If not for the Grace of God, there would be no today and no tomorrow, as yesterday would have erased these two simple possibilities.e to edit.
David Wayne Lewry was born in Portland, Oregon U.S.A. in 1974. His mother and father are living happily together; he has two brothers, one older and one younger.
David spent most of his young life moving around Canada and the United States with his family while his father started up different churches. They settled for the longest period of time in a community in the Los Angeles basin of California, where David attended Junior and Senior high school.
During David's senior year of high school, he was expelled and deported to Canada where his family was residing.
While living outside of the U.S. several warrants for his arrest were issued. Not wanting to spend his life running, he returned to California in order to clear up the charges.
Once back in the United States, David was given a two year conditional sentence and ordered to live with his parents in Calgary, Alberta Canada, to finish high school and find employment.
The judge concluded David's order after serving one year at which time he was able to return to the U.S. and join the American Army where he went through basic training only to have his knee blow out; causing him to be honorably discharged on a medical.
After coasting for some time, he moved back to Calgary to be near his family and attended college; where he earned his Diploma in Social Work and entered into the field working with homeless families in a shelter.
Although he spent a large portion of his life drinking, using illegal drugs, and hustling in secrecy, he sobered up in August of 2004.
When he began publishing his novels he was able to spend almost a year off from work, as he was sponsored to write and publish more of his work.
Although he has an incredible passion for writing and poetry, there is an even deeper desire to work with people facing multiple social, psycho-social, emotional, and physical barriers within a society that still attaches certain and sometimes debilitating stigmas and prejudice to our fellow human beings when they are suffering.
Thank you for visiting his site; to purchase his books please follow the link on this page.
30 percent of all book sales go directly to a recovery program for individuals and families trying to recover from drug addiction, gambling addiction and alcoholism.
David spent most of his young life moving around Canada and the United States with his family while his father started up different churches. They settled for the longest period of time in a community in the Los Angeles basin of California, where David attended Junior and Senior high school.
During David's senior year of high school, he was expelled and deported to Canada where his family was residing.
While living outside of the U.S. several warrants for his arrest were issued. Not wanting to spend his life running, he returned to California in order to clear up the charges.
Once back in the United States, David was given a two year conditional sentence and ordered to live with his parents in Calgary, Alberta Canada, to finish high school and find employment.
The judge concluded David's order after serving one year at which time he was able to return to the U.S. and join the American Army where he went through basic training only to have his knee blow out; causing him to be honorably discharged on a medical.
After coasting for some time, he moved back to Calgary to be near his family and attended college; where he earned his Diploma in Social Work and entered into the field working with homeless families in a shelter.
Although he spent a large portion of his life drinking, using illegal drugs, and hustling in secrecy, he sobered up in August of 2004.
When he began publishing his novels he was able to spend almost a year off from work, as he was sponsored to write and publish more of his work.
Although he has an incredible passion for writing and poetry, there is an even deeper desire to work with people facing multiple social, psycho-social, emotional, and physical barriers within a society that still attaches certain and sometimes debilitating stigmas and prejudice to our fellow human beings when they are suffering.
Thank you for visiting his site; to purchase his books please follow the link on this page.
30 percent of all book sales go directly to a recovery program for individuals and families trying to recover from drug addiction, gambling addiction and alcoholism.
David Lewry
Social Worker ~ Group Facilitator ~ Addictions Counselling ~ Coaching
A visionary and community-driven Consultant & Leadership Professional with over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector with the ability to share and translate ideas to others, engage in team-related activities and lead with influence. Maintains strong relationship building and interpersonal skills, dedicated to community outreach, approaches situations with an adaptive view, A leader who appreciates on-going education in its various forms[ek1] , as it relates to the development of staff, clients and community members. Confident and passionate in fostering working environments that encourage collaboration and optimization of team performance, individual support and each person’s unique personal stories.
Areas of Expertise include:
Experience & Notable Contributions
Client, Group and community motivation
Program design
Planned and conducted workshops for a diverse audience that provided participants with opportunities to observe, question, and further investigate their own capacity building opportunities.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Work History:
Central United Church - Social worker pastoral care - Calgary, AB 2011 - Present
Developed and facilitate group counselling program to groups of 8-16 people and provide one-on-one and group counselling. Organize sermons and officiate funeral services. Liaise with twelve step groups in order to provide space for multiple groups to hold meetings.
