S4 E02: Mentorship, Mental Health, and Making a Difference: Inside Shoot Basketballs NOT People
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
Release Date: 06/25/2024
S5 E08: Beyond the Scoreboard: Teaching Values Through Youth Sports
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
In this episode of the Youth Power Podcast, we speak with Geno Abney, founder of AYG Athletics, about his work with youth in Texas. Geno discusses his background and how his experiences led him to create a program that uses basketball to teach values like discipline, teamwork, and leadership. He explains the structure of AYG Athletics, including how often participants meet and the range of activities offered. Geno also shares insights into the challenges and successes of running a youth-focused organization and offers advice for others looking to make a positive impact in their communities.
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S5: E07 Let Them Drive: Trusting Youth to Lead with Adam F.C. Fletcher
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
In this episode of the Youth Power Podcast, host Kirk Berry is joined by Adam F.C. Fletcher—speaker, consultant, and author of Steps to Youth Leadership in Modern Times. Together, they explore what it means to truly empower the adults who work with youth and why stepping back is sometimes the most powerful way to help young people step forward. Adam shares his personal journey from a young theater mentor in North Omaha to a global advocate for youth voice, engagement, and leadership. He introduces his “three-legged stool” model—personal, cultural, and structural...
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S5: E06 Polishing Pebbles: Empowering Girls for Leadership and Success
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
Kelly Fair, Founder and Executive Director of Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program, joins the program to discuss her organization's mission to help girls become effective communicators at home, school, and in the workplace. She shares the origins of Polished Pebbles, which began with monthly Saturday sessions and has grown to serve over 50 communities in schools each year. The conversation explores their four core programs, including the Every Girl's A CEO initiative that provides career readiness skills and paid work experience, the Pink Hard Hats program introducing girls to careers in...
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S5: E05: Life Skills & Tail Wags: How the BOLO Project Transforms Teen Futures
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
In this episode, we welcome Gila Kurtz, co-founder of The BOLO Project, who shares how her innovative dog-centric program helps teens develop emotional resilience, positive mindsets, and essential life skills through the transformative power of the dog-human bond. Gila shares remarkable success stories of teens who have overcome anxiety, depression, and communication barriers while gaining clarity about their futures. The episode reveals how The BOLO Project is helping teens overcome modern challenges and prepare for a successful future through this unique approach that leverages the...
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S5 E04: You Can Mentor: How One Man's Journey Is Changing Youth Across America
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
In this episode of the Youth Power Podcast, we welcome Zach Garza, Founder and Executive Director of You Can Mentor. Drawing from his personal experience growing up without a father figure, Zach shares how mentors transformed his life, inspiring him to start his organization after discovering that 45 of his 65 student athletes lacked father figures at home. He discusses his journey from founding the Forerunner Mentoring Program to establishing You Can Mentor, emphasizing identity-based mentoring over "fixing" youth and the importance of consistent presence. Zach's core philosophy combines...
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S5 E03: Making Science Fun: How Nafees Norris is Transforming Youth STEM Education
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
This episode features a conversation with Nafees Norris, a biopharmaceutical process engineer who is making science fun and accessible for kids in Philadelphia. Nafees shares how he went from being the only Black man in most professional science settings to creating an interactive lab where children can experience hands-on learning beyond traditional classroom experiments. Rather than making volcanoes and slime, his students work with industry-grade equipment and safe materials to tackle real scientific challenges through engaging competitions. Nafees opens up about initially feeling...
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S5 E02: When Passion Meets Purpose: Building Youth Programs from Scratch
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
Tune in for a conversation with Christina DeJesus, founder of Part of the Change, an organization that uses art to empower and heal young people. Christina shares her journey from working in finance to discovering her passion for community service, particularly through art therapy and mentorship. She discusses her work in juvenile detention centers, where she conducts weekly art sessions with young girls, and her experience teaching both boys and girls at various youth camps. Christina offers valuable insights about starting a community-focused business without traditional prerequisites like...
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S5 E01: More Than Mentorship: STRIVE Initiative's Creative Approach to Youth Empowerment
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
Join us as we sit down with David Charles, Co-founder and Executive Director of The STRIVE Initiative, a transformative youth development organization in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. From its grassroots beginnings addressing community vandalism to becoming a comprehensive youth empowerment program, STRIVE (Strengthening Tomorrow Requires Initiative and Vision Every Day) has evolved into a unique model that combines in-school mentoring, multimedia career training, and paid community opportunities for young people. Charles shares how the organization's partnership with the Pottstown School District...
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S4 E07: The Magic of Connection: An Innovative Approach to Youth Work
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
In this episode, we are joined by K-Rahn Vallatine, founder of Inner Sun Consulting, about changes in youth development. K-Rahn shares his path from working with incarcerated youth to training professionals across the nation. He explains his trauma-informed success mindset model and methods for connecting with young people through consistent engagement and cultural understanding. This episode presents tools for youth workers, educators, and service providers. For more information,. visit:
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S4 E06: Making Philly Kids Fly: Building Youth Power Through Circus Arts
Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Alyssa Bigby, founder and director of Rebel Arts Movement, who is revolutionizing youth empowerment in Philadelphia through the transformative power of circus arts. In this episode, we explore how a unique blend of dance, tumbling, and aerial arts is creating pathways to success for underserved youth in Kensington. Discover how Rebel Arts breaks down financial and accessibility barriers to make circus arts available to all, regardless of background or ability. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in youth empowerment, arts...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Youth Power Podcast, we are joined by Gary Mills, founder of Shoot Basketballs NOT People, a Philadelphia-based organization dedicated to preventing violence and promoting positive change through basketball and mentorship. Gary discusses his background, the inspiration behind starting the program, and the various ways they engage with youth, including affordable basketball training, education workshops, leadership development, and mental health support. He also shares a success story of a young man who has excelled both on and off the court since joining the program. Throughout the conversation, Gary emphasizes the importance of being creative, taking actionable steps, and persevering in the non-profit space to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people.