251. Positive Youth Development with Maggie Middleton of Amachi Lexington

251. Positive Youth Development with Maggie Middleton of Amachi Lexington

Author: Zach Garza & You Can Mentor: Faith-Based Mentoring for Churches, Non-Profits, Youth Ministers, and Teachers November 28, 2024 Duration: 52:02

In this episode, Zachary Garza sits down with Maggie Middleton, a passionate advocate for youth mentoring, to explore the life-changing power of guiding the next generation. Together, they dive into Maggie's personal journey in mentoring and discuss the transformative concept of Positive Youth Development (PYD), which focuses on building strengths rather than highlighting challenges.


Maggie shares her belief that every young person is a "child of promise" and that mentors have the unique ability to see and nurture that potential. With a deep connection to faith and the inherent worth of every individual, Maggie and Zachary explore how mentoring can shape young lives, creating pathways for growth, resilience, and success.


They also unpack key concepts that can empower mentors to make a lasting impact, including the Big Three in youth development, the Five C's of positive growth, and the 40 developmental assets that contribute to a young person's thriving future.

If you're a mentor, educator, or someone passionate about empowering youth, this conversation will remind you of the importance of focusing on the positive, fostering meaningful relationships, and encouraging young people to dream big. Join us for a conversation about grace, strength, and the extraordinary potential of our youth.

--
Maggie Middleton has worked for Amachi Lexington (an initiative of the Lexington Leadership Foundation), a one-on-one community-based mentoring program serving youth impacted by parental incarceration since 2010, where she is currently the program director. She also serves as a regional coach for the Leadership Foundations youth mentoring network, where she gets to encourage and serve several mentoring programs nationwide. She loves to advocate for the power of youth mentoring in communities and is passionate about connecting positive adults with the incredible young people in her program. In addition to directing Amachi, she has served as an Amachi mentor for several young women. Maggie has an M.A. In Christian Ministries from Asbury Theological Seminary and is working on her M.S. in Youth Development Leadership from Clemson University. In her tiny bit of spare time, she loves to travel, read, kayak, and participate in 5k's.

--

00:00: Introduction to Mentoring and Maggie's Journey

09:12: Understanding Positive Youth Development (PYD)

14:49: Empowering Young People Through Mentoring

24:21: The Connection Between PYD and Faith
28:06: The Power of Grace in Mentoring

30:24: Conversations Shape Growth

32:17: The Importance of Positive Messaging

34:27: The Big Three in Youth Development

42:18: Understanding the Five C's

48:11: Exploring the 40 Assets for Youth


Hosted by Zach Garza, You Can Mentor: A Christian Youth Mentoring Podcast is a conversation for anyone guiding young people within a faith context. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical resource built for the real challenges faced by youth ministers, church volunteers, teachers, and parents. Each episode focuses on the tangible aspects of building relationships that matter, offering grounded advice on how to listen, encourage, and walk alongside the next generation. The core of this podcast is a shared belief that effective mentoring flows from a foundation of loving God and loving others, aiming to make disciples right where you live. We delve into the questions you actually have, because your input directly shapes the discussions. Many episodes are crafted from real questions submitted by listeners, making the content immediately relevant to your own mentoring relationships. Whether you're navigating a difficult conversation, seeking creative ways to connect, or looking to sustain your own spiritual health while pouring into others, this space is designed to equip and encourage you. The goal is to see Christian mentors not just manage, but truly thrive in their vital roles. Tune in for honest stories, actionable strategies, and a sense of community, all aimed at helping you cultivate a more meaningful and impactful mentoring practice.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

You Can Mentor: A Christian Youth Mentoring Podcast
Podcast Episodes
241. Earning the Right to be Heard // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:38
Earn the Right to Be HeardYou may have heard the saying “a kid doesn’t care what you know until they know that you care.” It is one of my favorite sayings because I think it is 100% accurate. I have seen many mentors get…
240. With > For // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:26
With > ForI love youth ministry. I am the product of a healthy youth group from the 80’s and 90’s that loved me well and gave me the chance to realize my identity and purpose within a group of youth workers and teenagers…
239. Ending a Mentoring Relationship // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:03
Ending a Mentoring Relationship WellWhat do you do whenever major life circumstances pop up that get in the way of your mentoring relationship?Maybe your mentee goes off to college or moves to a new community?Perhaps you…
238. Kindness // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:30
KindnessKindness has that middle-child syndrome. Yes, it’s a fruit of the Spirit. But I think we have a funny relationship with the word. We know that we are to be kind. We know a few people who we would describe as kind…
237. Am I Qualified? // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:32
Am I Qualified?When people consider starting a mentoring relationship with a child, one question that seems to always pop up is “Am I qualified?” After all, investing into the life of a child is a big deal.But I think we…
236: Faithfulness Over Fruitfulness // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:37
Faithfulness over FruitfulnessEarly on in my mentoring journey, I thought mentoring was like a math equation. A + B = CIf I showed up + Gave them some wisdom = Growth in my menteeIf I’m being honest, in my naivite, I tho…
235: IPC: Community // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:16
-IPC is a tool to help us understand our mentee (and ourselves)Identity is WHO WE AREPurpose is WHAT WE DO Community is HOW WE BLESS AND ARE BLESSED BY OTHERSI want to paint a mental picture for you on the canvas of your…
234: IPC: Purpose // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:17
-IPC is a tool to help us understand our mentee (and ourselves)Identity is WHO WE AREPurpose is WHAT WE DO Community is HOW WE BLESS AND ARE BLESSED BY OTHERSKing David had a high sense and value for HIS OWN identity, pu…
233: IPC: Identity //Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:03
-IPC is a tool to help us understand our mentee (and ourselves)Identity is WHO WE AREPurpose is WHAT WE DO Community is HOW WE BLESS AND ARE BLESSED BY OTHERSKing David had a high sense and value for HIS OWN identity, pu…