Amy Hanna, a dynamo in youth advocacy and community leadership, shares her insights on the transformative power of recognizing the potential in our younger generation. Through her diverse experiences, from directing Youth for Christ to her pageantry days and authoring children's books, Amy offers a unique perspective on guiding young talents to flourish. Our conversation traverses her journey from an aspiring "Travel Channel girl" to a passionate educator and speaker. Her story is a vibrant illustration of the fulfillment of aligning one's career with one's passions—a message she eagerly imparts to the teens she mentors.
Within the heartfelt dialogue, the essence of mentorship shines through as Amy and I delve into the mission of Youth for Christ and the art of fundraising. Amy discusses the challenges and jubilation of connecting donors with causes that directly impact the lives of young people while also revealing how her personal and professional worlds merge with her husband's role as the DeKalb County Lead for YFC. This episode celebrates the collective efforts of those dedicated to uplifting youth and the joy of watching them soar toward their dreams.
Wrapping up, we reflect on the underestimated capabilities of today's youth and the need to support and validate their efforts to foster change. Parenting, with all its complexities, is also a topic we touch upon as Amy shares personal anecdotes on guiding her daughters through life's intricate social landscapes. Listen as we navigate the fine line between sheltering children and preparing them for the world, underscoring the importance of honesty, even when the truth is tough to swallow. Join us for an inspiring episode as we emphasize empowering our youth for a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow.
Amy Hanna, a dynamo in youth advocacy and community leadership, shares her insights on the transformative power of recognizing the potential in our younger generation. Through her diverse experiences, from directing Youth for Christ to her pageantry days and authoring children's books, Amy offers a unique perspective on guiding young talents to flourish. Our conversation traverses her journey from an aspiring "Travel Channel girl" to a passionate educator and speaker. Her story is a vibrant illustration of the fulfillment of aligning one's career with one's passions—a message she eagerly imparts to the teens she mentors.
Within the heartfelt dialogue, the essence of mentorship shines through as Amy and I delve into the mission of Youth for Christ and the art of fundraising. Amy discusses the challenges and jubilation of connecting donors with causes that directly impact the lives of young people while also revealing how her personal and professional worlds merge with her husband's role as the DeKalb County Lead for YFC. This episode celebrates the collective efforts of those dedicated to uplifting youth and the joy of watching them soar toward their dreams.
Wrapping up, we reflect on the underestimated capabilities of today's youth and the need to support and validate their efforts to foster change. Parenting, with all its complexities, is also a topic we touch upon as Amy shares personal anecdotes on guiding her daughters through life's intricate social landscapes. Listen as we navigate the fine line between sheltering children and preparing them for the world, underscoring the importance of honesty, even when the truth is tough to swallow. Join us for an inspiring episode as we emphasize empowering our youth for a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow.
Working with students, you can kind of see that. You know, as they come into those teenage years, you can watch them and really start to see what their future is going to start to look like. Even if they can't see it as adults, we can see it and I think that's why it's so important to speak that truth into them at such a young age. You know, I really I feel like you've really got a gift at whatever that might be, Because I feel like when we speak that into them at that young age, they really start to see what it is that we can see in them for their future, see what it is that we can see in them for their future.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Mic'd Up and Motivated podcast, where we interview passionate professionals who empower young people, impact lives and create positive change in schools, organizations and communities. Oh, motivated.
Speaker 3:Motivated, motivated.
Speaker 4:Motivated, Motivated, Turn up, turn up, turn up, turn up the problem. Turn up, turn up, turn up, turn up. I'm motivated. Turn up, turn up, turn up, turn up the problem. Welcome to the Mic'd Up Motivated Podcast. I'm your host, Jason A Dixon, and in this episode I interview Amy Hanna, who is a regional director for Youth for Christ, serving DeKalb, Noble, Steuben and LaGrange counties in Indiana. She is also the founder and former executive director of the Respect Team, a non-profit organization that serves youth K-12 across northeast Indiana. Outside of the office, Amy runs an online vintage clothing business called Classy and Sassy, is the co-director for Miss Fort Wayne and Miss Northeast, and is an author of three children's books and two devotions. Amy has received multiple awards over the years for her community service and was named the 2022 Torchbearer Award winner by the Indiana Commission for Women. Amy is married to Jessie Hanna, the DeKalb County lead for YFC, and has two beautiful daughters. Amy Hanna, how are you doing? Thank you so much for joining today.
Speaker 1:Yes, I'm doing well. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 4:You know, I really appreciate you joining me. And you know, as people that I really admire from afar, and I look at them and I see all the work they're doing and I say this person is just. They're so amazing. It's like you know that song where it said all I do is win, win, win. No matter what I look at you and you're like that person, like everything I see you doing, I see you winning at it, like, do you feel like that? Do you feel like, yeah, I'm like, I'm winning in everything I do?
Speaker 1:I feel like I am now just because you were saying that you got along with me, just telling me how good I am. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4:No, I really do see that. I mean, I see, you know, it's people that just have that aura, the aura of greatness. And the first time I met you, I just knew immediately and you were so responsive and with my emails and this stranger reaching out to you, you were so accessible. And then I started researching you and looking at all the stuff that you do and I'm like this woman is a game changer. So I realized that right off the bat. So it really does. We know that it's not as easy as it looks when you're doing this work, but you make it look very, very easy. It's like you're winning all the time. I see that, thank you so much.
Speaker 1:We can end this right now. My head is not going to fit through the door. I'm feeling really good about myself, oh, man.
Speaker 4:Well, we could end it, but I don't know if the audience and the people who get to listen to this podcast.
