Kenton Kirby

Kenton Kirby is the men’s empowerment coordinator for Make It Happen. Kenton is a native New Yorker who firmly believes in the strength of community and the tremendous benefits that come with interdisciplinary collaboration. Make It Happen is geared towards providing supportive victim services to young men of color, historically an undeserved population due to gender roles and societal expectations of manhood. This program aims to challenge and educate its members, and outside service providers, of the profound long term impacts trauma has on individuals regardless of gender or race. Prior to coming to Neighbors in Action (formerly Crown Heights Community Mediation Center), Kenton worked in child welfare where he witnessed firsthand the role and impact traumatic events in our communities can play on individuals without proper support. In his work though Make It Happen, Kenton hopes to develop a safe space for male victims of violence to support one another following their trauma and develop skills to help members realize their internal strength in pursuing a healthy and productive life. Kenton has a Master’s Degree from New York University and is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in the state of New York. Kenton has experience providing clinical individual and group therapy to children and adults.