Why did you decide to volunteer with NGM?

I decided to volunteer with NGM after moving to Vancouver 5 years ago. I reached out to my gender and sexuality education colleagues, and an educator in Ontario referred me to the Executive Director, Jake, and it had turned out we both moved to Vancouver around the same time. We got a beer together, hit it off, and I helped start NGM Circles (then called 'Wolfpack') here in Vancouver! 

What do you do at NGM?

I have organized and facilitated 15+ NGM Circles both online and in person, and think of myself as an 'NGM Hype Man' at times. I've organized circles around the intersection of masculinity and topics like eating disorders, mountain sports, menstruation, environmentalism and more! 

What’s your favourite part about working with NGM?

How dare you make me choose... I would say it's a tie between the community of incredible, reflexive people I get to meet, and the world-expanding conversations I have with them! 

I decided to volunteer with Next Gen Men to further reflect on my thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours and their relationship to patriarchy and masculinity. I wanted to break free from ideas that were holding me back, and to be the best version of myself I could be! I've learned so much, and grown immensely since being part of this community.

I've helped out on a lot of different projects with Next Gen Men. During the COVID lockdowns, I led digital discussions on Zoom with people from all over Canada and the world. Since then, I've had the pleasure of hosting in-person dialogues in Toronto about masculinity involving people of diverse backgrounds and identities. I've also taken part in other cool events like film screenings, birthday celebrations, and social outings (we went to an awesome drag show!).

I love how kind and passionate the community is. The space is full of people who are eager to learn more about themselves and the world. This also means that I get to talk to really interesting and smart people; I'm always in awe of the brilliant viewpoints that people bring to the table. They challenge me to be a better version of myself every day, and I couldn't be more grateful.

I decided to start volunteering with NGM because I felt like talking and listening weren't enough anymore. So many women and men suffer from male-perpetrated violence and I wanted to help move the needle on the issue while learning more about it and myself. 

I help plan events in Vancouver, occasionally write for the blog and am open to any media requests on masculinity and hockey culture specifically! 

Men often feel as though they lack community. Having the chance to both help others feel more accepted while being a part of such a positive community is so incredibly fulfilling. Learning is best done together and I continue to learn a lot!

I started volunteering with NGM to help bring awareness to men’s mental health and the ways in which men can support each other in creating better connections. Being from a small village in rural Alberta, we didn’t have these kinds of resources and I love the idea of sheding light on these topics in spaces where there is something missing. I took on a volunteer role in Calgary helping to build community events and rally other volunteers through connection, learning, and unlearning.

My favourite part about NGM is truly meeting amazing folks and hearing their stories. Stories connect us in ways that break down barriers and build understanding.

I volunteer with NextGenMen because of its mission to reshape societal perceptions of masculinity. With a background in healthcare and community engagement, NGM's commitment to fostering healthy masculinity and challenging toxic norms is aligned with my values of inclusivity and social justice. By bringing together diverse perspectives and facilitating open dialogue, NGM allows me to contribute my skills while furthering my personal and professional growth.

I have been fortunate to assist Jake with the quarterly book club. Through Jake’s hand-picked selections, these sessions have exposed me to diverse perspectives and experiences I would not have otherwise encountered. Our group discussions are always rich with new insights and compassion that leave me feeling uplifted and connected to the other members. 

I have also been able to lead circle groups and deep dives where we explore some of the complex and nuanced aspects of masculinity. It is gratifying to help facilitate conversations about personal and community growth.

Without a doubt, my favourite part about working with NGM is the people. After every meetup, planning session and discussion, I am reinvigorated to continue this work because of the kindness and generosity of the people involved. The staff, volunteers and participants truly are helping to bring a healthier and more inclusive masculinity into the world.

I decided to volunteer with NGM when I moved to Toronto and found myself needing more community with men in my life and was introduced to Jake by a mutual friend. Instantly I knew we aligned on so many things and felt like I had found a group of folks that I wanted to be a part of and give back to such an important cause. 

I volunteer with NGM in whatever capacity I can! I have helped facilitate NGM circles, written for the magazine, and co-presented with Jake at a conference. What I enjoy most is connecting with others and learning/growing through those interactions.

My favourite part of NGM is the people. Every time I attend any function or event, I leave feeling energized. What comes with that, is the great conversation and connections that I have made.

Why did you decide to volunteer with NGM?
I was in the planning and researching stages of Oreja Peluda when I first found out about NGM. I decided to join one of their online sessions and really enjoyed meeting some people from the team. NGM’s work resonates with me and with what I believe, so it was easy to make the decision to volunteer and be part of it.