Speaker 4:We want to know why you're winning. We want to dive in and figure out, like your secrets, and get your perspective on all these things, because there's a secret to why you're winning. We want to dive in and figure out, like your secrets, and get your perspective on all these things, because there's a secret to why you're successful. And that's really what this podcast is about. It's giving professionals who work with young people a platform to talk about their experiences, but, even more so, to talk about their journey. You know, we know, working with young people it's like we were always doing the work, but I often do. People get to hear about the things that we've gone through and the things we overcame to get to the position we're in, and so I'm excited to hear more about your journey and about all the things that you had to overcome to get where you are right now. So let's start with this At this point in your life, with what you're doing right now, could you have imagined yourself doing what you're doing today, let's say, 20 years ago?
Speaker 1:Oof, that's a good deep us right in.
Speaker 1:Perfect, Okay. Yeah, you know, when I was in high school, I got asked all the time to be the person in the school assemblies who would announce whoever the next speaker was going to be, or if we had a band coming that day or something like that. But they were always coming to me and saying, Amy, do you want to come stand up in front of the entire school? And so I think I was always comfortable with speaking, comfortable with being in front of people, comfortable being in crowds, and had that confidence. Did I see myself as part of nonprofit world? No, I actually. I'll just I'm going to give you an insight. So what I really really wanted to do I wanted to be the travel channel girl.
Speaker 1:I wanted to be able to get paid to go to different countries, eat their food, stay in their different places, do different activities and then report on it. That's what I really, really wanted to do.
Speaker 4:Wow, I could see you doing that too.
Speaker 1:Let me tell you In my retirement oh yeah. It happened.
Speaker 4:You already got the checklist ready.
Speaker 1:I got it. I don't know if you've ever watched the Reluctant Traveler. I think it's on Apple TV or something like that. It's the guy from Schitt's Creek, daniel Levy, I think, is his name. Anyways, so he travels to all these different and I watch all of that. I'm like, okay, yes, I can make that happen.
Speaker 4:You can see yourself doing that. You're inspired. By it.
Speaker 1:I'm doing that. Except I wouldn't be reluctant, I would be that happen, you can see yourself doing that, you're inspired by it.
Speaker 4:I can see myself doing that, except I wouldn't be reluctant, I would be completely on. You're on board. Yeah, you would be embracing every opportunity. I have to check that out. Definitely, I have to check that out. It's good that you can see yourself in that person, in that character, doing that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I actually went to Ball State University because I thought that I was going to. I thought telecommunications was what I was going to do, and then I graduated from Ball State University with an elementary education degree.
Speaker 3:Wow, that's kind of how my life goes.
Speaker 1:Sometimes I have this plan, I know exactly what it is that I'm going to do, and then life just kind of goes nope, you're going to go this direction instead.
Speaker 4:I know exactly what you mean, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So I came from a family of teachers and so it really made sense for me to go into education. The end of my sophomore year my dad called me up and he said how are you feeling about this telecommunications pack? I said, you know, I mean I like it, I don't really know. And he said how are you feeling about getting a job?
Speaker 4:A million dollar question and I said I are you feeling about getting a job A million?
Speaker 1:dollar question and I said I don't know. And he kind of suggested that I go into education, just because it was a sure thing. So I changed my entire plan, shifted to elementary education, graduated, taught second grade for two years and hated it. I loved the kids, loved the kids, hated the teaching part, hated. Just. I was good at it, I was really really good at it, but I wasn't passionate about it and that's something that I teach kids, you, you have to. Just because you're good at something doesn't mean that that's what you're supposed to be doing. You have to also be really passionate about it. And for me, I would wake up in the morning and I would dread it. I didn't. I didn't want to be a teacher. I loved kids, but I, I just wasn't. Just because I was good at it, I wasn't. I wasn't passionate about it. And because I missed that passion part, I eventually stepped out of teaching and had both of my baby girls who who are now grown and doing their own thing grown adults but you know, I stayed, I stayed home.
Speaker 1:I always say I put the quotes around, the stayed home I. I didn't really stay home. I was always active in different things. But I stayed home with them, was really involved in their schools and in those types of things, always into creative things and doing different stuff and entrepreneur and you know, starting my own businesses and creative ideas and those types of things. And then I decided, when my youngest was in first grade youngest was in first grade I decided that it was time for me to go back into some sort of full-time work. But I had a teaching degree but I knew I didn't want to teach. My passion was working with teenagers, I loved speaking. So I just thought is there something that I can combine those you know three things together. So there was a position that was opened at a nonprofit called A Hope Center, which is basically like a crisis pregnancy center.
Speaker 4:Okay.
Speaker 1:And get this title, are you?
Speaker 4:ready, I'm ready. Abstinence Educator was my title, oh wow.
Speaker 1:Take a second and think about me walking into a high school.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's an attention grabber. You would have their attention, right off the bat.
Speaker 1:It's a something it's a something Definitely.
Speaker 4:What was that like? You got to tell me what that experience was like.
Speaker 1:You know. So Indiana is an absence-only education state. So really what I? Because I had the teaching background, I could write the curriculum and I could, you know, kind of finesse the current curriculum that they had, curriculum that they had and so I focused more on healthy relationships, how to have a good healthy relationship, how to avoid those toxic types of relationships, noticing the red flags, those types of things. So, even though my title was abstinence educator, I was really teaching our students just the whole aspect of good, healthy relationships. So I did that for five years. They never did change my title, I begged every year.
Speaker 4:But, like you said, you were able to finesse it and that's how you know you're a gifted teacher, a gifted educator, a gifted communicator that you had the sense of awareness to do that and make it something that was relevant and relatable to young people at that time.
Speaker 1:So that's awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I did that for five years. At pretty close to the end of that fifth year, we had a transition of leadership, which sometimes happens and not happens Right At a transition of leadership. When that transition happened, the new person ended my program, which meant I was out of a job. Yeah, and the other three speakers were also out of jobs. But because I was the connection to the schools, the schools continued to contact me because for five years, I was going into the classrooms and speaking and those types of things, and so they continued to contact me and I said you know, I don't want to continue to do this on a volunteer basis. Maybe we should launch our nonprofit. So myself and a couple of the speakers, we sat around my kitchen table and basically pooled our money together and we filed for a 501c3. And that's how the Respect team was born back in 2015.
