Event Toolkit

Skill Jam: A Brotherhood Exchange

Theme & Purpose

Every young man carries skills, talents, and strengths — but many times, what they show on the outside is only part of the story. Skill Jam: A Brotherhood Exchange begins with the #MillionMaskMovement, where participants reflect on their “outside self” (the positive qualities and image they show the world) and their “inside self” (the real stuff — the challenges, worries, or truths they usually don’t let others see).

By starting here, young men see that their talents and skills are more meaningful when connected to both sides of their story. Sharing talents — whether music, art, cooking, sports, or practical know-how — becomes not just about showing ability, but about building trust, respect, and brotherhood.

Benefits for Young Men

  1. Confidence & Pride – Recognize that talents matter most when paired with authenticity.

  2. Brotherhood & Respect – Appreciate peers beyond their “outside” qualities, valuing their full stories.

  3. Connection & Growth – Use talents to strengthen community while honoring both strengths and struggles.

Materials

  • Small table or open space for demonstrations

  • Any personal tools or materials needed for the skill (participants bring their own)

  • Chairs for audience members

  • Paper & pens for note-taking or drawing what they learned

  • Mask Cards: millionmask.org or digital version millionmask.org/drawboard

  • Box or envelope for mask shuffle

Group Size

6–20 participants (plus audience if open to the public)..

Time Needed

60–90 minutes total.

 

STEP-BY-STEP Program

Skill Jam: A Brotherhood Exchange

1. Welcome & Purpose (5 minutes)

Host Script:
“Welcome to Skill Jam: A Brotherhood Exchange. We all carry skills and strengths — but that’s not the full story. Tonight begins with the #MillionMaskMovement so we can reflect on the difference between what we show on the outside and what we usually don’t let others see. When we bring both forward, our talents become even more powerful in building connection.”

2. Create a Mask (10 minutes)

  • Hand out mask cards.

  • Invite participants to write/draw:

    • Front (outside): the positive qualities they usually show the world (e.g., hardworking, funny, confident, athletic).

    • Back (inside): the “real stuff” they usually don’t let others see (e.g., fear of failure, stress, sadness, family pressure).

  • Collect masks, shuffle, and redistribute.

  • Reflection: “The outside is what people admire. The inside is what we often carry alone. Tonight, as you share your skills, remember both matter — because who we are makes our talents meaningful.”

3. Icebreaker (5–10 minutes)

Each person introduces themselves and shares one:

  • A skill they can teach.

  • Or a skill they’d love to learn.

4. Talent Demonstrations (40–50 minutes)

Each participant has 5–7 minutes to:

  1. Show or explain their skill.

  2. Share how they learned it — from family, school, or on their own.

  3. Connect it to their story: how has this skill helped them through challenges or built connections with others?

  4. Invite quick practice or questions from the group.

Prompts (pick one to inspire deeper sharing):

  1. “What’s one challenge from the back of your mask that this skill helps you cope with or overcome?”

  2. “Who passed this skill on to you, and how does it connect to your family or culture?”

  3. “If you could use this skill to help your community, what would that look like?”

5. Group Reflection (10–15 minutes)

Prompts:

  • What’s one skill you’d like to try after today?

  • How did hearing both skills and stories deepen your respect for others?

  • How can we use our skills to build community and brotherhood?

6. Closing & Positive Action (5–10 minutes)

Reflection Notes:

  • Write down one skill you appreciated most today.

  • Write one way you could use your own skills to connect with others.

Host Closing Script:
“Skills connect people — but it’s the real stories behind them that build trust. Tonight, you not only showed talents but also reflected on what you usually don’t let others see. By honoring both, we create brotherhood and a stronger community.”

7. SHARE MASKS POST EVENT (10 minutes)

Take pictures of each mask and email them to millionmask@everforwardclub.org to join our #MillionMaskMovement and help us reach 100,000 people by this November!

Optional Add-ons

  • Recipe Swap: Share recipes digitally or as handouts.

  • Mini Cooking Demo: Teach a quick step from your dish.

  • Food + Mask Collage: Create a display with photos of dishes alongside completed masks.

For any questions, please contact millionmask@everforwardclub.org

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