Outflow Ministry is where I began working with homeless men full time. I led a team that was able to open the Outflow Men's Shelter 17 days after I was hired. This involved putting together an experienced team of workers, creating a policy manual, and letting people needing a safe and warm place to sleep know that we would be there to serve them. Fortunately, before I was hired the team at Outflow put many of the building blocks in place to open the shelter on time so quickly after receiving the mandate to do so. They decided on a modified-wet model, secured a location for a temporary shelter while the permanent space was being completed, and built deep relationships with some of the men who would need this type of service.Since assuming my role at Outflow, I have been able to increase my advocacy for people living homeless and experiencing other forms of extreme poverty. I enjoy speaking both with people in a field similar to mine and people who are in different fields but still want to know more about homelessness and the struggles homeless people may face. I regularly have the privilege to speak to churches, elected officials, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, other non-profit leaders, and members of the media. I relish such opportunities because they provide me with an opportunity to share about the struggles that the people I serve face, while also encouraging my listeners to walk alongside people living in poverty to help them to flourish. I have also been fortunate to research the Canada Revenue Agency regulations regarding non-profit business ownership. Our intention at Outflow is to see the men who use our shelter break out of the cycle of homelessness. Social enterprise is a significant piece of our efforts because it allows us to provide employment for people who have barriers to earning a living.

I addressed errors uncovered during a database upgrade by identifying and analyzing the root causes of the errors, resolving these issues with the database supplier, and standardizing historical records. Not surprisingly, this position did not directly provide me with an opportunity to advocate for the end of poverty and homeless. It did, however, allow two things to happen. First, because the cemetery had a small office, I sometimes needed to leave the database behind and directly help clients who were experiencing an extermely difficult time in their lives. My compassion for people in crisis grew exponentially because of this. Second, I spent a lot of time researching historical records and discovered how end-of-life services radically improved for people experiencing extreme poverty. My hope that our society is improving how we treat people in poverty also grew during this time.

The McAdam Public Library was where I first learned of the need to work to end poverty. I did not expect this. The focus of the library was to provide ongoing access to lifelong learning in McAdam. McAdam is a wonderful rural community in south-western New Brunswick that experiences significant educational and economical challenges. As a gathering place for all members of the community, the McAdam Public Library served many people who had real day-to-day struggles. This was my first conscious exposure to serving people in this way. I think the McAdam Public Library had some stark improvements during my time there. There was a substantial library renovation, an increased budget for community access to computers, and the creation of the library region's first Youth Advisory Board. I also had my first taste at hosting public forums to understand community needs and creating community profiles.