Youth P.O.W.E.R. Podcast: With Kirk Berry

In this episode of the Youth Power Podcast, host Kirk Berry is joined by Adam F.C. Fletcher—speaker, consultant, and author of Steps to Youth Leadership in Modern Times. Together, they explore what it means to truly empower the adults who work with youth and why stepping back is sometimes the most powerful way to help young people step forward. Adam shares his personal journey from a young theater mentor in North Omaha to a global advocate for youth voice, engagement, and leadership. He introduces his “three-legged stool” model—personal, cultural, and structural engagement—and challenges listeners to stop doing to youth and start doing with them. Packed with stories, insights, and actionable inspiration, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for young people to lead in their own way.

Kelly Fair, Founder and Executive Director of Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program, joins the program to discuss her organization's mission to help girls become effective communicators at home, school, and in the workplace. She shares the origins of Polished Pebbles, which began with monthly Saturday sessions and has grown to serve over 50 communities in schools each year. The conversation explores their four core programs, including the Every Girl's A CEO initiative that provides career readiness skills and paid work experience, the Pink Hard Hats program introducing girls to careers in construction and trades, and their global mentoring efforts connecting young women across countries. Kelly highlights the critical need for girl-focused mentorship programs, noting that only 1% of philanthropic dollars worldwide go toward programming for women and girls, while explaining how group mentoring creates powerful spaces for girls to find role models and develop their voices.

In this episode, we welcome Gila Kurtz, co-founder of The BOLO Project, who shares how her innovative dog-centric program helps teens develop emotional resilience, positive mindsets, and essential life skills through the transformative power of the dog-human bond. Gila shares remarkable success stories of teens who have overcome anxiety, depression, and communication barriers while gaining clarity about their futures. The episode reveals how The BOLO Project is helping teens overcome modern challenges and prepare for a successful future through this unique approach that leverages the science-backed benefits of the dog-human connection for youth development.

In this episode of the Youth Power Podcast, we welcome Zach Garza, Founder and Executive Director of You Can Mentor. Drawing from his personal experience growing up without a father figure, Zach shares how mentors transformed his life, inspiring him to start his organization after discovering that 45 of his 65 student athletes lacked father figures at home. He discusses his journey from founding the Forerunner Mentoring Program to establishing You Can Mentor, emphasizing identity-based mentoring over "fixing" youth and the importance of consistent presence. Zach's core philosophy combines identity development with skills in a safe environment, with the ultimate goal of providing every child who needs a mentor with one.

This episode features a conversation with Nafees Norris, a biopharmaceutical process engineer who is making science fun and accessible for kids in Philadelphia. Nafees shares how he went from being the only Black man in most professional science settings to creating an interactive lab where children can experience hands-on learning beyond traditional classroom experiments. Rather than making volcanoes and slime, his students work with industry-grade equipment and safe materials to tackle real scientific challenges through engaging competitions. Nafees opens up about initially feeling inadequate to teach but realizing the importance of sharing his journey with young people who need to see someone like themselves succeeding in science. Through creative teaching methods, like comparing pharmaceutical processes to a car wash, he's breaking down complex concepts and inspiring the next generation of scientists, all while emphasizing that good character is just as important as technical skills.