Justine Moritz

Justine's Experience at Humber

Please tell us about your time at Humber College. What was the best part of it?

My experience at Humber College was the most impactful and fruitful out of my educational trajectory. The class sizes were smaller, the professors were incredibly knowledgeable and supportive, and the curriculum was balanced with theory and tangible, real world applications. I made lifelong friends in this program, and was given the most engaging opportunities. I had the opportunity to be a research assistant with the incredible Dr. Rai Reece looking at the efficacy of the Horticulture pre-apprenticeship program with incarcerated women at Vanier Detention Center, in partnership with the Elizabeth Fry Society. I also had the opportunity to have my student placement at The Toronto South Detention Center, running a program with incarcerated men through the John Howard Society. Before I came to Humber, I struggled with the idea of post-secondary. I had to re-do many of my high-school courses, and was sure academia was not for me. The nature of the program and the supportive faculty made me realize that this was in fact a path I wanted to pursue.

Please tell us about your experience since graduating.

Since graduating from Humber, I obtained by Bachelor of Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University with high honors and I’m currently completing my Master of Social Work at McMaster University. In November, I will be defending my thesis which examines the efficacy of partner assault response programs. My journey has not been linear. As a mature student, I was always searching for a path that made sense to me.

Since graduating, I have worked at several non-profits in front-line crisis response and case management roles, engaging with ‘victims’ and ‘perpetrators’ in various contexts and capacities. I started an arts-based program at the Toronto South Detention Center centered on trauma-informed healing activities, and fostering community mobilization within carceral spaces, and I have learned a great deal engaging with communities and initiatives in a volunteer capacity. Currently, I work at the Stitt Feld Handy Group (a branch of ADR Chambers) teaching/facilitating negotiation and mediation workshops to organizations across North America. A lot of my educational journey and experiences was spent looking at what I didn’t want. However, I was privileged enough to have been given many opportunities to find out what that was, and what that wasn’t. I can say with confidence that, had I not begun my educational journey at Humber, I would not be where I am today.

What do you find most satisfying about your career choice?

I have had many satisfying moments throughout my journey – and those moments have carried me through the dark ones, navigating the social work field, and my place in it. My current job as a mediation and negotiation facilitator and teacher is wonderful. I am thrilled that I have been able to take my social work strengths and align them to a role that satisfies me both personally and professionally. My current role expands and enhances people’s ways of thinking, acting, and doing, and gently makes people question their path-dependent ways of reacting and behaving.