For 500 kids in Troy “Hope has an address”—and it’s The Troy Rec.
In this powerful episode, Executive Director Kelly Snyder shares what life is really like for local youth growing up in hard circumstances: parental incarceration, unstable homes, loneliness, and the painful reality of not having a trusted adult to talk to.

Kelly reveals how the Troy Rec Center becomes a safe haven for these kids—offering belonging, mentorship, honest conversations, and a consistent place to simply be themselves. You’ll hear real stories, eye-opening statistics, and a behind-the-scenes look at how mentors change the trajectory of a child’s life.

If you’ve ever wondered how to support at-risk youth in Miami County, this conversation will both break your heart and inspire you to take meaningful action.

✅ Want to explore becoming a mentor (no commitment required)?
Fill out the 2-minute interest form → https://tr.ee/mpmc_digital

🎥 Watch the full interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E_hFS5I5z3g

00:00 – The impact of incarceration on families
00:35 – Heartbreaking feedback from students
01:11 – Why the community center matters
01:54 – Listening and guiding with empathy
02:27 – How hope grows through mentorship
04:11 – Real stories from the Troy Rec
05:12 – What today’s youth are facing
06:06 – Building connection through respect
07:37 – The power of honest conversation
10:42 – Understanding kinship care
11:39 – Statistics behind the stories
13:51 – Why community support is essential
18:34 – Creating a welcoming environment
21:55 – Why consistent adults matter
22:59 – How to get involved at the Troy Rec
23:50 – What makes a great volunteer
25:41 – Creating a safe, inclusive space
31:29 – The role of unstructured time
35:31 – How to start volunteering
38:57 – Final thoughts & call to action

Episode Topics & Timeline

https://tr.ee/mpmc_digital

Complete this 2-minute, non-committal interest form if you’d like to explore how you can help care for at-risk kids in Miami County.

Join Paul Hemminger as he interviews Nikki Sherck, Executive Director of CASA of Miami County (Court Appointed Special Advocates), about the vital role volunteers play in advocating for children in the foster system. Learn how one caring adult can transform a child’s life and how you can get involved through The Mentoring Partnership of Miami County.

Episode Highlights:

• What CASA volunteers do and why it matters

• Real-life stories of kids impacted by CASA

• How mentoring and advocacy intersect

• How anyone in Miami County — Troy, Piqua, Tipp City — can serve

Get Involved:
✅ Fill out the quick interest form: https://tr.ee/mpmc_digital
✅ Learn more about CASA Miami County: https://miamicountycasa.org
✅ Connect with The Mentoring Partnership: https://tr.ee/mpmc_digital

00:00 A Heartfelt Story and Introduction

00:22 Opportunities for After School Programs

01:15 Volunteer Contributions and Impact

01:49 Basketball Leagues and Mentorship

02:09 Personal Stories and Community Impact

03:24 Introduction to the Podcast

03:56 Meet Kim Rupert and the Lincoln Community Center

06:33 Afterschool Program Details

18:21 Summer Program Overview

20:55 Creative and Fun Learning Activities

23:26 Creative Opportunities for Community Involvement

24:26 Workforce Development and Skill Building

28:16 Volunteer Coaches and Sports Programs

31:13 Community Events and Volunteer Needs

35:12 The Importance of Presence and Mentorship

36:53 Heartfelt Stories and Impact

42:38 Invitation to Get Involved

Lincoln Community Center cares for kids in Troy and you'll learn how you can too. Listen to the first 3-minutes to get a high-level overview.

Complete this 2-minute non-committal interest form if you’d like to engage in caring for kids through youth mentoring or a variety of other ways.

Check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel for a video of this interview, shorts, or other conversations we have around mentoring kids from hard places

Learn more about The Mentoring Partnership. Skim, listen, and share other podcast episodes on multiple platforms here.

Complete this 2-minute non-committal interest form if you’d like to engage in caring for kids through youth mentoring with Lisa and her staff.

Check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel for a video of this interview, shorts, or other conversations we have around mentoring kids from hard places.

Complete this 2-minute non-committal interest form if you’d like to engage in caring for kids through youth mentoring or a variety of other ways.

Check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel for a video of this interview, shorts, or other conversations we have around mentoring kids from hard places.

00:00 Building a Caring Community

01:00 Introduction to the Podcast

01:31 Meet Sarah Pierce

02:09 Sarah's Mentoring Journey

03:54 Lessons from Entrepreneurship

05:32 The Power of Showing Up

07:20 Inviting Young Adults to Mentor

08:34 Building Relationships with Kids

24:59 The Importance of Silence and Listening

28:05 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Complete this 2-minute non-committal interest form if you’d like to engage in caring for kids through youth mentoring or a variety of other ways.