Speaker 4:Oh my goodness, this is amazing. I'm getting chills just thinking about it. Do you get to share that story often?
Speaker 1:You know I share it in certain pockets. I don't get to go into the full detail about it. Certain times I get to share a little bit about that.
Speaker 4:No, I love it and I want you to continue. I just want to say I love what you just shared because, again, this is what the podcast is all about, because people see Amy Hanna on the public doing her thing, inspiring young people leading, but not often do people get to see the behind the scenes. We see it with celebrities and athletes and we get to hear about the stories that help them get to where they are, but we don't hear it about the people who are on the front lines doing work like this. So when you share that the beginning of the Respect team I'm thinking like I'm so inspired by that what you shared, so I'm going to let you continue. So what happened next after you guys pulled your money together and you came up with this vision? And here it is, we're about to start it. So what happened next after you guys pulled your money together and you came up with this vision? And here it is, we're about to start it. What happened next?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, we panicked.
Speaker 4:The natural next step, right when you don't really know the natural next step is to panic Right, what are we doing?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it really did. For the first few years, I would tell myself, okay, you can do this. And then in the next breath, I would say, what am I doing? And then, yes, you can do this. And what am I doing?
Speaker 1:It was just this constant back and forth of just trying to launch this vision that we had, trying to launch this vision that we had and yet at the same time, trying to figure out the finances and you know just how do we trademark our name and we had all of these funny things that kept happening within our organization.
Speaker 1:It was a lot of growing pains at the very beginning, of growing pains at the very beginning, but we just had such a heart for kids and we really the whole reason we called it the Respect Team was because our focus was on the whole person. So we wanted our students to understand self-respect, how to respect other people. We kept that healthy relationship piece from before, but we also talked about healthy friendships and how to have good, healthy family dynamics and how to make wise choices on social media and how to get connected to mental health resources. So we really focused on the whole kid, not just the relationship aspect of our students. And you know the schools, they liked us, we came in and we were a free program. So you know when you tell schools, hey, we're free.
Speaker 4:Yeah, eyes light up Suddenly. Everybody's interested.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:They jumped in. Yeah, so we started with 12 schools in one county. Within a few years we grew to 40 schools in six counties. But at this point our focus is Northeast Indiana, with our students there and really impacting kids' lives.
Speaker 4:Wow, wow. So I just want to have a timeline. So how long has the Respect team been in existence?
Speaker 1:Since 2015.
Speaker 4:2015. Okay team been in existence Since 2015. 2015. Okay, nine years. So I want to go back. So during that moment, was there ever a time where you wanted to give up on this vision, where you felt like, okay, I don't know if this is really going to be something that comes to fruition for us?
Speaker 1:to be something that comes through fruition for us. Oh, yes, multiple times, yes, I, I think, probably the time that I almost completely threw the towel in. Uh, we were maybe about the first year, our 501c3, and we got slammed with a trademark dispute because there was another organization. So our legal name is Respect360. We do business as the Respect team, but there was another organization that had a program that was called Respect 360 out in California and we had paid a lawyer to make sure that our name was trademarked, thought that that lawyer had trademarked our name. Turns out that lawyer had not trademarked our name. And then we got slammed with a trademark dispute. We had to rebrand everything, we had to pay lawyers and lawyer fees and, uh, about almost sixteen thousand dollars later in our first year of just trying to make ends meet, we were, we were dealing with a trademark dispute and it was. It was really hard, it was really difficult, but it but I almost threw in the towel.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:This is not worth it. I am not going to go through this, and we decided to push through it, and I'm so glad that we did.
Speaker 4:Yeah, wow, it's good to hear that and I know hearing that and even for me that's encouragement and I know people when they hear that. It may be encouragement for someone else who's going through something similar or may have that experience down the road. What was it that kept you going? What was it like? A singular moment? Was it a person? What was?
Speaker 1:it that kept you going and said you know, I'm not going to quit, despite what we're going through right now. Yeah, you know, at the very beginning of our organization, I was pretty much the main speaker going into the schools connecting with the students. So when we were going through all of that, I was still the one boots on the ground connecting with the kids, talking with the kids, and we would get surveys afterwards and they they had a little section in the survey where they could write comments and things that they've learned and and I would get those surveys after class and it would say things like you changed my life, I'm so glad that you came in today. I was thinking about ending it all. I was thinking about that and today I learned that I'm valuable and my life matters.
Speaker 1:And it was in those moments that I just thought okay, we've got to figure this out because we're making a difference in the lives of these kids. We're impacting thousands and thousands of students that ultimately would have probably fallen through the cracks. We're connecting hundreds of students to counseling resources. Just because we're going into a classroom for maybe an hour and we're coming out with a handful of kids who say, hey, I need to talk to a counselor, probably would have never told anybody that they needed to talk to a counselor. And so when you have those kinds of experiences, you just can't. You can't quit, you just have to push through, because you know that you're making a difference.
Speaker 4:Right, yeah, and I'm glad you did, and I'm sure there are thousands of young people and schools that are glad that you didn't stop. In that moment and that's so inspirational. Was there a moment when you felt like, okay, after all this work, we've arrived? This is the vision that I saw when we were at that table pulling our money together. The Respect team, this organization, we're here now. We're making a difference. People know who we are.
