The Voices of Men is more than an organization. It is the continuation of a dream my brother Kaleb and I shared, a dream rooted in our relationship, our passion for psychology, our love for our community, and our belief that men deserve a safe place to be heard.

Kaleb and I were more than brothers—we were each other’s therapists. We could talk about life, pressure, pain, purpose, mental health, and the things people sometimes struggle to say out loud. When we both chose to study psychology, those conversations grew into a shared vision. We dreamed of one day creating a mental health center within the community where people, especially young Black men, could receive support, mentorship, guidance, and a place where they felt safe enough to simply speak.

Kaleb lived that purpose.

He became a strong advocate for mental health and a pillar within his community. He worked in the psychiatric ward at Loyola University Medical Center and later became a residential director and mentor at his late father, Dr. Dennis Deer’s, Christian Legal Center in Chicago’s Lawndale community. His life demonstrated the importance of showing up for others, listening to people who may feel unheard, and helping them recognize that their circumstances do not have to determine their future.

One thing Kaleb was always known for saying was, “God is good.” Those words remain a part of the spirit behind this organization. Even through life’s greatest trials, we believe there is still purpose, hope, and an opportunity to impact someone else’s life.

The Voices of Men is dedicated to Kaleb and the vision we shared. Although we did not get the opportunity to build that center together physically, this organization is the beginning of bringing that dream to life.

Every young man we mentor, every conversation about mental health we help normalize, every person encouraged to seek help, and every life touched through this organization allows a piece of Kaleb’s purpose to continue.

His voice mattered.

His work mattered.

His life mattered.

And through The Voices of Men, his legacy will continue to speak.

God is good. Always.