Bruce Dienes, Community Consultant

Just wrapping up two semesters of teaching at Mount Saint Vincent University. I've been getting good feedback from students, including this message from the course on Gender: "Not to be sappy but this course is very special to me, and I have added many tools to my toolbox from this experience. Thank you for the great semester! I really enjoyed your teaching style Dr. Dienes; it was refreshing and inspiring. Take care"

Working on a new project offering a series of online workshops to Autism NS staff. Topics include "Philosophy and Practice of Facilitation", "ACT Mindfulness Tools", "Holding Space" (with Heidi Kalyani), "Values Based Committed Action", "Trauma Awareness", and "Oppression/Liberation Theory". The focus is to create empowering environments for working with clients and building staff resilience. A great group of people to work with! Contact me if your organization could use supportive training in these challenging times.

We can still work together - there are always creative solutions! Last week we did our first "face-to-face" workshop since the COVID lockdown started. We worked outside under the shade of trees with social distancing and loud voices! We were working with the staff of a local NFP, building their resilience and emotional management skills, then practicing these in role-plays of what to expect when they open and clients arrive. Very positive feedback and staff much more ready to manage the transition back to work in the "new normal"... Another great partnership with Heidi Kalyani of *heart wide open* https://www.facebook.com/heartwideopenconnect/ Let us know if your organization or business could use some training in core skills as things open up under new conditions!

Transforming Masculinity tl:dr; I can help your business or organization transform inappropriate masculinity cultures in your workplace to create a safer, more efficient, more creative and prosperous environment. All work is customized to your specific needs. See the testimonial below from The Nodding Group from 2019. ----------------------------- Since the late 1970’s I have been involved in groups, organizations, academics, consulting (and a personal journey) to transform ...masculinity culture towards a more sustainable and compassionate reality. Recent projects have focused on engaging men and boys as allies in ending violence against women and girls. I have worked with Women’s Shelters, Not-for-Profits, Businesses and in academia, teaching courses on Men and Masculinities. I have given a number of webinars, seminars, presentations and trainings on this issue to local business, inter-agency groups, conferences, justice workers and RCMP, leaders of youth, student unions, schools, men's groups and church groups. In 2019 I was asked to come to Toronto with other leaders in this field to consult with Women and Gender Equality Canada in regard to their draft proposal to engage men in ending this violence. That same year I was asked by the Nodding Group to come and shift the culture of sexual harassment in their workplace. From the letter (see below) of support after the process: He worked over a three-month period with our senior management and with our employees, using a four-stage engagement process that helped men identify why this was an issue, why it mattered to them, what they might do to change it, and encouragement to support one another in sustaining this change in behaviour. There has been a tangible change in our work environment. Some months after the intervention, I was heartened to see that some of the worst offenders were the ones reminding co-workers. This is so much more powerful than simply referring to our corporate policy document. I believe that a big part of the effectiveness is that the process avoided a ‘blame and shame’ approach, and instead made it clear why this was a men’s issue and that addressing it benefited men as well as women. If you would like me to address similar issues in your organization or business, please contact me. All my work is customized to your specific situation and needs.