Kenton Kirby holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University and brings over 20 years of experience to the field. He has held various roles in child welfare and served as a Forensic Social Worker within the New York State court system. Kenton has taught at both the graduate and undergraduate levels in New York City, and has extensive experience providing individual and group therapy to individuals with complex mental health needs, including those in sex offender treatment, childhood sexual abuse recovery, parenting support, and substance use programs.
Currently, Kenton serves as the Director of Practice at the Center for Justice Innovation, where he leads the development and implementation of direct practice strategies across one of New York City’s largest agencies. He is also a founding member of the nationally recognized Make It Happen program, which supports young men of color impacted by violence through mentoring, clinical interventions, and trauma-informed programming. Kenton’s contributions have been recognized through numerous awards, including the 2016 Emerging Leader Award from NASW-NYC, the 2017 Community Impact Award from the Urban Justice Center, and the 2019 Advocates Award from the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Gender-Based Violence. He actively serves on several boards and recently held the role of Board Secretary for NASW-NYC. Outside of his professional life, Kenton is a former college basketball player and an avid supporter of New York sports teams. He enjoys spending time with family and friends and taking walks along the Coney Island boardwalk.