Jakki Buckeridge (she/her) is the Manager for the Family Services Department at Indus Community Services. She has been with the organization for 25+ years and so often, Indus and Jakki are synonymous.

Indus Community Services provides a safe space for newcomers to receive responsive personalized counselling support and information regarding settlement, strengthening social networks and decreasing isolation with a 2SLGBTQ+ lens.

She has an academic background in anti-violence and political advocacy. Her 25+ years of experience in anti-violence and justice sectors as well as experience in strategic planning and program development with emphasis on inclusion makes her sought after!

Observing the gaps while working in the community prompted Jakki to conceptualize many of the Family Services programs to cover the gaps, including settlement support for 2SLGBTQ+ newcomers, and some wrap-around services such as:

• ACES (Advocacy, Counselling, Empowerment, Safety) program for Women,

• SAATH (Supporting South Asian Families) and

• MASSI ( Multicultural Access to Social Support Initiative)

• Family Court Support for survivors of Intimate partner violence navigating court

A recent feather to her cap is the Justice and Freedom Anti-Human Trafficking Program, a project to innovate best practices in human trafficking, focusing on labour exploitation with a wrap-around settlement lens. On successful development of tool-kits for the province, it is hoped this program may be replicated at the national level!