Fresh Start Recovery - Addictions Counselor - Calgary, AB 2010 - 2011
Facilitated 8-9 week group treatment process (15-25 clients per/week). Developed personal treatment plans and provided one-on-one counselling and follow up and relapse prevention plans. Provided referral for external resources and supports (housing, financial assistance, educational opportunities, employment supports). Managed crisis (drug screening, coordination with Calgary Police service and Crown Prosecutors). Liaised with Calgary drug treatment court and Corrections services Canada including weekly reporting and case conferences.
City of Calgary - Protective Services Officer – Special Constable - Calgary, AB 2005 – 2007
Enforcement of Calgary Transit bylaws, municipal and provincial bylaws and Criminal Code of Canada offences committed on or in relation to Transit Property. Generated operations based on team and personal goals directly related to crime statistics for the region, i.e. stolen auto details, behavioural bylaw offences in high drug traffic areas. Check-up slips and intelligence for high risk and repeat offenders. Completed arrest reports, file charges, processed arrest warrants, property, evidence, and secure safe placement. Developed strategies for positive communication with the public and provided transport for individuals living in active addiction.
Inn from the Cold Society - Director of Operations – Calgary, AB 1999 – 2010
Responsible for payroll, scheduling and supervision for 30 + employees to ensure coverage for 24 hour per day, 7 day per week operation. Hired and trained new employees. Assisted staff with goal setting, and career direction. Coordination of operations for family shelter, which included external church placement, transportation to and from, intake and assessment of client suitability. Developed and facilitated training orientation for all new employees. Organized external and internal training. Developed procedures, guidelines, requirements for operation of winter response shelter.
Outreach Worker – Case Manager Negotiate, mediate and supervise families while on supervision orders between Child Welfare. Negotiate, mediate and supervise landlord/tenant issues with client families and their landlords. Developed and maintained liaison/relationships with Child Welfare, Calgary Police Service, Calgary Housing Company and other agencies as required. Assisted in the daily operation of the Family Shelter Program; intake, client suitability assessments, and church placements. Developed and maintained relationships with families once they relocated into private housing in the community. Crisis intervention. Daily, weekly or bi-weekly visits with families in the community as required.
Program Manager
Developed policies and procedures manual for overnight shelter service and screening protocols. Developed and implemented programs with partnering agencies in order to expand services. Identified areas of need and obtained funding from all levels of government and private sector. Submitted funding proposals to the Inn from the Cold Society’s Board of Directors. Presentations to the board of directors. Represented agency at level of media, community speaking and information sharing events. Provided front line service delivery conducting intake and assessment procedures.
Education
Social Work Diploma
Faculty of Social Work
Mount Royal University | Calgary, AB | 1997
Social Worker ~ Group Facilitator ~ Addictions Counselling ~ Coaching
A visionary and community-driven Consultant & Leadership Professional with over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector with the ability to share and translate ideas to others, engage in team-related activities and lead with influence. Maintains strong relationship building and interpersonal skills, dedicated to community outreach, approaches situations with an adaptive view, A leader who appreciates on-going education in its various forms[ek1] , as it relates to the development of staff, clients and community members. Confident and passionate in fostering working environments that encourage collaboration and optimization of team performance, individual support and each person’s unique personal stories.
Areas of Expertise include:
- Personal Development.
- Lifestyle Strategies
- Workshops & Lectures
- One-on-one counselling
- Addictions Counselling
- Volunteer Management
- Community Development
- Staff Training & Leadership
- Conflict Resolution
Experience & Notable Contributions
Client, Group and community motivation
- Developed unique and personalized materials to motivate clients to understand and explore occupational and post-secondary choices in Alberta, working with clients from diverse, challenging situations and backgrounds to ensure that appropriate support[ek2] and resources were in place for the clients and their families.
- Effectively worked with parents, students, at-risk populations, board members and staff, and the public to help them explore educational opportunities including occupational/post-secondary options in Alberta, while influentially leading teams during a period of pronounced challenges to the organization.
