Staff
From Served to Serving
Shaun Kroeker loves his job. He’s a mental health worker at Centennial Place, a mental health clubhouse in Mission facilitated by Communitas.
Shaun oversees a number of programs. Some promote life skills, like the weekly Community Kitchen where participants learn how to create a nutritious meal together. Other programs offer an opportunity for people – from young adults to seniors – to make meaningful connections as they share activities together. And other programs give members a chance to talk about their journey with mental health as they learn some strategies to help navigate that journey.
For Shaun, overseeing these programs is more than a job, it’s a way for him to give back.
“I know what it’s like to live with mental health challenges,” Shaun says. “I’ve been there.”
Shaun’s journey began in his youth. He credits the support of his family for helping him find the resources he needed to thrive. One of those resources was Communitas’ Peer Support Services where he met Brian, his Peer Support Worker. This connection was life-changing.
“Brian was the first person who simply walked beside me, instead of telling me what I should do clinically,” Shaun explains. “We shared and opened up to each other, and I thought, ‘Hey! This is something I could do too!’”
It was on Brian’s recommendation that Shaun applied to work at Shredmasters, then a Communitas social enterprise. Working alongside a wide variety of people from many different backgrounds made Shaun realize that his supportive family was not something to take for granted. It also influenced his decision to help others.
When Shredmasters closed, Shaun went back to school and obtained his Mental Health Care Worker Certificate. He then applied for a position at Centennial Place, where he has now worked for three years.
Centennial Place operates as a clubhouse where members are empowered towards a positive, meaningful life. Through life-skills programs, social outings that create connections, and mental wellness programs, the clubhouse provides a framework to help members thrive. It’s work that Shaun loves so much, he feels almost guilty calling it a “job.”
“The sense of hope, strength and resilience I see both in the people I work with and the members is incredible,” Shaun says. “Being able to walk alongside others as they navigate the ups and downs of their own journeys is just a wonderful feeling. They teach me so much about perseverance and tenacity in the face of hardships.”
As he considers his journey, Shaun has nothing but gratitude: for his family, for meaningful work, for supportive colleagues, and for the opportunity he’s had to turn his own challenges into something positive.
“I never would have considered work in the mental health field if Communitas hadn’t given me an opportunity to grow and develop as a person,” Shaun reflects.
He’s also grateful for the way that Communitas supports its employees and feels that this support has a trickle-down effect in terms of how he’s able to support the people he serves.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup and Communitas pours into our cups as staff,” Shaun says. “It’s a true joy to share life with our members and with our staff.”
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