Mentoring Partnership of Miami County

Many active adults and recent retirees reach a phase where daily routines leave an underlying lack of purpose or genuine connection. When local resident Beth Peters decided to explore volunteer mentoring at the Cooperative Learning Center, she was initially unsure if she had what it took to build trust with high school students navigating challenging personal circumstances. Through simple, consistent presence—whether sharing math triumphs, playing instruments during music class, or setting up tabletop bowling—Beth discovered that teenagers do not need expert skills or rigid agendas; they simply need a reliable adult who shows up and listens.

Stepping into youth mentoring transformed Beth’s weekly routine into an ongoing source of personal energy and fulfillment. By offering one hour a week, she actively supports local youth in childhood trauma recovery and self-worth development while gaining a renewed sense of connection to her community. For anyone seeking deeper meaning through service, Beth’s experience proves that showing up for a young person creates a profound, life-changing impact for both the student and the mentor.

Fill out this no-commitment form: https://www.mentoringpartnership.org/schools

Episode Timestamps & Chapter Markers0:00 The Unexpected Gift of Mentoring1:25 Welcome to the MPMC Podcast2:03 Introducing Beth Peters3:00 Connecting with the Cooperative Learning Center6:56 Music, Games, and Building Trust9:38 Supporting Allison: Math Milestones and Bowling14:50 Overcoming Initial Hesitation16:25 Insights from CLC Director Lisa Hyde22:00 Leveraging Personal Interests to Connect26:39 How One Friend's Invitation Changed Everything34:37 Beth's Message to Future Local Volunteers

What if the secret to solving the challenges facing our youth—and the lack of purpose felt by so many adults—was the same solution?

In the powerful conclusion of our conversation, Dave Larson, Superintendent of the Miami County ESC, reveals why authentic, embodied relationships are infinitely more potent than any program in addressing the effects of childhood trauma recovery. This episode challenges the myth that you need to be perfect to help, arguing that our flaws and shared experiences are our greatest assets.

Dave and Paul discuss the transformative, mutual healing that happens when an adult steps up for a child with a harder story. The reward for the volunteer mentor is a renewed sense of purpose that goes deeper than any career or hobby. If you are listening in Troy, Piqua, or Tipp City, Ohio, and you are looking for a meaningful way to make a difference right where you are, this is your invitation. The commitment is flexible, but the impact is profound.

If you are ready to explore the fulfilling path of youth mentoring in the Miami County Ohio area, take the next step today:

Fill out this no-commitment form to take the next step: https://tr.ee/mpmc_digital

Kids today are facing more than most adults realize—and far more than many faced even a decade ago. Rising disconnection, childhood trauma, unstable home environments, and the loss of everyday supportive relationships have left too many young people in Miami County navigating life without the steady presence of a caring adult.

In this powerful two-part conversation, Miami County ESC Superintendent Dave Larson opens up about the real state of our kids—what teachers, coaches, and school leaders are seeing every day, and why community-based youth mentoring has become one of the most urgent needs in our region.

Dave shares personal stories of his own daughters walking through trauma, what he’s seen across classrooms and athletic fields, and why he believes every child—no matter their ZIP code, background, or family situation—deserves a village of supportive adults who won’t give up on them.

You’ll hear:

• Why so many kids across Miami County feel disconnected and unseen

• What “kids from hard stories” truly face—and how healing relationships take root

• The gap that volunteer mentors can fill, especially for youth navigating poverty, instability, or trauma

• How simple, consistent presence—not expertise—changes a child’s trajectory

• Why rebuilding our county’s “relational village” may be the most important work we do

Whether you’re from Troy, Piqua, Tipp City, Covington, Bradford, or somewhere in between, this conversation will expand your picture of what local kids are carrying—and how you can play a real role in changing their story.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you could be the steady, encouraging adult a young person is waiting for… this episode is your sign.

Take the next step toward becoming a mentor—or simply explore what’s possible.
Fill out this no-commitment form:
https://tr.ee/mpmc_digital

In this heartfelt conversation, Paul sits down with Shelly Calvert to explore We Love Birthday Parties and how simple monthly celebrations can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Learn how joy, consistency, and affirming words help kids from hard places begin to heal from childhood trauma, rebuild confidence, and open the door to long-term mentoring relationships across Miami County. From Troy to Piqua and Tipp City, discover how local volunteers are making a tangible difference for at-risk youth. If you want to help a child thrive, complete this 2-minute, no-commitment interest form to explore how you can become a mentor and support kids in your community: https://tr.ee/mpmc_digital

Why Celebrating a Child’s Birthday Can Heal Trauma — We Love Birthday Parties

What if a simple birthday party could change the trajectory of a child’s life?

Join us as Shelly Calvert, founder of We Love Birthday Parties, shares how simple celebrations bring healing, dignity, and hope to kids from hard places in Miami County and beyond. Discover powerful stories of childhood poverty, birthday boxes, afterschool programs, and the life-changing impact of showing up for a child. If you want to mentor youth, volunteer locally, or support struggling families, this episode will inspire your next step.

Shelly shares:

• The moment God stirred her heart to serve kids in foster care and beyond
  

• How a birthday party became a pathway to healing and hope
  

• The incredible impact volunteers can make—sometimes in just one hour
  

• The stories that keep her going when the work feels heavy
  

• Why community-driven compassion is essential for collective well-being
  

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a real difference in a child’s life—or how small acts of love can transform a whole community—this episode will move you and give you a clear path to get involved.

👉 Take a simple next step: Complete this quick 2-minute, non-committal interest form to explore how you can help care for at-risk kids throughout Miami County: https://tr.ee/mpmc_digital

🎥 Watch the full interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rsUGUdINI48

00:00 – Kids who don’t know their birthday & the heart behind the mission

01:00 – Why birthdays matter so deeply for children

02:40 – Podcast introduction

03:00 – Who Shelly is and the vision of We Love Birthday Parties

04:20 – “How are the children?” — What kids are facing today

06:00 – Childhood trauma, overwhelmed parents & unseen stories

07:25 – Why one caring adult changes everything

09:00 – How volunteers can support and get involved

10:10 – What a typical birthday party looks like

11:50 – Different volunteer roles and personality fits

13:40 – Easy on-ramps to mentoring

15:00 – The message every child needs to hear

16:25 – How centers partner with We Love Birthday Parties

18:00 – Kids in deep poverty & the need for expanding the mission

19:40 – The “unseen mission” of birthday boxes

21:00 – What’s inside a birthday box & why it matters

22:40 – The impact on parents and family bonding

24:20 – Stories of healing and dignity

25:45 – How donations directly support families

28:00 – Why booking the event space fuels the mission

29:30 – The win-win of community rentals

31:00 – The essential emotional need only this mission fills

32:30 – Final encouragement & invitation to take a step

33:20 – Bonus: Why Part 2 is worth your time

In this episode, Paul Rubenstein from Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami Valley shares how one caring adult can change the trajectory of a child’s life—and why the goal of bringing the youth mentoring waitlist to zero matters now more than ever. We explore how mentoring works, why so many local kids are waiting, and the practical steps anyone can take to make a life-changing impact in their own community.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you could make a difference, this conversation will show you just how simple, meaningful, and powerful mentoring can be.

👉 Interested in exploring mentorship? Complete this 2-minute, non-committal form: https://tr.ee/mpmc_digital

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

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.