state level for teachers, parents, women, children, and various demographics of people, but the one I struggle with the most with supporting is men. I feel like there's a disconnect somewhere that guys are aware of, but would rather ignore than fix (which is funny seeing as how fixing things is something a lot of us guys relish in doing 😅).

While working in education, one of the common consensus is that men do not show up for their children at school beyond drop offs and pickups. Sometimes one or two might go on a field trip, but it's primarily moms and women who engage with children's extra curriculars. Then there's medical and dental care that generally gets shuffled to moms/women/femmes as well. Like, if bills come in the mail, they stereotypically go to dad. If anything school or health or community related comes in the mail, it goes to moms. I found this problematic because, from my experience, women will also venture into traditional male roles while still upholding female roles, but the same can't always be said via versa.

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is, what is going on with guys and their mental health? And at what point will men (as a whole) decide to shift towards growing social emotionally and not just existing and taking the hard route because that's what the believe society wants them to do? Even myself, I've had to pause and reflect when things arise, but I mostly contribute that to the fact that I've spent the past 18 years focusing on education and brain development. So I developed a lot of head knowledge about what's going on, but nothing truly concrete that can be used to change the narrative that we see today. As it stands:

- 72% of men view their girlfriend, wife, women in their life as their emotional safe space. This also includes viewing their spouse as their only real friend, counselor, mother, sex partner, housekeeper/homemaker, nurturer for their children, so on an so forth

- 80% of suicides are committed by men

- 14% reported experiencing an anxiety disorder

- 20% of men have openly admitted not having any close friends, ya know, friends that actually know you and not just the team you like

- 65% of men hesitate to seek professional help for stress, anxiety, or depression

90% - 98% of homicides, mass murders and school shootings are committed by men.

So what's being reported is not balancing out with the reality of it all and it just leaves me wondering "when did taking care of yourself start feeling optional instead of necessary?"

Like, I believe the simple solution would be for men to come together and strive to move differently, together. Not just say it, but actually do it. Everyone else does it, and supports individuals who fall into their demographics, so what's stopping men from doing the same? I recognize that requires a level of vulnerability that is not traditionally masculine or supported amongst men, but here we are in Men's Mental Health Awareness Month and I'm left wondering why EVERYONE cares about men's mental health, but men.

Is any of this even making sense? I know that it's long, but it's a discussion I've had on my heart and would like to hear from guys (and everyone who can answer) on why this is and what they think we can do to fix it.

reddit.com

u/Difficult-Spell-3202 — 11 days ago

▲ 56 r/missing+1 crossposts

Help find missing friend - Case # 26-163-00313

Posting to keep relevant, reach views that I didn't the first time, & I can't do much more to help, so I will keep doing my best. I really need my longest, truest, & only consistent friend back safely. We are in the 3rd week of him missing. This is not normal for him.

Seattle/Tacoma PD has told his mother they won't help. I will post the link for her Gofundme to hire a private investigator in the comments. Saying "no ones gonna donate" is no help. I will block & report any who do. If people donate, thank you. If you don't donate, ok, no problem, don't be a jerk.

I want to get as much information about this, photos of him, & photos of his car spread around Washington & the Pacific Northwest as much as possible to have eyes everywhere.

From his mother's FB:

*"This is a very personal post. My oldest son is missing since Monday 6/8/26.

PLEASE SHARE 🙏

Mom here..I am looking for my son Caelick Bradley, 28, last seen June 8, 2026 near the Madigan Hospital on Joint base Lewis-McChord between 9-10 pm in Tacoma, WA. He was planning to drive cross-country to come home to me in Virginia and I haven't been able to reach him.

📍 Last seen: Tacoma, Washington 👤 6'0", ~160 lbs, short brown hair, facial hair 🚗 1995 Lexus, gold/tan — Washington license plate CHA 1977 🗺️ Route unknown — he could be anywhere between WA and VA

If you've seen him or his car, please DM me.

Tacoma PD non-emergency: (253) 287-4455

He was coming home to his mom. I just need to know he's safe. Please share this everywhere. 🤍

MissingPerson #HelpMeFindhim #Tacoma #Washington #Virginia*"

Case # 26-163-00313

Sorry if this isn't the right sub, I'm not from or in the NW US region. Last sighting was June 8, 2026 near the Madigan Hospital on Joint base Lewis-McChord between 9-10 pm. If you have information you can use the contact information in the picture or message me.

If you are rude or disrespectful, i will block you. I am not entertaining trolls or keyboard warriors. If you won't or don't want to help, don't say anything.

Thank you.

u/Difficult-Spell-3202 — 11 days ago

▲ 34 r/vancouverwa

Dinosaur paint night

CALL TO ACTION

I need 20 to 30 men in Clark County to show up and paint dinosaurs on rocks for kids this summer. It’s a simple way for men to connect, but the heart of this is showing up for the next generation and doing something that’ll brighten kids’ smiles.

