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.

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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.

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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
232: IPC: Introduction // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:36
“IPC”-IPC is a tool to help us understand our mentee (and ourselves)-Identity, Purpose, and Community are three things we are presented with about King David in 2 Samuel 8. -Identity: 2 Samuel tells us David was a mighty…
231. What Does a Christian Look Like? // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:43
This Mentoring Minute deals with a really good question you can ask your mentee to start some high-quality conversation. Back in youth group, we would trace out somebody’s silhouette on a piece of butcher paper and have…
230. What is Mentoring? What is a Mentor? // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:19
All of us are here today because of our relationship with “that person”. You know, the one who made a profound impact on your life. For me, a few men made me who I am today. It was a man named Bob who invested into me wh…
229. Words Matter // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:44
We’ve all done it. We have said something like “Wow, Brian is the best. He is such a good kid.” You may think there’s not a thing wrong with that statement. But what about this one, “Geez. Brian is the worst. He is such…
228. The Rule of Three // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:58
Safety is the name of the game when it comes to mentoring. You always want to have safety on the mind when you are hanging out with your mentee. First priority is always to keep the child safe, but another aspect of safe…
227. Are You Sure? // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:43
In my line of work, I hear these three little words all the time. They come after I give something to someone usually or offer to help someone do something. My nonproof is based on Jesus’s words to his disciples: “Freely…
226. First "You", Then "Them" // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:47
I hate to fly. I hate everything about it. Getting up 72 hours before your flight so you can drive to a crowded airport with terrible parking. I hate the 19 lines you wait in to do all the things. Take your shoes off. Pu…
225. Find Your Tribe // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:39
If you’ve ever hiked up a mountain, it is no easy endeavor. There are easy parts and there are hard parts. Storms can pop up from time to time. Times of fun and times where you are challenged. But if you stick it out, th…
224. Giving Gifts // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:50
Giving GiftsGiving gifts or purchasing things for your mentee is one of the more complicated topics you will face as a mentor. You want to be able to show your care and affection for your mentee through giving gifts, but…
223. Mentoring is Baseball // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:34
Mentoring is BaseballDid you know that the average of every baseball player in the hall of fame is a combined .303. That means if you hit the ball 303 out of 1,000 times, you are considered one of the greatest baseball p…