Check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel for a video of this interview, shorts, or other conversations we have around mentoring kids from hard places.

00:00 Dan's Invitation

00:39 Welcome to the Podcast

01:10 Meet Dan "The Man" Cain

02:08 Dan's Mentoring Journey

03:59 Dan's Current Mentoring Activities

09:17 Tips for Effective Mentoring - Tip 1

12:06 Tip #2

15:23 Tip #3

18:05 The Impact of Technology on Human Connection

18:28 Creating a Safe Space for Kids

19:05 Tech-Wise Tribe: Disconnecting from Technology

19:37 Tip #4

20:08 The Importance of Consistency in Mentoring

21:22 Finding Your Groove in Mentoring

22:30 The Power of Showing Up

27:02 Tip #5

27:06 Engaging with Kids Through Open-Ended Questions

28:28 Tip # 6 - The Craft of Building Relationships

31:04 Final Reflections and Call to Action

32:48 Call to Action

Complete this 2-minute non-committal interest form if you’d like to engage in caring for kids through youth mentoring or a variety of other ways.

Check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel for a video of this interview, shorts, or other conversations we have around mentoring kids from hard places.

Can one hour a week change a life?

In a powerful conversation with Thomas, the new Executive Director of the Mentoring Partnership of Miami County, we’re reminded that small, consistent acts of care—like showing up—can radically impact a child’s life. 

For Thomas, mentorship was personal. A mentor named Tim showed up, week after week, and became a safe space, a guide, and a lifeline during Thomas’s darkest moments. Today, Thomas is paying it forward, helping others become the person they needed when they were younger.

Across Miami County, 26+ partner organizations—from the Lincoln Community Center to Troy Skate Church—are pouring into kids with harder stories. These kids don’t need perfection. They need presence.

Whether you're a young adult with flexibility, a retiree with wisdom to share, part of a business, church, or civic group—there’s a place for you. The need is real. The opportunity is now.

Be part of the story. Fill out the no-commitment interest form. Because showing up for a child might just change their life—and yours too.

Complete this 2-minute non-committal interest form if you’d like to engage in caring for kids through youth mentoring or a variety of other ways.

We welcome Dennis Faughn who shows up for kids at the Troy Rec every week.

He helps retirees find their purpose and fit through a community of retirees who are re-imagining retirement - The Greater Dayton Refirement Network.

The Mentoring Partnership of Miami County guides you in finding the powerful stories of transformation when caring and consistent adults show up for kids from hard places.

We want to welcome you into the growing village, the community, who is caring for kids, together.

Complete this 2-minute non-committal interest form if you’d like to engage in caring for kids through youth mentoring or a variety of other ways.

Check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel for a video of this interview, shorts, or other conversations we have around mentoring kids from hard places

In this episode of the Mentoring Partnership of Miami County Podcast, Paul Hemminger sits down with Caleb Ingram of Declare to explore how churches and community members can come together to support at-risk youth. Caleb shares powerful personal mentoring stories, practical steps for getting involved with local nonprofits, and inspiring insight into God’s call to compassion, service, and showing up for young people who need hope.

Whether you’re a pastor, church leader, volunteer, or someone who cares deeply about kids in your community, this conversation highlights how simple, consistent mentorship can change a child’s life. Caleb explains how churches can partner with nonprofits, how everyday people can become mentors, and why Miami County needs more caring adults stepping up today.

Topics include:
– The power of youth mentoring
– How churches can serve at-risk kids
– Partnerships between churches and nonprofits
– Faith in action and community compassion
– Personal stories of transformation through mentoring
– How to start your mentoring journey
– Encouragement, prayer, and a call to live out God’s mission

If you want to make a difference, grow your impact, or learn how God might be calling you to show up for kids in Miami County, this episode will encourage and equip you.

Listen now and discover how you can help change a child’s story.

00:00 Introduction: Witnessing Growth and Challenges

00:27 The Power of Mentoring Youth

01:16 Navigating God's Mission in Everyday Life

01:52 A Prayer for Guidance and Support

02:41 Personal Stories of Mentorship

03:40 The Role of Churches and Nonprofits

06:02 Challenges and Rewards of Mentorship

12:36 Encouragement to Get Involved

22:48 How to Start Your Mentoring Journey

27:11 Closing Thoughts and Prayer

28:25 Call to Action: Subscribe and Share

Troy Skate Church

To connect with Jon or Sami, go through The Mentoring Partnership's website by filling out this 2-minute form and choosing Skate Church as the organization you are hoping to connect with.