Speaker 1:When was that? Yeah, so I would say it was probably four or five years, in, which is not always very encouraging to those that are just starting out.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 1:But you know, once you hit that four or five year mark, you know it is a matter of okay. We're either doing what we wanted to do or we're not. And we have this fundraising gala that we do every year it's called the 360 awards and we honor local high school students who are making a positive difference. And I got to the location where we were having everything and I got early, nobody else had gotten there yet to set up and all those types of things and I walked in and I just started bawling because I saw all of these tables that had been set I mean, we had 300 and some people who were coming just to support the respect team and to support our local students. And when I walked in and I'm just standing in that room by myself looking around and just thinking, okay, we've arrived.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that was a moment, wow that was a moment. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was. It was really incredible and we continue. We've given over $40,000 in scholarships to local students through that program, which has really been amazing, and seeing students just then go on to do incredible things and to look back at their respect team and say that's the first time that I've ever been honored for just making a positive difference, just being kind, just doing the right thing. I didn't have to do with sports, I didn't have to do with academics, I just, I just was a good kid.
Speaker 4:And being a good person.
Speaker 1:Just nice yeah.
Speaker 4:And.
Speaker 1:I was recognized for that and, um, just hearing those stories and and seeing those kids and how, how they have gone on to, on to really pass that on within their life has really been a really cool experience.
Speaker 4:Yeah, man, I love this. I love just hearing your story and I heard I think it was one of my mentors said this to me before and I feel like you embody this as well. But he really encouraged me to just focus on being a servant leader and when you're a servant, your opportunities will find you. You still have to do the work, but when you focus on just serving others and impacting them in that way, opportunities are going to seek you out and I feel like you are the embodiment of that. You just have a servant's heart. Opportunities are going to seek you out and I feel like you are the embodiment of that. You just have a servant's heart. You want to make an impact and people can see the genuine and authentic nature of who you are and people gravitate for that. Like, do you feel that? I know you're a humble person, so you're not going to brag, but like, do you sense that about yourself?
Speaker 1:Like, do you sense that about yourself? And I tell you, my friend, you should know how to just make me feel real good about myself.
Speaker 4:Well, I'm just being honest, I'm going to speak the truth.
Speaker 1:I love that, thank you. Yeah, you know I'm intentional I think is the best way to say this about being a servant leader. I think when you step in to leadership positions it's it's really easy to get kind of full of yourself and oh, look at me, I just got asked to be a keynote at this event and I just got this award at this other event and I just got recognized for this. It's really easy to step into that world and let that consume you and forget what it is that you are doing and why it is that you are doing it. I'm very intentional about being a servant leader and taking the people around me and shoving them into that spotlight yeah it's not me anymore now, it's you yeah, I love that really I love.
Speaker 1:I love being able to to mentor people and put them into those positions where they really get to shine, and I just get to step back and say, yeah, that's my people.
Speaker 4:Oh, I love that. When we connected a few years ago, I knew there was something about you. I knew it was something about you, like what you just said. I really believe that sums it up. Like you are that person. I really believe that there are certain people who are like the I'll use an example like the gateway for others. You know, other people can't make it unless this one person opens the door for them. I feel like you're that person and then you have this heart to like, push other people in the spotlight and help them see what they may not have seen in themselves. And I love that about you and it's amazing. I can tell that's one of the reasons why you're so impactful in what you do. Now I want to ask you this Now, with respect team, this was your baby. You saw it. Your birthday. You saw it grow. You've become. You talked about that moment where it was like we've arrived and you're falling, when it was time to pass the baton and it's time to move forward. What was that one like?
Speaker 1:Oof. It was rough. It was really rough Now leading up to that decision. Some of the things that led to that decision were things that were out of my control. That's one of the reasons that I had to step out my husband's job. He ended up stepping out of his job. We had two kids in college and he was the primary breadwinner in our household as well as the insurance carrier. So when you have something like that happen, it is kind of a panic moment of okay. If somebody is going to get a job quickly within this community, it's probably going to be me, because of the connections that I had. So stepping out of the Respect team probably would not have been in my timing. However, looking back at it now, the timing was perfect. At the time it did not feel perfect.
Speaker 4:Right, I know about that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, but we're you know, we're a year and a half past that now, in almost two years and and the timing definitely was perfect. So the person who stepped in for that executive director position at the Respect Team is one of my past students, and so that's been a really full circle moment.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I've known him since he was 15. Wow, and he is a former teacher and he was moving back to the area a former teacher. And he was moving back to the area and he had heard that we were looking for an executive director position and he reached out to me and said do you think this is something that I should apply for? And I said definitely. And so he applied and we interviewed him and the rest is history.
Speaker 1:And it's been a really amazing experience with him because not only the full circle moment, but he trusts me and so, as a founder of an organization, having someone else step in to that position sometimes causes, you know, some issues where you have a founder who is still involved and then you have the new person. We work really, really well together because we have such a trust relationship. He contacts me on a regular basis and says what do you think about this? What do you think about this? And I have really had to learn how to hold the organization with open hands. And he came to me and said hey, I'm thinking about changing the logo, and I just went oh yeah, I can imagine what that was like.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, it's difficult. However, his reasoning behind it. It wasn't just a flippant decision of you know, I want to do something different. It was. There was thought behind it. There was reason behind it. He took his time on it. He talked to our board, he talked to our student board. It it was very intentional and because he, because he understands that the respect team is my baby and he's very careful with that, it just helps. The transition has been really smooth, which has been great.
Speaker 4:Wow, that's in that position where you, you know you, it's that that season's over, you have to move on. It's time to give somebody else an opportunity. And you talked about the full circle moment with a former student. Uh, what can you attribute that to? Just the willingness and and being able, you know, put pride aside, put, you know, ego aside, whatever it may be, and be able to work with someone, especially someone who represents the younger generation, which is not always easy when you know you have the older generation and the younger generation coming together, especially in work like this, and they don't see eye to eye. What do you attribute that to? The fact that you were able to just with open arms. I know there were moments, but for the most part, you were able to just let him do what he needs to do with respecting. What do you attribute that to?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think it comes down to do I want him to be successful and do I want the organization to be successful? If, if both of those answers are yes, well then that that's a pretty easy decision for me. To step out, right, uh, to step back. No, he will be the first to tell you please don't step out, please don't step right please come alongside me and help me.
