The Mentors Care Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mentors Care
Join Dena Petty, founder and executive director of Mentors Care, a highly successful high school mentoring program. In each episode, journey inside the passion and impact of Mentors Care. This podcast is full of remarkable people with amazing stories told by its mentors, school administrators, public servants, business owners and even former students of the program. Be inspired to encourage action, hope, and a brighter future.
Dena Petty sits down with with Norma Belcher, founder of the Manna House in Midlothian, Texas. Norma's spirit of love for others is inexhaustible and contagious. She shares how she joined the Mentors Care movement for several years as a mentor in Midlothian schools. This episode demonstrates how compassion for those less fortunate is the seedbed of action that has radically changed lives across Ellis County.
Manna House is a community outreach organization created in 1992 as a result of a student-led Problem Solvers project from Midlothian ISD to serve the needs of Midlothian residents. From that beginning, local churches backed the idea and the current Manna House was born.
Visit Manna House online!
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Dena Petty comes full circle when she interviews her own personal mentor and one of Mentors Care’s founding supporters more than 11 years ago. Her conversation with Lead Pastor Bruce Prindle of First Baptist Church of Midlothian reveals the wisdom and advice he gave to Dena that launched Mentors Care on the right trajectory to success.
This episode is a reminder of the impact we have in people's lives as we listen more than talk and release kindness more than judgment.
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Host Dena Petty sits down a leadership guru from Guatemala!
Now a transplanted Texan, Carolina Donis-Lockwood is an international conference speaker, attorney, and counseling psychologist with almost two decades of experience in cultural transformation through values.
She currently runs global operations for the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation and has been part of the Country Transformation Initiative (CTI) since its inception in her home country eight years ago.
Prior to coming to work with Maxwell, she co-founded Guatemala Próspera, a non-profit organization that has trained over 1 million people in leadership values and principles since its inception 16 years ago. Carolina has also expanded social development projects in Guatemala.
Carolina graduated with honors from the Law Faculty of Universidad Francisco Marroquínin Guatemala and obtained additional post-graduate legal studies at Universidad de Salamanca (Spain) and Cambridge University (UK).
She holds certificates in Negotiation and Mediation from Harvard; Innovation, Leadership, and Positive Psychology from Berkeley; and Cultural Studies in Paris-Sorbonne. She earned an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Universidad Del Valle in Guatemala. Carolina has hosted several Spanish-language radio and television programs in Latin America.
Carolina lives in Dallas with her husband David.
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Host Dena Pettysits down with one of Mentors Care's most visible volunteers--Vernell Dooley. He's the Chief of Police in Glenn Heights and serves as a mentor at nearby Red Oak High School.
Dooley admits that while some weeks in law enforcement are strenuous and difficult, they always seem to brighten up after he invests that one hour a week with his assigned student at Red Oak High School.
His conversation reminds other mentors that staying "others-focused" is a key way to combat being consumed with one's own personal schedule, job demands and a never-ending "to-do" list.
Dooley began his law enforcement career with the Denton PD in September 2005. During his tenure in the tip of north central Texas, Dooley served in various functions including Patrol Sergeant, Director of Training, and the Interim Assistant to the City Manager.
As Director of Training for the Denton Public Safety Training Center, Dooley was responsible for the division’s overall management, operations and curriculum development. He enhanced the professionalism of the training center and increased the quality and quantity of training delivered to the north Texas area.
In July 2017, Dooley joined the Glenn Heights Police Department as the Deputy Chief of Police. Just over two years later in October 2019, Dooley was appointed to the position of Chief of Police.
Dooley is a graduate of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration Basic School of Police Supervision and served as the class president. Dooley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Texas and a Master’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Dooley is married, a father of two boys and one girl, and resides in Midlothian.
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Fore!...Mentors Care just wrapped up its Inaugural Charity Golf Tournament at Mira Vista Country Club (Ft. Worth). It was a huge success as dozens of supporters, volunteers and coordinators and mentors joined together on the golf links to raise funds for the expanding needs of Mentors Care.
Host Dena Petty was busy running the tournament so she sent one of her faithful lieutenants--Sean Byers--out on the golf course with a microphone to capture some brief interviews from the golfers and supporters. Sean is the Mentors Care Coordinator at Red Oak HS and he aced his job as an on-the-spot reporter!
A special thank you to Thornton Steel for being the fundraiser's primary sponsor.
https://www.thorntonsteel.com/
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Leisha Crowe is a long time mentor of Mentors Care. She is a graduate of Midlothian High School and owns her own Remax Real Estate Company. She shares the importance of giving back to the community.
Leisha found out about Mentors Care through a friend. The young student she mentored was going through rebellion and being in and out of trouble. She found as a mentor it is best to love them where they are and not judge. She shares the importance of offering a listening ear and being that encouraging voice to tell them you can do this and I believe in you.
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Dena interviews someone you are likely familiar with because not only is he the founder and CEO of John Houston Custom Homes overseeing the planning and development of more than 600 single-family homes a year but he is the founder of a number of companies under the umbrella of John Houston Family of Companies. John is a huge philanthropist giving his time and support to several charities and missions through the JHReach Fund serving causes in not only Texas but around the world. He is the head honcho of more than 200 employees (some of whom are currently mentoring high school students for Mentors Care).
