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One Leader's Journey: From Struggle to Global Youth Movement | John Valverde, YouthBuild Global

44 min · 5. maj 2026
episode One Leader's Journey: From Struggle to Global Youth Movement | John Valverde, YouthBuild Global cover

Description

Too many young people never get a fair chance - not because of lack of potential, but because of systemic barriers that limit their opportunities before they ever begin. What does it look like to truly dismantle those barriers, and build pathways that give young people a real shot? In Episode 4, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with John Valverde, President and CEO of YouthBuild Global, about his powerful personal journey from incarceration to leading one of the world's most impactful youth development organizations - and what that experience has taught him about opportunity, community, and what real systemic change requires. John offers a deeply grounded perspective on positive youth development, second chances, and why investing in young adults isn't just the right thing to do - it's essential to building stronger, more equitable communities everywhere. Together, Dorothy and John explore: • Why so many young people are left behind - and the systemic forces that make it so • How YouthBuild creates pathways through education, job training, mentorship, leadership development, and community-building • The transformative power of second chances - and what it means to be truly believed in • Why investing in young adults is one of the most powerful levers for long-term community change This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support YouthBuild Global's work helping young people build skills, strengthen communities, and create brighter futures. 🤝Support Youthbuild Global through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle - https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle 🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

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7 episodes

episode How Glasswing International Stops Youth Violence and Crises Before They Start | Celina de Sola artwork

How Glasswing International Stops Youth Violence and Crises Before They Start | Celina de Sola

When we talk about solving youth violence, the conversation usually starts after crisis has already hit. But what if the most powerful - and most underfunded - work happens long before that? In the daily relationships, mental health supports, and safe spaces that help young people feel seen, connected, and capable of building a future? In Episode 6, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Celina de Sola, co-founder and President of Glasswing International, about what it truly takes to support young people before crisis takes hold - and why prevention-focused community investment is one of the most powerful levers we have for building safer, more resilient societies. Celina shares how growing up in El Salvador shaped her profound understanding of inequality and led her to co-found Glasswing International, an organization now working across 12 countries to strengthen youth wellbeing and community resilience through mental health, education, and grassroots partnership. Together, Dorothy and Celina explore: • Why mental health, trusted relationships, and safe spaces are the true foundation of violence prevention • How Glasswing partners with schools, healthcare workers, volunteers, and community leaders to build environments where young people feel supported and empowered • What prevention-focused community work looks like in practice — and why it outperforms crisis intervention • How communities across Latin America and the United States are building resilience from the inside out This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support Glasswing International and its work strengthening mental health support, youth development, and violence prevention across 12 countries in Latin America and the U.S. 🤝 Support Glasswing International through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle – https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle 🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

2. juni 202637 min
episode Why Tennis Is More Than a Game - And How It's Changing Lives | John Borden, Tennis Memphis artwork

Why Tennis Is More Than a Game - And How It's Changing Lives | John Borden, Tennis Memphis

Sport can build far more than athletic skill - it can build confidence, resilience, belonging, and a sense of what's possible. But only when young people actually have access to it. What happens when you bring tennis into communities where that access has historically been limited? In Episode 5, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with John Borden, CEO of Tennis Memphis, about why access to sport is really access to opportunity - and how tennis is creating lasting change in young people's lives far beyond the court. John shares his journey from childhood tennis enthusiast to leading youth programs in Washington D.C. and now Memphis, offering a grounded, personal perspective on youth development, community-building, and the power of sport to shape who young people become. Together, Dorothy and John explore: • How Tennis Memphis uses tennis to help young people build confidence, resilience, self-reliance, and essential life skills • Why safe spaces, trusted mentors, and a sense of belonging matter as much as athletic development • What John's path from D.C. to Memphis revealed about community, opportunity, and what young people really need • Why investing in young people through sport pays dividends for entire communities - on and off the court This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support Tennis Memphis and help expand opportunity for young people through sport. 🤝 Support Tennis Memphis through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle – https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle 🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

