Maine Boys to Men was pleased to welcome a new intern and a new volunteer in January.
Kelsey Gillespie (she/her) has joined us for a half year as an intern as she pursues a master’s degree in social work at the University of New England. Kelsey is working with the Youth Advisory Council and their podcast “The Youth Take.” She is also learning how to co-facilitate workshops for middle and high school students. Just a few weeks into the job, Kelsey observed, “The discussions at Youth Council are always thought-provoking and educational. I love hearing each student’s perspective on topics like masculinity, gender, and healthy relationships.” When Kelsey is not in school, she holds a job in HR. She also enjoy swimming, doing yoga, and going on adventurous walks with my dog while listening to true crime podcasts.
Ken Ray is our newest official volunteer, but he’s not exactly new to the organization—he has been volunteering off and on since 2015. Ken writes, “In 2015, I attended a MBTM program in the Greely School system, a program that helped me understand the broader context of the social pressures my middle- and high-school-aged children were facing. As I began to see the gender-based social constructs that we experience as teens and perpetuate as adults, I realized that I wanted to be part of the change, but that parents individually cannot act alone. We need the support of a well-funded, diversely resourced, ongoing organization with a mission specific to gender-based biases.” When Ken retired from professional life in October 2021, he decided to devote time more consistently to MBTM. He is currently part of the team facilitating “Fatherhood: Generations of Change.” He is eager to engage in thoughtful discussions with as many dads as possible.
If you would like to intern with us, perhaps as part of your school program, or join us as a volunteer, please let us know!
Image via Dakota Corbin on Unsplash