If you know a man, dad, uncle, grandpa, cousin, nephew, mentor, or male teacher who you believe will show up for kids, share this with him and ask him to RSVP so I can make sure everyone has a spot.

Thank you for your support with this. Details for the events are in the flyer, but also, I'll add them below.

If I end up getting more people to RSVP than the limit given by the library, I'll talk with them to see about either allowing us to utilize the other room or I'll create a second event with them for the following week.

Dinosaur Paint Night

Monday, July 6th, 2026

5:30pm - 8:00pm

Vancouver Community Library

901 C St, Vancouver, WA 98660

4th floor, back right corner

u/Difficult-Spell-3202 — 13 days ago

▲ 4 r/vancouverwa

Star Wars vs Star Trek trivia night

The Gentle Strength Project will be hosting a game night for men @Brothers Cascadia Evergreen Brewing Pub, June 16th, 2026 from 6pm - 8pm.

6-6:30 will be a Meet & Greet for the guys so people can get settled, get connected, grab a beer, and see what other activities the group will be hosting for the rest of June and in July.

6:30 - 7:00 will be round 1: Star Wars Trivia

7:00 - 7:30 will be round 2: Star Trek Trivia

7:45 we will announce the winners for the night

8:00 we will be closing up, but the pub will still be open for those who just want to kick it for a bit.

Prize: "Bragging Rights!" This time around (I will work on getting donated prizes from the community for future events)

There will be additional games present for those who'd rather play something other than trivia. Most will come from my kids board game stash since they do not play a ton of board/card games these days.

Also, if you didn't know this before, the pub is family friendly so if you, a father, uncle, brother, want to bring your younglings to either participate in trivia or get connected with other kids in the community so they can develop their own friendships, you are more than welcome to do so. It goes without saying, but as long as they're not at the bar, they're golden!

Ladies, if you need a reason to get your husband/bf connected with men in the community AND out of the house for a couple of hours so you can have your you time, share this info with them. Even if they do not know anything about Star Wars or Star Trek, they can still have a good time while breaking away from the day to day routines.

There will also be a suggestion box present for anyone who has ideas on what other activities men and fathers in the community can do to connect. One that I did back in '23 with a school was a Community Clean Up. We all went around cleaning up the parks in our areas so children could continue to have safe places to play. I plan on doing that again with TGSP and welcome those who want to partake in that.

I appreciate all of you who have supported this initiative since the beginning and continue to show your support for us as we continue to grow. The more recognition we can get, the more opportunities we have at building up our community and as long as we keep finding reasons to come together, connect, and build healthier relationships with others, the better out chances are at making (at least) our small pocket in the country better for the people who live in it.

June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. I hope all of you men and Dad's are receiving the much recognition and support you deserve! Life is hard, and it's a lot harder to go at it alone. But you are not alone, we are here for you, and while it might not feel like it at time, you have value, you have worth, you are enough.

So recap:

Dudes like Games too, right? Star Wars vs Star Trek Trivia, June 16th, 2026, 6-8pm.

To stay up-to-date with events, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, or Discord. Just look up 'The Gentle Strength Project' on any of those platforms and you'll find us.

You can also follow the Google calendar if that works best and you try to stay off social media the best you can.

Website: https://xxbelovedzealxx.wixsite.com/the-gentle-strength

Calendar:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=585fa45999ec34b0e0551ccfc38ca3a5e2669ae70c272c786ae5664d6e5b3429%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FLos\_Angeles

u/Difficult-Spell-3202 — 21 days ago

▲ 7 r/vancouverwa

TGSP upcoming events for the month of June

June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month and I wanted to share some upcoming events happening for the guys this month with The Gentle Strength Project.

Monday June 8th, 2026 - Paint Night

Tuesday June 16th, 2026 - Game Night - Trivia

Saturday June 20th, 2026 - Men's Hike - Silver Falls State Park

If you'd like to attend any of these and have your spot saved, RSVP through the Website, Instagram, or Facebook.

Website: https://xxbelovedzealxx.wixsite.com/the-gentle-strength

Also, gentle reminder that Sunday, June 21st is Father's Day. Treat yourself to a Father's Day gift this month by connecting with other guys and dads in the area.

u/Difficult-Spell-3202 — 30 days ago

▲ 68 r/vancouverwa

For the Dudes

Hey,

Just wanted to share something with the guys. I’ve started a support group for men and fathers here in Clark County. Nothing fancy, just a place to show up, meet other men, play some games, and build real friendships at a pace that feels natural.

We’re getting together tomorrow at Brothers Cascadia Evergreen Brewing in downtown Vancouver for a game night. If you’re free, bored, or just want to be around some good dudes for a bit, swing through and see what we’re about.

Tuesday, May 19th, 2026

Brothers Cascadia Evergreen Brewing

u/Difficult-Spell-3202 — 2 months ago