Speaker 1:Because, he's still learning, but he's doing an amazing job and I'm just so proud of him. So I think again, it comes down to intentionality of I want that to be successful. And in order for that to be successful, he also has to feel like he's being successful. And if I'm trying to come in there and say, no, you got to do it like this or no, I already, I always did it like this, so you need to always do it like that, well then he doesn't feel successful and then the organization in itself is going to fail. So you know when, when you're thinking through succession plans and those kinds of things, part of a succession plan is preparing yourself as the founder to be able to release that to that next person and say I want them to be successful, I want the business to succeed as well, yeah, that's so good.
Speaker 4:I love that. Now I want to ask you one more question regarding the Respect team then you know, transition into your current role and what you're doing now, because I think you shared some great stuff in regards to how you started the Respect team and just that journey that I think will be able to help a lot of people listen to the podcast, will be able to help a lot of people listen to the podcast. What advice would you give to a person who may have a nonprofit organization within the educational space, or a person who has the aspirations to start one? What would you say is the thing that they need to know to help it be successful?
Speaker 1:Hold on tight Because it is a ride. I tell you there are going to be lots of ups and there are going to be lots of downs, and be prepared for that. Because if you're not prepared for that, all of a sudden there's a really big down and you become discouraged and you feel like, can I do this? And you want to quit and all those kinds of things. But if you go into it knowing that there's going to be ups and downs, it just helps you to say, okay, this is a moment where we're really down, but I know what's coming. I know we're going to go back up and that is coming eventually. So that's the first thing that I would say. The second thing that I would say is get a really good business mentor.
Speaker 1:I'm so thankful for my business mentors. I would reach out to them anytime I had a question about something, or I was confused about something, or I didn't know how to do something, or I just needed someone like you, jason, to be able to say you got this. You're amazing. Do you know how cool you are? I needed that in my life, especially in those down moments, that I could call my business mentor and say walk me through this. Tell me why I'm doing it. Remind me, remind me that. Walk me through this. Tell me why I'm doing it. Remind me, remind me that I, that I can do this, and so that's yeah. That's definitely. The second thing that I would say on that is is make sure you're, make sure you have a good business mentor too.
Speaker 3:Please welcome Jason A Dixon. Everybody in here has a talent and you have a gift and you were given that gift so that you can go change the world. There's a world out here waiting for you. There's a world out here that needs your talent.
Speaker 5:From a struggling teen to a first-generation college graduate. Coach Jason is one of today's rising youth motivational speakers for middle school, high school and college students. Equipped with passion and the unique ability to create a heartfelt connection, his empowering message of hope and resilience drives lasting change and resonates with audiences on multiple levels. If your school, organization or event is looking for a dynamic speaker to inspire, motivate and help increase student success, book Coach Jason today.
Speaker 4:That's so great. I love that, and what you shared is encouragement for me as well, and so I appreciate you sharing that. And now I want to transition to what you're doing now and talk a little bit about just the beginning stages of that, and what was the moment where you knew, okay, I'm where I'm supposed to be now, because I know transitioning from what was your baby and still is your baby to something new is hard. But what was that moment now? What was that moment where you knew, okay, I'm exactly where I need to be?
Speaker 1:I think I'm still waiting for that moment.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm almost two years in about a year and a half and when I stepped into the current position that I hold so I am a regional director for Youth for Christ Going from a non-faith-based organization to a faith-based organization. There's a lot of differences between those A lot of hurdles and hoops and red tapes and all sorts of things that I didn't have to deal with as part of the Respect Team of the Respect Team being the person who made all of the decisions to then stepping into an organization where I have a boss that I answer to, I have a team that we work together Not that I didn't work with my team over at the Respect Team. I had an amazing team who I was constantly relying upon for everything, but it was different than stepping into this organization where, if I wanted to do something, there are three other people that need to sign up on it before I can do that. Some major growth opportunity for me as just as a person and as a leader, to really learn some humbleness when it came to working in an organization where I wasn't the head of it. So, yeah, so I'm still still figuring that piece out of.
Speaker 1:What does that look like and am I in the position where I'm supposed to be? I think yes, for right now. Definitely, I am content in the position that I'm in. I love being able to connect with community members and being able to be in my northern communities. So I focus mainly on the smaller communities in northeast Indiana and I love those communities and I love the people in those communities.
Speaker 1:I think the piece that I'm missing, that I'm constantly seeking out in other areas, is getting to hang out with the kids and miss, miss the students yeah my, my role is more administration and and working with adults, and so I'm constantly looking for ways of how can I pull students into this project, because that's where my heart is, that's where my passion is.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and it's who you are. You know it's who you are. I just want to acknowledge this because it's not often when you have a person in any type of space, but especially on a podcast, be so transparent and vulnerable and say you know, I'm still waiting for that moment to realize this is where I'm supposed to be. I'm still waiting, you know, and you know, I know.
Speaker 4:You know sometimes when, as adults and when we work in this space with young people and ministry or ministry, you know, any type of nonprofit that requires you to work with young people you have to kind of put on this I don't want to say a facade, but a stoic nature, like nothing bothers you or nothing penetrates you, or just everything is like perfect, I have all the answers. When you have that moment of vulnerability, you say I don't know, I don't have anything, I'm still searching. It's like that's a very special moment and I just wanted to acknowledge that because, again, I think that's what makes you who you are and just the person you are and the success that has followed you everywhere you've gone. I think that's part of why I believe that's the case is because that does speak to your humility and that growth mindset and always trying to learn and grow. So I just wanted to acknowledge you and say that.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much. You're welcome, I would love to be able to say I am exactly where I'm supposed to be oh yeah. That's not. I'm a very real person. What you see is what you get, and so, yeah, so I'm still an amazing organization with incredible people who care about me not just as an employee, but really truly care about me as a person, which, when you can find that kind of an organization, you hold on tightly, because there really are not that many organizations that are like that.
