The Engaging Men team brings together a diverse group of social workers, counsellors, educators, and community advocates united by a shared belief — that men have the capacity to grow, and that when they do, families and communities are made safer. With backgrounds spanning frontline social work, academic research, restorative justice, harm reduction, and equity-focused education, our team members bring decades of combined experience working alongside men through some of life’s most complex challenges. Each member of our team approaches this work without judgment, with deep respect for the individuals they support, and with a genuine commitment to creating lasting, meaningful change — one man, one family at a time.
Caleb has worked in the social services of Waterloo Region for over 10 years in areas of housing, health care, addiction, homelessness and gender-based violence. Caleb brings an intersectional lens to his work in these different areas focusing on working at reducing violence across our community both at a systemic and personal level.
Jude is a Professor of Human Services at Conestoga College. In addition to his teaching, writing, and research, he brings two decades of experience facilitating accountability work with men who have used violence toward their partners and children, both in prisons and in community-based settings. He has published several books, including Trauma-Informed Youth Justice in Canada (Canadian Scholars Press). Jude is committed to doing his part to advance the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
Dave is a Registered Social Worker with over 40 years of experience supporting individuals, children, youth, and families through complex challenges and life transitions. His career spans frontline practice, clinical support, and program development across a variety of community and mental health settings. Dave works collaboratively with clients to identify their innate abilities, build resilience, and create meaningful change. Dave is excited to be working with men in our community and creating safer and healthier families.
Jermal works advancing transformative education, equity, and empathy in leadership and learning, specializing in Black men’s well-being, restorative justice, and masculinity studies. He is the Associate Director, EDIA Library at the University of Waterloo and co-founder of Next Gen Men (NGM), a team of staff and volunteers empowering boys (and men) to change the way they see, think, and act about masculinity. He is also a third-year PhD student in the Recreation and Leisure Aging, Health, and Wellbeing program at the University of Waterloo studying the intersections between race (Black), ethnicity, gender (men), and ag(e)ing from an interdisciplinary lens. "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' -Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pete is a Social Worker and Counsellor who has fifteen years of front line experience supporting marginalized populations across the Region of Waterloo. His lens is Harm Reduction oriented. As such with the goal to improve the physical, social and mental health of identifying men. If men take ownership, then families are safer. Flexibility and eclectic therapy are common ground for Pete. Success can be measured by removing barriers of shame and stigma so that men can accountably confront coping mechanisms that have had a detrimental and abusive impact on their relationships. If an identifying male can break down the traditional IPV ethos and archetype, then vulnerable change occur. Owning toxic behaviour is the first step in understanding toxic behaviour. And only in this delicate space can healing occur for others. This subsequently leads to restorative justice and appropriate role modelling in the family network. Pete holds space sensitively but reflectively encouraging ownership and responsibility.