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
Learn more about John Houston Custom Homes and JHReach by visiting: https://www.jhoustonhomes.com & https://www.jhreach.com
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
DeShandra Newton, a former Mentors Care student, shares her story of perseverance and never giving up, a motto she lives by. She has received a Bachelors's and Masters's degree from Tarleton State and is currently working for Capital One.
While she was a student at Midlothian High School, she entered Mentors Care and was dealing with several significant personal struggles. Her mother was in jail, and DeShandra and her sister were living by themselves, on food stamps, and facing eviction from the apartment they called home. With nowhere to turn, DeShandra reached out to Dena Petty. She was afraid of disappointing her mom but knew she had to get help in order to achieve the goals she had set for herself.
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
In this episode, Dena Petty sits down with Karen Fitzgerald, Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Strategic Operations for the Midlothian Independent School District. Raised in a family of educators, Karen has a natural passion for seeing students succeed. She and Dena discuss the critical role that public schools play in identifying children considered "at-risk" and the best ways to point them toward a brighter future.
As an ambassador for public education in Texas, Karen is no stranger to engaging local and national media. News outlets like CNN, Fox News, USA Today, and others have sought her valued opinion and insights on how public school districts are integral to the long-term success of any local community.
She's also a champion for Mentors Care because of its steadfast commitment to partner with parents and teachers at MISD. Dena counts Karen as both a personal friend and key figure in keeping Mentors Care as a priority in Midlothian, Texas.
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Charlie Hubbard, Vice President of Field Operations Midwest with AT&T shares his journey with us from climbing on telephone poles to the climb in a well known and successful company. From the time he could, he threw newspapers and always held a job.
From humble beginnings to management, Charlie shares the value of hard work and learning all you can from each and every opportunity. He did not have a love for school as a kid but from an early age, he learned the importance of a strong work ethic. You won’t want to miss these valuable lessons Charlie shares that he has learned throughout his career. Charlie has been a mentor for Mentors Care and his wife Amy currently volunteers as a mentor for Midlothian High School.
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage action, hope, and a future for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care/
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
In this inspiring and heart-warming episode, Dena Petty talks to former Mentors Care student LaDesha Jones (class of 2020). LaDesha's story of survival and triumph sheds light on the dark secret of domestic abuse.
Join us to hear LaDesha’s story of triumph over seemingly hopeless circumstances following the loss of her mother to domestic violence and how having a mentor helped turn her life in an upward trajectory. LaDesha’s inspiring story is one that will move you to make a difference in the world.
LaDesha moved from Mesquite to Midlothian for her senior year of high school...and when she heard about Mentors Care she immediately signed up. She credits Mentors Care with literally changing the trajectory of her life. LaDesha is already asking how soon she can be a mentor herself!
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage action, hope, and a future for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care/
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
In this bonus episode, Dena Petty talks with Lead Pastor Demetrius McClendonof One Church (Midlothian, Texas). The African-American preacher--better known as Pastor “Mac” to his friends and parishioners--shares timely wisdom and perspective about the recent racial discord affecting many American communities. They openly discuss how to changed deep-seated toxic ideologies that pose a barrier to unity in our communities.
Since this podcast was recorded on May 13--between the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia (February 13) and the arrest/murder of George Floyd in Minnesota (May 25)--several of his comments seemed remarkably timely.
“Especially with the sensitive topic of race, it all begins with relationships,” says Pastor Mac. “These underlying issues that have not had a resolution will always resurface and pop its ugly head and we will have to go back and deal with the things we have not dealt with.”
Pastor McClendon was also a key leader in organizing the Making New History rally held on Sunday, June 7 in downtown Midlothian, Texas. He has served the Midlothian community since 2007 when he returned to Texas to plant One Church. Since his move to Ellis County, Pastor Mac not only has served as a mentor for Mentors Carebut is also a former chaplain for the Midlothian Police Department.
Dena and Pastor Mac also take a deep dive into other important topics surrounding the concept of mentoring and how to build relationships that last a lifetime.
To learn more about Pastor Mac and One Church visit:
https://www.discoveronechurch.org
https://iampastormac.com
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage action, hope, and a future for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care/
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Executive Director of Ellis County Children's Advocacy Center Leslie Deen shares with us how to work with children in crisis. Recently, she conducted a training session for Mentors Cares volunteers titled Resiliencewhere she showed how success can look different for each person. This enlightening seminar was extremely beneficial in equipping mentors to be even more effective during their one-on-one meetings with students.
In the podcast, she drills down into one of her core beliefs that “success is rented, not bought, and rent is due every day.” Leslie also discusses the importance of having role models for children of all ages. She also explains why demonstrating genuine care for teenagers is evident when volunteers invest that one hour a week into a student’s life with nothing expected in return.
To learn more about Ellis County Children’s Advocacy center, visit https://www.elliscountycac.org/
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage action, hope, and a future for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care/
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Charles Frame, an entrepreneur with a heart for serving others, shares the value and importance of building relationships. Serving on the School Board for Maypearl Independent School District for 15 years, Frame has witnessed the difference that relationships have on people. He says relationships build communities.