- Collaborated with Motivational Team to prepare the organization for future opportunities and risks. Facilitated key liaisons with specific business associations including creating awareness of the services and programs within their membership.
Program design
Planned and conducted workshops for a diverse audience that provided participants with opportunities to observe, question, and further investigate their own capacity building opportunities.
- Created training manuals and resources for new staff, clients and volunteers, delivering presentations and training workshops with wrap around services to educate those involved and leveled the “thinking tank” to collectively set goals and plan development strategies.
- Worked with senior leadership team to develop strategy and set goals, while assigning and assessing management controls.
- Screened, interviewed, hired and supervised new staff and volunteers for various positions, grooming them to develop the traits required to carry out duties and achieve successful result in activities, exercises and programs.
- Created, monitored and evaluated monthly outcomes for staff and programs, ensuring service timelines and standards were met and the objectives of the project were accomplished.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
- Coached and motivated staff, volunteers and clients to perform at their best by collaborating to set and achieve challenging goals for themselves, enhancing Personal Development and Growth for individuals and groups, while guiding them through transitions out of bad habits and the formation of good habits, as they work towards achieving their personal goals.
- Researched and present recommendations for building and sustaining healthy partnerships within the non-for-profit sector and implemented these findings into the development of personal goals and lifestyle strategies.
Work History:
Central United Church - Social worker pastoral care - Calgary, AB 2011 - Present
Developed and facilitate group counselling program to groups of 8-16 people and provide one-on-one and group counselling. Organize sermons and officiate funeral services. Liaise with twelve step groups in order to provide space for multiple groups to hold meetings.
Fresh Start Recovery - Addictions Counselor - Calgary, AB 2010 - 2011
Facilitated 8-9 week group treatment process (15-25 clients per/week). Developed personal treatment plans and provided one-on-one counselling and follow up and relapse prevention plans. Provided referral for external resources and supports (housing, financial assistance, educational opportunities, employment supports). Managed crisis (drug screening, coordination with Calgary Police service and Crown Prosecutors). Liaised with Calgary drug treatment court and Corrections services Canada including weekly reporting and case conferences.
City of Calgary - Protective Services Officer – Special Constable - Calgary, AB 2005 – 2007
Enforcement of Calgary Transit bylaws, municipal and provincial bylaws and Criminal Code of Canada offences committed on or in relation to Transit Property. Generated operations based on team and personal goals directly related to crime statistics for the region, i.e. stolen auto details, behavioural bylaw offences in high drug traffic areas. Check-up slips and intelligence for high risk and repeat offenders. Completed arrest reports, file charges, processed arrest warrants, property, evidence, and secure safe placement. Developed strategies for positive communication with the public and provided transport for individuals living in active addiction.
Inn from the Cold Society - Director of Operations – Calgary, AB 1999 – 2010
Responsible for payroll, scheduling and supervision for 30 + employees to ensure coverage for 24 hour per day, 7 day per week operation. Hired and trained new employees. Assisted staff with goal setting, and career direction. Coordination of operations for family shelter, which included external church placement, transportation to and from, intake and assessment of client suitability. Developed and facilitated training orientation for all new employees. Organized external and internal training. Developed procedures, guidelines, requirements for operation of winter response shelter.
Outreach Worker – Case Manager Negotiate, mediate and supervise families while on supervision orders between Child Welfare. Negotiate, mediate and supervise landlord/tenant issues with client families and their landlords. Developed and maintained liaison/relationships with Child Welfare, Calgary Police Service, Calgary Housing Company and other agencies as required. Assisted in the daily operation of the Family Shelter Program; intake, client suitability assessments, and church placements. Developed and maintained relationships with families once they relocated into private housing in the community. Crisis intervention. Daily, weekly or bi-weekly visits with families in the community as required.
Program Manager
Developed policies and procedures manual for overnight shelter service and screening protocols. Developed and implemented programs with partnering agencies in order to expand services. Identified areas of need and obtained funding from all levels of government and private sector. Submitted funding proposals to the Inn from the Cold Society’s Board of Directors. Presentations to the board of directors. Represented agency at level of media, community speaking and information sharing events. Provided front line service delivery conducting intake and assessment procedures.
Education
Social Work Diploma
Faculty of Social Work
Mount Royal University | Calgary, AB | 1997