About Us

We are Next Gen Men.

Next Gen Men is a small-but-mighty Canadian nonprofit whose work is dedicated to one ambitious thing—to change how the world sees, acts and thinks about masculinity.

We bring together perspectives from across North America, across genders, and across backgrounds to talk about why we all have a stake in the future of masculinity.

At Next Gen Men, we are champions of hope, and workers for change. Find us in your community, your classroom, your workplace, online, across Canada, the U.S. and anywhere you find our community.

The first act of violence patriarchy demands of boys is not violence toward women—it’s toward themselves. 

Boys learn what it means to be a ‘man’ by running into the harsh constraints of manhood at a young age—when their feelings get shut down, when their words become fists, when they become the first witnesses in a cycle of male violence whose first victim is boys themselves.

Men are more likely to be both victims and perpetrators of violence. A major risk factor for perpetuating this cycle is experiencing neglect and abuse as a child or being exposed to violence. These are the extremes, but every young boy suffers papercuts of patriarchy when told to ‘man up,’ that ‘boys don’t cry,’ or that being ‘like a girl’ is the worst possible thing.

Getting to the roots of gender-based violence in our culture means exploring how the intersectionality of gendered norms and lived experiences can lead to violence, as well as standing as allies to those who are affected by gender-based violence.

Boys aren’t broken. Men aren’t toxic. 

By engaging people of all genders and backgrounds as leaders, role models, and mentors, we can expand the norms of masculinity that we’ve inherited, and we can build a future where boys are free to be themselves—and become the next generation of men that this world so desperately needs.

We’re guided by:

Curiosity

Empathy

Courage

Equity

We’ve come a long way,
and we’re still going.

Next Gen Men has crossed many milestones as we’ve grown from an idea between friends to an international community working together to engage, educate and empower boys and men.

We are small but mighty.

Next Gen Men started with Jake, Jermal and Jason, who envisioned a youth program that addressed topics like gender-based violence and mental health, and gave boys a space to explore, connect, grow and take the lead themselves.

Since then, it has become an inclusive and action-oriented community, backed up by a small team of staff collaborating from across two countries and three provinces, with the support of Next Gen Menbers all around the globe.

Really, this is about gratitude.

First and foremost, for the foundation of our work: the Next Gen Menbers who back us up month after month. Our Menbers bring their hearts and minds and ongoing support to Next Gen Men, and we couldn’t do it without them. We are our community, our community is them, and together, we are making the future happen.

Next Gen Men’s accountability, sustainability and vision are guided by the dedicated group of volunteers who make up our Board of Directors and Committees.

We are privileged to have relationships with community groups across Canada and the U.S. who share our values and goals. These organizations and the people within them have been our mentors, collaborators, and friends. From challenging gender roles and stereotypes, to promoting mental wellness and healthy relationships, to the fight for gender equity—together we’re working to raise a healthier next generation of men.

We are also grateful to have been supported in the past by Movember Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Youth Opportunities Fund, Alberta’s Ministry of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women and Family and Community Safety Program, Women and Gender Equality Canada, and British Columbia’s Civil Forfeiture Office.