Kent and Sandy Dueck, Jillian, Madison, and Brock
Executive Director

Kent is one of the founders of Inner City Youth Alive and has been with the ministry since 1986. He directs the ministry, oversees the programming and raises the general operating costs.

Kent represents the ministry as he reports to our Board of Directors and Council. Kent graduated from Briercrest Bible College and is working on his Masters from Briercrest Biblical Seminary.

James & Kim Driedger, Tristan, Tessa
Director of Programming

James joined our staff in January of 2010 after spending the previous six years as first a middle years teacher and then most recently as a middle school guidance counselor. James has studied Aviation at Providence College as well as completing his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at the University of Manitoba.

James and Kim moved their family into Winnipeg's North End in the spring of 2011. Together as a family, they are learning how to communicate God's love in their neighborhood. They have been blessed by the friendship of many new neighbours and friends since their move.

Laurie Kozak and Michael Block
Director of Development

In February 2007, Laurie started in the new Director of Development position. She plans to use her extensive experience in event planning, fundraising and marketing to raise awareness about ICYA's mission and goals in order to build relationships and increase financial support for operating and programs. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & Justice & Law Enforcement, International Business Diploma and Special Events Coordinator certification.

She and her husband, Michael Block, also live in the community. Both have a deep desire to give back. Michael volunteers for our car club - Inner City Motorsport and he is a teacher at the Manitoba Youth Centre. They know firsthand the needs of the inner city.

Lauren Kleinsasser
Administrative Manager

After volunteering with ICYA for 5 years and spending two consecutive summers as program staff, Lauren has come on as the Administrative Manager in November 2010.

Lauren is excited to be a part of the team and is eager to use her gifts to move the ministry forward. In 2008, she graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Recreation Management and Community Development.

Jordan and Michelle Fast
Bridge Director

Jordan and Michelle met in 2004 while volunteering at The Bridge drop-in and married in 2009. Michelle has been involved with ICYA since 2000 in various roles; including as a volunteer and as summer Camp Program Coordinator at Gem Lake Wilderness Camp. She currently works as a Social Worker in Winnipeg for Child and Family Services.

Jordan was the Camp Program Director at Gem Lake Wilderness Camp for three years. He is currently works with The Bridge team and focuses on connecting with young adults and their young families in the community.

Lori and Dan Neufeld
Teen's Outreach Coordinator

Lori started at ICYA as a Drop-In volunteer in 2002 and has since joined the staff team as the Drop-In Coordinator.

She plans weekly events and Bible studies appropriate to teens and is active in empowering volunteers with time and space to build relationships with the youth.

Dorian and Amy Funk
Children's Outreach Coordinator

Dorian came to ICYA after working for years in construction and landscaping in Winnipeg.  In 2003, Dorian volunteered at ICYA as well as other great Winnipeg organizations and fell in love with the inner city. God had showed him his purpose is with missions and he went on to study at Bethany College in Saskatchewan where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Intercultural Studies.

Dorian and Amy met in New Orleans, United States in 2008 while serving with Mennonite Disaster Service, building houses after Hurricane Katrina had devastated the city. Both have a passion for service, the outdoors and God's word.

Kevin Nyquest
Bridge Program Assistant

Kevin graduated from St. John's High School with honours in June 2004. In his spare time he loved coming to ICYA to hang out with staff and volunteer at Tuesday night Teen drop-in.

He also spent three summers as a volunteer or staff at Gem Lake Wilderness Camp. Kevin always dreamt of working at ICYA. We are blessed that his dream has come true. As of March 2011 he is working with us as our Program Assistant.

Gord & Beckie Klassen, Rachel, Josh & Naomi
Camp Director

In May 2009 Gord joined ICYA as the Wilderness Camp Director after working for 10 years at Patzer Office Equipment where he was the General Manager. Previous to beginning this fulltime position with ICYA, Gord, together with his family, spent several weeks each summer volunteering as the host family at the Gem Lake camp. Gord has also enjoyed volunteering with the Inner City Motorsport program since 2007.

Gord and Beckie spent almost 10 years with the Africa Inter Mennonite Mission working as dorm parents to missionary kids in a remote village in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Matthew Macloskie
Camp Program Coordinator

Matthew has joined our staff team as Camp Program Coordinator in Spring 2011. He has been volunteering at Thursday night drop-in's for over three years and has spent the last two summers working full-time at Gem Lake Wilderness Camp. He joins us after graduating from Steinbach Bible College with a B.A. in Youth Ministry.