Speaker 4:Very true.
Speaker 1:They truly care about you as a person and your family and those kinds of things. So I'm very fortunate that that is the organization that I stepped into.
Speaker 4:Okay, Awesome. So talk a little bit more about that. Talk about Youth for Christ, the mission, what it entails and what you do specifically for Youth for Christ.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So Youth for Christ works with students. We say 11 to 19. The best way to say that is sixth graders to seniors in high school. So sometimes our sixth graders are as young as 11, and sometimes our seniors are as old as 19. So we say 11 to 19. We work with them, connecting them with trusted adults, and we run different kinds of programs.
Speaker 1:The program that most people will know is called Campus Life. So Campus Life goes into the middle schools and the high schools and we put trusted adults into the lives of kids. We give them the opportunity to have a faith in Jesus. But it's our mission, our real hope is to be able to just put good, positive people into the lives of kids, whether they come to an understanding of who Jesus is and having faith that we're not. We just want them to be known and loved and cared for. So that's really the heart behind Youth for Grace. That's awesome, yeah. And then what I get to do specifically I am a development is the best way to say that my title is regional director, but it's mainly what I do is a lot of fundraising.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 1:A lot of fundraising.
Speaker 4:Which is very important. It's very important.
Speaker 1:It is probably the thing that I disliked the most when I was with the respect team, which is really funny that that is what the main part of my job is, Right right, oh man. So I've had to. We have a love fundraising and I have a love-hate relationship.
Speaker 4:Oh man, trust me, that's something I do not like as well, you know, but it's again. It takes a gifted person to be in that position.
Speaker 1:It does, it does. And I have to step out of my own way and I have a tendency to say, oh, I really don't want to ask so-and-so for this and that. And anytime that I get out of my own way and just say you know what, just ask. They're typically the ones that say, yeah, why didn't you ask three months ago? I would have given it to you then Right.
Speaker 1:So I have to consciously and intentionally tell myself get out of the way and just ask and give them the opportunity to give, because a lot of people they want to give, they don't know how to give or they don't know what they want to give to, and so when you give them those opportunities, then all of a sudden, you know that lines itself up. So as non-faith leaders it is really hard to just say I just got to ask.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's tough. Now, as a person, a man of faith as well, a believer myself, I'm not in a position where I have to fundraise, but I know how important. When you're working in nonprofit, I know how important that aspect is, and I always recall something a pastor of mine used to say back in the day it's like don't give other people an opportunity to be a blessing. You know, I think sometimes, when we lack faith or when we're worried about what people might think about us, oh, I don't want to ask for a donation, or I don't want to ask for somebody to pray for me or whatever it may be, we may be blocking somebody, somebody else's opportunity to be a blessing because we're worried about perception, you know, and so I really give you credit for just again humbling yourself and being in that space and really allowing God to use you in various types of ways to help other or encourage other people to be a blessing for someone else.
Speaker 1:Yes, and I have a good friend who says it like this. They say don't say no for somebody else.
Speaker 4:Right, yeah, I love that, don't be fair no.
Speaker 3:Let them know, If they're going to say no, they'll say no but don't say it.
Speaker 1:I felt like that was just really good advice. Yeah, that is.
Speaker 4:That's awesome advice. Now tell me if you see this. But as you were talking and this is just how my mind works but as you were going talking about the journey from the respect team to now, I look at it as kind of I see the two intertwine a bit and I look at it as kind of I see the two intertwine a bit and I look at it as kind of like a graduation, so to speak. So what you were doing with respecting and how you were focusing on that aspect now with Youth for Christ, I feel like the two connect to where this person, I'm meeting this person, where they are at this point in their lives to ultimately get them to this point where you have an opportunity to help them find their identity in Christ and grow in their faith and different things like that. I just see that connection. That's how my mind works. I know it may be weird. What do you think?
Speaker 1:Yes, there's actually tons of connections and actually some of our Campus Life staff are speakers for the Respect Team.
Speaker 3:Oh, wow.
Speaker 4:Wow, okay, that's awesome. I'm glad I wasn't off base with making that observation.
Speaker 1:It's so long no, no, that's actually very true, because you know if, if the respect team is all about teaching our students how to value themselves, finding trusted adults in their lives that they can go to, and then youth for christ is the trusted adults yeah it.
Speaker 1:Just it makes sense for that connection. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so I will. I'll give you a little positive spin on everything that happened with my husband. So when I stepped into my position at Youth for Christ, about two or three months later, a position opened up in one of my counties for a campus life director.
Speaker 4:Oh, wow.
Speaker 1:So I of course said I happen to know someone that would be an amazing campus life director. Oh wow. So I of course said I happen to know someone that would be an amazing campus life director.
Speaker 4:Oh really, Don't tell me it's your husband.
Speaker 1:It was my husband. Oh my goodness. Oh, wow, Don't cry. No nepotism in you for cries. I wasn't part of the interviews or any of those kinds of things. I hired him on his own, but he and I get to work together, which is in one of our counties. Wow, that's amazing. He speaks for the Respect Team and then he works for Youth, for Christ.
Speaker 4:Wow, that's so amazing. Another full circle moment. Look at that. Wow. And again, you know, the key factor in that is you. You're like the glue I think you used that term earlier the connector.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love connecting people. I have this random side job. You know, when you're an entrepreneur, you can really never fully turn it off.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, I know, I know all about that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I know, I know all about that, yeah, so even though I have this full-time job, I have all these side businesses because I just can't, I can't turn the entrepreneur side of my head off. So I do this little side thing for a cookie place here in town that's called Dirty Dough Cookies.
Speaker 4:If you've heard of Dirty Dough Cookies, I have not Now, I have, and I have to do more research on it. Yes, you'll have.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, so, and the Dirty Dough Cookies in Fort Wayne, indiana is a little bit different than the Dirty Dough Cookies around the nation.
