Jose Rodriguez went from gang life in North Tulsa to helping transform cities through Jesus, coaching, and the power of presence. In this episode, Zach sits down with Jose, founder and CEO of Rescue a Generation, to talk about what it actually looks like to love and disciple kids from hard places for the long haul.

You will hear Jose’s wild story of growing up around drugs, gangs, and chaos, finding unexpected family through a bus ministry, and how a youth worker named Nancy refused to give up on him. Together, Zach and Jose unpack:

• How to have thick skin and a soft heart with students
• Why “giving up on giving up” matters in mentoring
• How gangs often disciple better than churches and what we can learn from that
• The ministry of presence and earning the right to be heard
• Why changing a young person’s mind can change their entire life
• The power of calling out identity and potential, even in the “worst” kid

If you mentor or work with urban or at risk youth, this conversation will fill your tank and sharpen your approach. Learn more about Jose and Rescue a Generation, and walk away reminded that love is a universal language, relationships change lives, and yes… you can mentor.

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To find out more about Rescue A Generation, check out their website - https://www.rescueageneration.com or @rescueagen
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• If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

Want to go deeper?

• Join our Learning Lab for mentoring resources and community

• Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop

• Come to our annual You Can Mentor Gathering

You can find everything at www.youcanmentor.com or follow us on instagram @youcanmentor

In this episode, guest host Derrick Sier from Reverb Mentoring joins us for an honest conversation about the challenges and growth that can come from interracial mentoring. Together, we explore how differences in upbringing, culture, and lived experience can shape relationships, and how humility and listening open doors for deeper understanding. Through a Christ-centered lens, we discuss how mentors can create safe, compassionate spaces where every young person feels seen, valued, and supported.

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https://www.reverbmentoring.com/
https://www.restoreokc.org/
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If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

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Want to go deeper?

• Join our Learning Lab for mentoring resources and community

• Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop

• Come to our annual You Can Mentor Gathering

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You can find everything at www.youcanmentor.com or follow us on Instagram @youcanmentor

What if mentoring wasn’t just one person investing in a kid—but an entire circle of caring adults surrounding them with encouragement, accountability, and faith? That’s exactly what Ben Bevis, Executive Director of Encircled, is doing. In this episode, host Zach Garza talks with Ben about how “mentor circles” are transforming the way we support young people from hard places.

On this episode, we will chat about:

• The Vision Behind Encircled: Ben shares how thirty years of youth ministry, therapy, and family coaching led him to launch Encircled—a nonprofit helping parents, mentors, and communities form intentional “circles” around youth.
• The Power of Many Mentors: Research shows that youth with multiple trusted adults are more resilient, more likely to thrive, and less likely to fall through the cracks. Ben explains why one mentor is good—but five can be life-changing.
• How the Encircled App Works: Using free resources and a simple app, mentors (or “guides”) help kids discover their God-given identity, gifts, and vision, then invite key people into a mentoring circle that walks with them for the long haul.
• Stories that Inspire: From the heartbreaking loss of a former mentee to the redemption story of “Bill,” whose circle helped him rediscover his love for music and faith, Ben illustrates the beauty and impact of shared mentorship.

“This next generation wasn’t meant to do life on their own, but in community.” — Ben Bevis

Mentors don’t have to do it alone. Surround yourself—and your mentee—with others who will show up, pray, encourage, and share the load.

Learn more about Ben Bevis and Encircled at encircled.org.

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If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

Want to go deeper?

• Join our Learning Lab for mentoring resources and community

• Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop

• Come to our annual You Can Mentor Gathering

You can find everything at www.youcanmentor.com or follow us on instagram @youcanmentor