19. maj 202637 min
episode One Leader's Journey: From Struggle to Global Youth Movement | John Valverde, YouthBuild Global artwork

One Leader's Journey: From Struggle to Global Youth Movement | John Valverde, YouthBuild Global

Too many young people never get a fair chance - not because of lack of potential, but because of systemic barriers that limit their opportunities before they ever begin. What does it look like to truly dismantle those barriers, and build pathways that give young people a real shot? In Episode 4, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with John Valverde, President and CEO of YouthBuild Global, about his powerful personal journey from incarceration to leading one of the world's most impactful youth development organizations - and what that experience has taught him about opportunity, community, and what real systemic change requires. John offers a deeply grounded perspective on positive youth development, second chances, and why investing in young adults isn't just the right thing to do - it's essential to building stronger, more equitable communities everywhere. Together, Dorothy and John explore: • Why so many young people are left behind - and the systemic forces that make it so • How YouthBuild creates pathways through education, job training, mentorship, leadership development, and community-building • The transformative power of second chances - and what it means to be truly believed in • Why investing in young adults is one of the most powerful levers for long-term community change This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support YouthBuild Global's work helping young people build skills, strengthen communities, and create brighter futures. 🤝Support Youthbuild Global through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle - https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle 🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

5. maj 202644 min
episode AI Is Changing Who Gets a Tech Career - Here's How to Close the Gap | Bertina Ceccarelli, NPower artwork

AI Is Changing Who Gets a Tech Career - Here's How to Close the Gap | Bertina Ceccarelli, NPower

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the nature of work across every industry - but who actually gets access to the careers it creates? As the tech workforce evolves faster than ever, the risk isn't just disruption. It's that economic opportunity becomes even more concentrated among those who already have access. In Episode 3, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Bertina Ceccarelli, CEO of NPower, about how AI is transforming the digital economy - and what it takes to ensure that transformation expands opportunity rather than narrows it. Bertina brings a grounded, practical perspective on how the tech workforce is evolving and why lasting success in this landscape requires far more than technical skills alone - including the growing importance of adaptability, confidence, and the distinctly human capabilities that no algorithm can replicate. Together, Dorothy and Bertina explore: • How AI is changing the skills, pathways, and expectations that shape tech careers • Why companies that define talent too narrowly are missing out on their best potential workforce • How NPower is expanding access to careers in the digital economy for young adults and military-connected individuals • The human capabilities that technology cannot replace - and why they're more valuable than ever This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support NPower's work to expand access to opportunity in the age of AI. 🤝 Support NPower through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle – https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle 🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

21. apr. 202641 min
episode How to Fund Early-Stage Social Innovators Who Can Change the World | Cheryl Dorsey, Echoing Green artwork

How to Fund Early-Stage Social Innovators Who Can Change the World | Cheryl Dorsey, Echoing Green

Most promising ideas for social change never reach their potential - not because they're flawed, but because they don't find the right support at the right moment. What if the most powerful lever for solving society's biggest challenges is identifying and investing in exceptional leaders much earlier in their journey? In Episode 2, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Cheryl Dorsey, CEO of Echoing Green, about how bold ideas become real-world solutions to today's most pressing social challenges - and why the organizations closest to the problem are often best positioned to solve it. Drawing on her experience as an Echoing Green Fellow and decades of leadership in social innovation, Cheryl reflects on the critical importance of identifying and investing in leaders who are proximate to the issues they're working to solve, and why sustained, long-term support is what separates promising ideas from lasting change. Together, Dorothy and Cheryl explore: • Why early-stage investment in social innovators is one of the highest-leverage bets in philanthropy • How Echoing Green identifies exceptional leaders before the world knows their names • The difference between short-term grants and the sustained support that actually transforms communities • What decades of social innovation have revealed about who creates real, lasting change This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support Echoing Green's work to back the next generation of world-changing social innovators. 🤝Support Echoing Green through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle 🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

7. apr. 202637 min