Speaker 1:Okay, Our Dirty Dough is all about giving back to the community. Dirty Dough is all about giving back to the community, connecting with nonprofits, you know, service and those kinds of things. So very, very different than a lot of the other stores across the nation. However, they hired me to be a community connector because I have lots of different people in the community and nonprofits that I can connect them to. Now they get to give money back to nonprofits and those kinds of things. So that connector title I like that title. Yeah, it is.
Speaker 4:It's awesome. I have to share this because you reminded me of a good friend I have and there was a moment this was maybe like 10 years ago and she was struggling, trying to figure out what, like she was transitioning and going through a transitional period. She's trying to figure out what the next step was. And I remember talking to her and I told her that I want you to go home and I want you to just sift through, like old pictures from childhood and try to find pictures of you doing just random things. And the reason I told her this was because I just had a feeling in my heart and my spirit that she was going to find a picture that was going to help her or trigger or remind her that she needs to be doing that in this season of her life. So she was going to find a picture that was that was going to remind her this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.
Speaker 4:And she called me I think it was the next day and she was like Jason, jay, I found a picture of me, uh, with a school, uh, teacher's outfit on and I was standing by a chalkboard and I had this, this, this stick, and I was pointing at the chalkboard teaching and she was like you know I'm I've always had a passion and a love to be a teacher. That's what I'm supposed to be doing. So she took that and she went back to grad school, got her master's. Now she's teaching at a college as a professor. And you remind me of that because at the beginning you shared a story about when you were in school, how you were. People always wanted you to do things and they always wanted you to introduce the speakers. So even at that point in your life, you were being a connector.
Speaker 4:And now here you are continuing to be a connector.
Speaker 1:Yes, it is very interesting and in working with students you can kind of see that you know, as they come into those teenage years, you can watch them and really start to see what their future is going to start to look like. Even if they can't see it as adults, we can see it and I think that's why it's so important to speak that truth into them at such a young age. You know, I really I feel like you've really got a gift at whatever that might be, because I feel like when we speak that into them at that young age, they really start to see what it is that we can see in them for their future. So I think that's yes.
Speaker 1:I think probably because I had people who were speaking that into me as a young person that that's the direction that I now turn yeah, now you're doing it and now you're living and paying it forward and I love that.
Speaker 4:Now and to. We talked about a lot of great stuff with just your journey in the nonprofit space and your calling, and one of the things I love about you is that not just that you're a connector, but you have so much wisdom, so much experience and I know a lot of people well. Again, I'm assuming a lot of people lean on you and come to you for advice and for your perspective and different things that are going on. So let me ask you this question when you look at today's young people and also kind of a loaded question but when you look at this generation of young people, what comes to mind? What do you think about?
Speaker 1:Oof, I'm so excited. I know not everybody looks at our young people and thinks that Right. You talk to different people and they say, oh, I'm really worried about our young people.
Speaker 1:And our young people are really struggling with this and they're going down this path or that path. I look at our young people and I'm super excited. And our youth today? They have so much energy. They have so much access to so many different things. They're so aware of what is happening, not just in their school, not just in their community, but in their world, and they're passionate about it. They want to see change. They are the change makers. When we think about the things that need to change in our world, it's our young people that are going to make it happen, because they have the energy to do it.
Speaker 4:Right.
Speaker 1:We're all like oh, I'm tired. They're like give it to me, Let me do it. But two, they have the passion and you know, and they're very aware of what needs to happen and how to do it and who to talk to. And these are the resources and those kinds of things, and I think that we don't give our young people enough credit for the things that they're already doing and the things that they are going to be doing and continue to be doing here in the future. So, for me, I look at the young people and I'm like yes, go, how can I help you? Let's go.
Speaker 4:I love that.
Speaker 4:I love that and you know, I kind of set you up a little bit. I'm going to be honest, I set you up because I knew, just knowing you, I knew the, I knew the answer you were going to get, because we're like minded, we think a lot and I wish I could take that and cut it up and make it a public service announcement for the older gen, just people like ourselves and the older generation people who look at this, the younger, younger, younger generation, gen Z and all you know, the younger people, youth you're advocating for them, you're being an ally and you're helping people see what is really inside of these young people, not you know, what you see on the news or what you hear read about in the newspapers and what happens in the schools. It's like that may represent a small percentage, but for the most part, the you know this is what the young people are capable of doing and it's people like you who speak truth and help people see that. So again, I commend you and I applaud you for that. Is it hard sometimes?
Speaker 1:Oh, yes, of course I know. Yeah, I have two young adults in my house.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so you're living it? I'm living it, yes, I tell you what.
Speaker 1:I have raised two fierce young women in my house. They know who they are, they are strong in who they are. They are confident in who they are. They are confident in who they are. They don't put up with a whole lot of anything, you know, they're just. They're fierce fierce forces of nature. Yeah, yeah, I'm super proud of that. It's hard as the parent sometimes when you've raised two fierce young men, but at the same time, you know I'm super proud of them and excited what they're going to continue to do in their future. And they have a heart, like their mama and like their daddy. They want to help people, they want to make change, they want to impact the world around them and I'm I'm here for it.
Speaker 4:I don't know your daughters, but I can tell you I bet they are Well. I know they're lucky to have you as a just knowing you and and seeing how you interact with young people who aren't your kids. You, you treat them like family. So I know the love is real when at home, and so I know you and your husband, lady, an amazing foundation. So I want to I want to tap into this a little bit, because I'm sure the audience, listeners will appreciate this a a little bit of some parenting advice or perspective from you.