Q Ministry Project is a ministry that Frame started to help those in his local community. The project helps young people who have aged out of the foster-care system to learn entrepreneurial skills. The way Frame funds his project is through Urban Jo Coffee, his own custom-brewed java. All the proceeds fund Q Ministry Project.
Frame believes the most valuable investment you can make in a young person's life is to be present to them and encouraging.
To learn more about Frame’s mission, visit https://qministryproject.org
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage action, hope, and a future for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care/
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Licensed Masters Social Worker and Mentor Coordinator Sarah Martin shares her passion for helping troubled young people make their buried hopes for the future into reality.
As a volunteer mentor for Mentors Care in its infancy, Sarah’s mother-in-law witnessed firsthand the undeniable success of students in the program and knew right away that somehow Sarah was meant to be part of the movement. So she introduced Sarah to Mentors Care Founder Dena Petty and the two instantly hit it off.
Listen to this reminiscent episode about the early days of Mentors Care, which started as a small high school mentoring program that evolved into a nearly all-consuming movement that today spans North Texas and continues to grow.
As training coordinator for Mentors Care, Sarah leads the charge to train and equip hundreds of volunteer mentors for success. If mentors are considered to be the lifeline of the Mentors Care program, then it’s safe to assume that coordinators like Sarah Martin are the backbone, heart, eyes, and ears!
“Any time spent with a child is time not spent in vain.” - Dena Petty, Mentors Care Founder
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage action, hope, and a future for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care/
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
This episode could be called “All in the Family” as co-host Dena Petty sits down with her son Bryce. Many sports fans will recognize the name Bryce Petty: retired NFL quarterback for the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins; and star player at Baylor University (including leading the team to its first-ever Big 12 championship).
Bryce tells the unusual series of events that led him to stay at home for a year in 2009 even though he had been highly recruited to play college football coming out of high school. It was a period of time in his life that Dena leveraged for Mentors Care. In addition to watching Bryce attend a local community college and mowing lawns around town for extra cash, Dena asked him for a favor.
She tapped Bryce to serve as one of the first mentors in the Mentors Care program. How could he say “no” to his own mother?
Using the mentoring tools provided, Bryce shares what happened to the young man he mentored for just several months before going off to college at Baylor. He also explains why he felt led to have a mentor himself during his college experience. He also describes the unique differences between parenting and mentoring, and why a parent isn’t always the best mentor at certain key seasons in a young person’s life.
Bryce and his wife Jordan are expecting their first child in July 2020. They live in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and Bryce works as Director of Capital Markets with AMR Capital in Dallas, Texas. For more information about AMR Capital, visit: https://amr.capital/
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage action, hope and a future for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care/
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
Ferris High School (Ferris, Texas) just wrapped its first year of having Mentors Care on its campus. Even though the COVID-19 crisis cut short the school calendar, Principal Andru Gilbert (who also just finished his first year at Ferris HS) witnessed amazing results.
He’s completely sold on Mentors Care and with year #2 already in his sights, Mr. Gilbert joined the podcast to pass along some of the inspiring stories he’s heard from mentors and students.
In addition, Mr. Gilbert shares some of the encouraging academic statistics his administrators have documented. He credits the presence of the Mentors Care program as part of the reason why test scores and the school’s graduation rate has increased.
He’s also a proud alum of Texas A&M. To see the rest of his academic background and picture click: https://hs.ferrisisd.org/campus_information/ferris_hs_principal
Ferris High School: https://hs.ferrisisd.org/
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage action, hope and a future for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care/
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
In our first episode, you’ll meet our two co-hosts: Mentors Care Founder Dena Petty and Development Coordinator Summer Backstrom. Before they start interviewing the amazing people who are part of the Mentors Care family in future episodes, Summer first digs into Dena’s inspiring life story to find clues that led to the launch of Mentors Care in 2009.
Dena recalls the struggles of her own adolescence and how those challenges inspired her to help others during their high school years. You will learn the “not so secret” method behind the program’s effectiveness and discover the story behind how Dena started Mentors Care in a renovated broom closet at Midlothian High School (DFW area).
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage action, hope and a future for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit www.mentors.care
Support the show (https://mentors.care/support-the-mentors-care-podcast/)
We asked former NFL QB Bryce Petty to introduce the Mentors Care Podcast to our audience because of his unique connection to one of the most innovative and successful mentoring programs in the state of Texas.
Mentors Care believes in the power of 1-on-1 mentoring for "at-risk" students. It has experienced overwhelming success since 2009 when it launched out of a broom closet at a high school in Midlothian, Texas. Mentors Care is now in seven (7) different high schools across North Texas and poised to keep growing as it helps "at-risk" students cross the graduation line.
The Mentors Care Podcast premieres the week of April 13, 2020, and will publish episodes twice a month. The show promises to deliver two types of content to listeners: 1) inspiring and engaging conversations with top-notch guest interviews, and 2) entertaining banter between hosts Dena Petty and Summer Backstrom
Visit Mentors Care online: https://mentors.care/
Image attribute: bleachreport.com
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