The Passionate Youth Worker

July 17, 2023 Season 4 Episode 4 Minnesota, United States: Soua Thao shares their ongoing journey of fully stepping into their queer and Asian identities. The challenges they face and lessons they're learning along the way all inform how they shows up for the young people they serve. They have embraced the opportunity at QUEERSPACE collective to be their full self in their job. And you’ll hea...

July 5, 2023 Season 4 Episode 3 Minnesota, United States: Angie Erickson, as you’ll hear, is accomplished yet humble like so many youth workers. She has an optimistic outlook and is especially intentional about using self-reflection as a kind of compass to keep her on track for moving forward with what she sets out to do. What gives her hope is seeing how young people are changing the world.    Ac...

June 19, 2023 Season 4 Episode 2 Khomas Region, Namibia: Ndiilokelwa Nthengwe is an artist at heart and her story reflects the creative ways she brings both her art and her heart so fully into all that she does as an advocate and activist for LGBTQIA+ folks and young people. She has accomplished much in a short time but as you’ll hear, she’s still stretching to do more to help young people become...

June 5, 2023 Season 4 Episode 1 California, United States: Brad Fulton never sought to be a teacher or to work with young people. But he came to believe God created him for this purpose. And when he stopped struggling against that, he really found a passion for making a difference. His story is an honest take on the ups and downs that led him value being connected to his purpose by creating positi...

May 22, 2023 Season 3 Episode 26 Minnesota, United States: Marquise Bowie took a difficult path through his young years into adulthood. Involvement with drugs, gangs, guns, and trauma led to a 12-year prison term. But that’s when his transformation happened. He says he’s got a masters in disasters and he uses his life lessons now to transform street energy into community energy with young people....

May 8, 2023 Season 3 Episode 25 Minnesota, United States: Peter Wieczorek has drawn on his life experience to shape his own ideal career serving young people. Now he can’t imagine doing anything else. His optimism for and about young people inspires him as much as it does them. He always finds something to smile about and his story may make you smile too.  Accessibility Options: Watch the unedited...

April 24, 2023 Season 3 Episode 24 Minnesota, United States: Jade Schleif is YIPA’s training coordinator. She honed her ability to build trusting relationships as a youth worker and brings that same ability to her work for youth workers now. Her impact is literally global! And her care, compassion, and curiosity are endless. She shares her struggles with anxiety and depression as openly as she sha...

April 10, 2023 Season 3 Episode 23  New York, United States: Jeff Dwyer has always charted his own course. He knows that comes with both the good and the bad, but it makes him who he is. And he doesn’t regret his experiences. He’s got an inner strength and drive that he relies on. But as you’ll hear, he’s a softy at heart when it comes to working with young people!   Accessibility Options: Watch t...

March 27, 2023 Season 3 Episode 22 Pennsylvania, United States: A.J.Rinaldi embodies a determination to pursue being the best that he can be for young people and helping others do the same. He is a motivational speaker, leadership coach, and youth development consultant whose stories will enlighten, inform, and inspire you. His wholehearted devotion to service shines through his words. If you’d li...

March 13, 2023 Season 3 Episode 21 London, England: Vanessa Rogers brings her whole self to her work for young people with a unique combination of self-awareness, humility, and honesty. She has had her own challenges and learned to use them to better hear and understand the young people she works with. She’s always looking for creative ways to connect and inspire growth.  Accessibility Options: Wa...

February 27, 2023 Season 3 Episode 20 California, United States: Jack Witt has an innate passion for people development. He intensely understands the need for self-awareness in service to others. His story is a thoughtful exploration of the dynamics of our relationships with young people and with ourselves. Accessibility Options: Watch the unedited video interview with subtitles or read the edited...

February 13, 2023 Season 3 Episode 19 Southern District of Malawi: Catherine Kita was just 13 years old when she took on inequity for girls in Malawi. Her experience with the normal but difficult stage of getting her period sparked a fire in her to speak out in spite of cultural norms and taboos. She started a movement to address period poverty and challenged her government to make changes. Her vi...