Speaker 4:So I you know I do a little a little live coaching with parents, and one of the questions that I was posing to those parents is this question what does your teenager or young adult or child in general need to hear that you're afraid to tell them because you're worried it might ruin their confidence or it might make them I don't know upset with you or whatnot. And so I ask that question because I coach basketball and when you get to a certain point, it's you know. I feel like you have to be honest with young people and tell them okay, maybe this isn't for you, maybe you need to start channeling your energy in another area, and it could be anything. Maybe they want to go to Harvard and their grades may not reflect that. So the question I have for you, looking back with you and your daughters what was something, a truth that you needed to tell them, that was hard for you to tell them as they were growing up, because you were worried it may not go over so well?
Speaker 1:It may not go over so far. Yeah, I think having daughters, you have to be really careful. Yeah, yeah, everything that you say and how you say it, and all those types of things. Raising girls is very different than raising boys. Yeah, so with my daughters, it typically had to do with friendships and with relationships. Yeah, so with my daughters, it typically had to do with friendships and with relationships.
Speaker 1:Yeah, seeing a friendship that I knew I could see on the outside, this is not a healthy friendship. This is a toxic friendship. But you know, for my daughter, no, this is my best friend. I'm going to live and die for this person. You know, my best friend.
Speaker 1:And watching from the outside of this is not going to end well. And then you know, struggling with how do I say, hey, this isn't going to end well, this might not be a healthy friendship. I feel like this friendship is just using you, um, and sometimes I would step in there and say that, and sometimes I I would kind of let things take its course. Um, and nine times out of ten, that's exactly what ended up happening. And then being there for them in the aftermath of that of not in a I told you so kind of way, but in a okay, what did? What did we learn from the situation and how can? How can we make sure that we're going to have healthy friendships for the future?
Speaker 1:And same with relationships too? Watching a relationship, having to keep your mouth shut about certain things and that it's hard. It's really really difficult, especially as they go into young adult and you know wanting, wanting to be there for them, wanting, wanting to save them and protect them from anything that's going to hurt them and yet, at the same time, trying to pick them back up after that failure and dusting them off and saying, okay, try again, let's do it again.
Speaker 4:Yeah, wow, that's amazing advice. Now, amy, I know you don't get to work with young people as often as you did previously now that you're in a new role, but I just want to tell you that again, you still have it. You still have a lot to offer and just the wisdom and the advice, and it's amazing to see you know it really is, and I hope that opportunities come where you continue to have that opportunity to impact and speak life into young people, because, again, they need you, they definitely need you, they really do.
Speaker 1:I look for it, that's for sure.
Speaker 4:Like you need help with the kids, yes, yeah, when you have someone like that, it's just it's part of who you are, it's part of your DNA and young people know it. Like again, they need people like yourself and you know to be a part of their life and to help them so they can stay on that path, and so, again, it's inspiring to see. So I want to give you an opportunity to talk a little bit about how people can support either the Respect Team or Youth for Christ, how they can become involved in that. We're listeners and just be a part of what you do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I'll start with the Respect Team, so they can just go to respectteamcom. Pretty simple, it has all the information on there how to donate, how to get involved. If they're in Northeast Indiana learning about the different things, the different programs that the Respect Team does, showing up to the 360 Awards, if they're in the area Coming and supporting our teenagers at Teen Speak, which we didn't even talk about. Teen Speak, and that's a whole other program that the Respect Team does, which is really amazing too, and all of that information is on the website for the Respect Team does, which is really amazing too, and all of that information is on the website for the Respect Team and for Youth for Christ. It's just and I'm going to I always mess this up YFCNINorg, so it stands for Youth for Christ of Northeast Indiana, but there's no E in there, so YFCNINorg is the website for Use for Christ of Northeast Indiana.
Speaker 4:Okay, awesome, awesome. Well, it's great opportunities to get involved. I know I'm looking forward to staying connected and getting involved more so, uh, and I want to. I want to wrap it up by asking you this question what's next for amy hannah, the superstar? Amy hannah, the, the connector, the one who's making, leaving a legacy and making an impact everywhere she goes what's next for you?
Speaker 1:yeah, that's boy. That is a great question. I will say this. So one of my side things is I'm a children's book author and so I've published a couple of books and that's been a little passion project on the side. So I'm in the process of writing the third book, which Congratulations. Thank you, and it's always an exciting thing when you start that whole process because it allows my creativity to come out and you know, just being able to go through that writing process, I think, is just it's good, it's good for me.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it allows me to have. It allows me to flex the other side of my brain Right, right. And the first two books were actually illustrated by a past student of mine. She illustrated the first book when she was just a senior in high school. She came to me and said I want to be a children's book illustrator and I said fantastic, I have a book, I wrote a book.
Speaker 4:Let's do this together. Yeah, wow.
Speaker 1:So I, so I taught her how to do all of that, and then she illustrated the second book as well, which was really cool. So hopefully she'll be able to illustrate the third book. She's a junior in, or to be a junior in, college and so she's a little bit busier. But that's, I guess, on the table of next is getting that next book going getting that next book going.
Speaker 4:You're so gifted, just so multi-talented, and giving opportunities to the younger, like the people you mentor and work with. Again, that's evidence of just the impact that you're having when people want to come back. Usually young people are in a hurry to get rid of you. Right, Just go leave, Like you have young people circling back and coming back to you and you're giving them opportunities. And so, again, that's how amazing you are. And then the books writing books, you know, and all the stuff that you're doing. You're amazing. And so the next step I know the next chapter is going to be even better than this chapter, and so I'm step. I know the next chapter is going to be even better than this chapter, and so I'm looking forward to continue to see you grow and shine.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much, my friend. You've just made my whole day. I feel really good about myself.
Speaker 4:Well, you know what. You do that for others, and so I think it's only natural for people to make you feel the same type of love that you extend out there. So thank you so much again for everything you do.
Speaker 1:Yes, thank you. Thank you for today, thank you.
Speaker 3:It is time to realize your potential, unlock your passion and graduate to greater.
Speaker 2:Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Mic'd Up and Motivated Podcast brought to you by Inspire to Reach Higher, the youth motivational speaking company for students, parents and educators. We'll see you next time. Outro Music.