What do you do at NGM?
As part of the NGM podcast network, I mostly contribute with my audio production skills.

What’s your favourite part about working with NGM?
The friendship, love and openness that the whole team operates with. I feel constantly inspired and valued by such an amazing group of people!

Why did you decide to volunteer with NGM?

I decided to volunteer with NGM after numerous challenges helped me become more self-aware and introspective towards understanding who I am, and the man I want to be. Redefining what it means to be a man and pushing beyond the many stereotypes of a hockey player that I had portrayed for years, has inspired me to share my journey in addition to supporting and learning from others'.  

What do you do at NGM?

From planning events, contributing to content, and spreading awareness, to connecting, engaging with, and supporting the amazing NGM community in any way that I'm able to.  

What’s your favourite part about working with NGM?

My favourite part about working with NGM is the opportunity to continually learn more about myself, by listening to and collaborating with some genuinely wonderful people. Giving others a space to feel heard and speak their truths, allows me to show up as my best and most authentic self.

Years ago, during a pivotal gathering, I first met the leaders of Next Gen Men (NGM). Their commitment to sparking meaningful dialogue and challenging the entrenched stereotypes of masculinity resonated deeply with me. Since that fateful encounter, our paths have intertwined in a shared quest for change.

I’ve witnessed the power of NGM Circles, where retired men I invited shared how they were shedding the weight of outdated masculine ideals and speaking openly about their challenges. These circles are beacons of hope, illuminating the path to a more inclusive understanding of manhood.

NGM’s impact extends beyond these circles. I’ve stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their volunteers at street exhibits, empowering the public to identify and confront sexual street harassment. Together, we’re building a community that recognizes violence and is equipped to dismantle it.

Each NGM event is a wellspring of collaboration. I find myself reinvigorated and connected with new allies, united in pursuing a world where gender equity is an ideal and a lived reality for all.

Through these collective efforts, NGM has become a cornerstone of our community, a testament to the enduring spirit of Edmonton’s commitment to gender justice.

I started volunteering with NGM because I wanted to find a way to pay forward the support and wisdom I was fortunate enough to receive in my life around issues like gender roles and patriarchy. Coming up as a guy is hard. And confusing. There isn't much room to explore and ask questions about what your place is in the world.

That's why what I do at NGM revolves around helping with in-person events where people can gather and talk, as well as online, deep-dive discussions where we can have in-depth conversations about specific issues we might not otherwise get to talk about.

My favourite part about working with NGM is THE PEOPLE! I LOVE people. They're the best. At NGM I get to meet SO many interesting people that teach me new and exciting ways to live and love.

I decided to volunteer with NGM soon after my father passed there was a callout for volunteers so I signed up to volunteer. My goal was to potentially help with men, specifically, how they talk about health issues.
I have always volunteered for several causes at a time so this was a natural fit.

I am currently the Treasurer and Finance Committee chair for the NGM board. I also help with NGM circle events in my city!

My favorite part is all the different people coming to NGM from different backgrounds with different stories. NGM also has such as wide scope of issues that can be discussed that it is always interesting.

Coming across NGM felt like finding the secret key to that ancient treasure box that's been up in the attic for generations. Treasures such as boys & men safely attuning to their feelings and encouraging environments with less pain and harm for all involved.  It was less a decision to get involved, and more a knowing that this has been what I've been looking for all along.

I love focusing on education, facilitation, networking, building relationships, resourcing, event planning, and connecting communities.  Making a difference for all of our generations by repairing the foundations by which we relate to one another. 

My favourite part about NGM is undeniably the wonderful folks and the safe space created here to have these normally 'difficult conversations' with ease, by breaking the typical gender scripts and patriarchal complacency permeating many spaces and circles. 

Why did you decide to volunteer?

My sister encouraged me to seek out volunteer opportunities that really meant something to me and aligned with my values. NGM immediately stood out to me for their focus on mental health and actionable change within the sphere of masculinity. I realized that it was a good opportunity for me to help others start on their own journey of growth and fulfillment as well as to take the next steps on my own personal journey of growth and fulfillment.

One of my favourite things is the ability to see a spark of change in another person and getting to see them go on and ignite that spark in other people. It's truly fulfilling to see something that you said or did make that change in a person, and seeing them carry on that legacy of wishing to see positive change in others is extremely gratifying.