January 30, 2023 Season 3 Episode 18 Eastern Region of Uganda: Abubaker Sekatuka views the experiences of his life as stories that have helped him become who he is. Though some of his childhood experiences were tough, and he’s had his share of challenges and pain, he somehow finds the positive. Telling his stories is a strength born of struggle. It takes courage to be honest and transparent but he...

January 17, 2023 Season 3 Episode 17 Minnesota, United States: Francis Yengistic seems to see the good in everything. Though his own circumstances growing up were difficult, the guidance and support of his beloved grandmother made it possible to view life full of hope and optimism. He’s dedicated his life to service. He shares his story and lessons from his grandmother, to help young people and yo...

St Catherine, Jamaica: Clayton Bolton did not have access to many resources or opportunities growing up as a child in Jamaica. But what he did have was an innate drive and resourcefulness to do better for himself and his family. It has helped him excel and now he shares those lessons to help other young people. Accessibility Options: Watch the unedited video interview with subtitles or read the ed...

December 19, 2022 Season 3 Episode 15 Minnesota, United States: Joanne Rice is YIPA’s member satisfaction specialist. She has dedicated her entire professional life to service and brings a wealth of experience to share with us. Joanne is known as the calm in a storm and she just loves helping others find positives to focus on. Her success centers on listening to others with curiosity and following...

December 5, 2022 Season 3 Episode 14 Kampala, Uganda: Angel Pearl Talemwa grew up in a small village in Africa. Poverty, lack of opportunities, limited access to education all thrived there. She endured abuse from her father. Her mother died when she was just ten years old. But her indomitable spirit drove her to go beyond every barrier. She held firm to her belief in herself and pursued her visio...

November 22, 2022 Season 3 Episode 13 New Mexico, United States: Megan Cederberg is fiercely determined to be fully authentic in everything she does. And she does so many things! Her creative, entrepreneurial side drives her to explore ways to engage young people and inspire them through her own lived experience. Megan always shows up and always shares the power of giving back. Accessibility Optio...

November 8, 2022 Season 3 Episode 12 Tennessee, United States: Travis Claybrooks approaches service with an uncommon perspective of discernment and deeply rooted faith. His life’s work focuses on addressing harm and trauma. He reminds us to follow the throb in our chest about making a difference in the world. Accessibility Options: Watch the unedited video interview with subtitles or read the edit...

October 24, 2022 Season 3 Episode 11 New Mexico, United States: Selena Bejarano has followed her faith to take on big challenges and not let fear stop her. As she says, you do it scared. And that has worked out okay but more importantly, showed her so many ways to grow in the process. She’s a true servant leader, committed to helping others even in the most difficult circumstances. Through all the...

October 10, 2022 Season 3 Episode 10 Minnesota, United States: Nallely Castro Montoya learned early on to do what you can to support others. But doing so also taught her an invaluable lesson about being more empathetic toward herself. It is a guiding principle that shapes who she is and how she works with young people. And it’s a call to action for every youth worker’s self-care. Accessibility Opt...

September 26, 2022 Season 3 Episode 9 Minnesota, United States: Barbara Van Deinse never envisioned youth work as a career option. But when her corporate career started to feel less fulfilling, she knew she wanted to make a bigger contribution and work to foster change in the world. Then YIPA’s job opening grabbed her heart and she joined this community of people all working together for positive...

Central Region, Uganda: Florence Bugembe grew up with 13 siblings and didn’t always have a stable family life, food on the table, or real opportunity. But to her, every challenge was an opportunity. Her own experience is a lesson she shares to help others in their struggles. Just because you’re going through a tough time, don’t let it stop you from becoming who you want to be. Accessibility Option...

Michigan, United States: Ta’Shena Sams is humble and selfless in her service to young people. She’s been involved in youth programming almost her whole life, both as a participant and a practitioner. She honors her Native teachings and culture by always wanting the best for everyone. Nothing makes her happier than seeing young people succeed.  Accessibility Options: Watch the unedited video interv...

August 15, 2022 Season 3 Episode 6 Minnesota, United States: Felix Martinez-Paz used the difficulties and challenges of his upbringing as a way to understand himself better. With that understanding, he developed a clear vision of his values. He chose to break away from old stereotypes and now shares what he’s learned to help other young men.  Accessibility Options: Watch the unedited video intervi...