Andrew, Theresa and Will Plett
Inner City Motorsport and Work Skills Director

Andrew began working as the Work Skills Director as well as leading the Inner City Motorsport program in the summer of 2011. After spending several years as a cabinet maker and shop foreman, he has now focused his life on serving the youth of Winnipeg's North End. Andrew brings an interest in the automotive trade and shop skills, along with a strong desire to show youth how to live out a Christian faith on a daily basis. He has studied at Canadian Mennonite University, and holds a Bachelor of Church Ministries degree, majoring in Youth Ministry.

Andrew and Theresa met while working at camp, attended CMU together, and have loved working together since. When not on maternity leave, Theresa works at McIvor Ave. MB Church.

Nolan & Johanna Giesbrecht
Work Skills Coordinator

Nolan started with ICYA in the spring of 2009 after leaving Briercrest College with a degree in youth ministry. Nolan brings a great sense of humor and a compassion to help bring future hope to young men through a sense of purpose. Nolan, along with Herb Wiebe, took a role of Work Skills Coordinator.

"While working with these young men, we also have a great chance to show the love of Christ through our everyday actions and words."

Harvey and Rhonda Rempel, Jesse & Brooklyn
Community Minister

Harvey Rempel joined our staff in 2006 after returning to Winnipeg from Fresno, CA where he was working on an M.A. in Intercultural Mission. His role at ICYA involves two main areas of focus: 1) Serving as a community minister by nurturing relationships with young adults and their families, walking along side them and sharing Christ as they struggle to transition into a new season of their lives. 2) Building bridges and fostering mutual relationships between the larger church community and the inner city. "My hope is that both the suburban church and the urban poor will meet, recognize Christ in each other, and be forever transformed by the experience."

Harvey first met Rhonda while she was helping run Youth For Christ's drop in for at-risk teens in Elmwood and together they are now learning what it means to raise their family in the inner city of Winnipeg's North End.

Andrew & Amie Reimer, Hannah, Olivia, Miriam
Community Minister

Before joining the ICYA staff team in 2009, Andrew served for eight years as a church planter and pastor of North End Community Church. Andrew and his wife Amie have lived in the North End since 2001 and enjoy building friendships with their neighbours. They are still learning how to be an incarnational presence, communicating Jesus with their lives in the neighbourhood. Now, as a community minister, Andrew is building on the experience and friendships he's gained to continue providing relationship-based support and spiritual care with youth, adults and families in the community. Andrew's work also includes speaking and writing to help people in the wider church engage with inner city issues and God's heart for 'the least of these.'

Andrew has a Bachelor of Religious Studies from Steinbach Bible College and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Winnipeg. Andrew enjoys friends, coffee, music (from Robert Johnson to Radiohead), the outdoors, books (from Dave Barry to Wendell Berry), and spending time with Amie and their three daughters.

Jordan & Allison Penner
Community Minister

Jordan began working at ICYA in the spring of 2011. Prior to joining the staff team he organized and ran mid-week clubs for youth ages 5 -16 in the William Whyte and Lord Selkirk Park areas of the North End. In the winter of 2009 Jordan and his wife Allison moved into the community where they have enjoyed making many new friends, especially with the neighbourhood kids.

Jordan's role at ICYA is running the mid-week clubs while he continues to build on the relationships he has made and seeks to establish  new ones with the families in the area. Through these relationships he hopes to provide mentorship, support and comfort in times of crises. He also networks with other ministries and community initiatives in the William Whyte and Lord Selkirk Park areas in order to connect youth with the opportunities available to them. Together with Harvey and Andrew, Jordan is involved in  a regular Bible study with incarcerated youth in Winnipeg.

Jordan has a Bachelor of Arts from Providence College with a major in Church Ministry and a minor in Music. In his free time he enjoys renovating his house and playing guitar.

George and Patti Nickel, Joshua, and Caitlyn
Facilities Manager

George joined ICYA full time in September 2008 as our Facilities Manager after 15 years of working for Home Hardware in Morris. He enjoys the hands on maintenance portion of his job as well as the opportunity to interact with and encourage inner city kids.

His wife Patti is an Educational Assistant at Morris School in Morris where they live. Together, they plan to serve the Lord wherever he leads and offer hope through Christ to those they encounter.