Youth Horizons

Youth Horizons will be participating as an official exhibitor at the upcoming Wichita Business Expo 🤩 hosted by the Regional Chamber of Commerce . This event provides a valuable opportunity to connect with local businesses and community members (you!), while showcasing our work in empowering youth and fostering positive change in the Wichita area.

We look forward to meeting you there - and sharing how we’re making an impact!


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This version focuses more on providing information about the event and its purpose.

🏀 Meet Amin L., a 10-year-old with a passion for basketball, sports, and lifting weights. Amin’s personality is a unique blend—he’s introverted yet outgoing, creative with a great sense of humor, and has a deep spiritual side. And when it comes to food, nothing beats a plate of fried chicken for this sports-loving kid!

Amin is looking for a mentor to share in the fun and help him explore his interests even more. Being a mentor to Amin means being a part of his journey, encouraging his growth, and making memories together. The joy of mentorship lies in the simple moments that create lasting connections. 🏋️‍♂️

🤝 Learn more at: youthhorizons.net/mentoring

💙 Thank You to the Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation!

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation for their incredible support in providing resiliency training for our Youth Horizons staff. Thanks to their generosity, our team is now better equipped to foster strength and stability in four key areas:

✨ Physical Resiliency – Taking care of our bodies so we can stay healthy and strong.
✨ Social Resiliency – Building strong, supportive relationships with others.
✨ Mental Resiliency – Strengthening our minds to handle challenges with clarity and confidence.
✨ Spiritual Resiliency – Nurturing our spirits and grounding ourselves in faith.

This training empowers our staff to be the best they can be for the kids and families we serve. With these essential tools, we’re prepared to face every challenge and continue making a positive impact.

Thank you, Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation, for investing in the well-being of our team and helping us build a brighter future for our community! 🙏💙

🎉 New Week New Match🎉

We’re excited to introduce Israel Miranda and his new protégé, King! 🙌

Israel, who attends Family Church has just been matched with 7-year-old King, who goes to Beech Elementary School. King is the second youngest in his family and has several older siblings involved in the Youth Horizons Mentoring Program, but this is his very first mentor match—and we couldn’t be more thrilled!

The two have already started building great memories, from fun Saturdays at Scheels to attending Youth Horizons Arcade Day! 🎮

Here’s to many more adventures ahead for Israel and King as they continue to grow together. Welcome to the Youth Horizons family, Israel and King! 💙

📖A Prayer for our sons and daughters

Prayers for our sons and daughters are powerful, calling down blessings that flow through generations. By praying for the next generation, we ensure that they are covered by God’s Spirit and grace, leading them into a future filled with His blessings 🌿

The children and youth of Wichita are all of our sons and daughters. Please join us today in prayer for those we serve, those served by others in our community, and those yet to find the service they need 🌿🌿🌿

🍽️ Reminder: Give Back Night at Chicken N Pickle! 🏓

Looking for a fun night out with family and friends that also makes a difference? Join us at Chicken N Pickle - Wichita on Tuesday, September 10, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm for a delicious way to support a great cause! 😋

Grab your favorite meals and drinks, and Chicken N Pickle will donate 10% of all food and bar proceeds to our mentor and foster programs. Don’t forget to mention Youth Horizons when you order to make sure your meal helps us continue our mission.

Let’s gather for good food and an even better cause! See you there! 😊

📍 Chicken N Pickle 1240 N Greenwich Rd, Wichita, KS 67206

🌍 Join us in celebrating International Day of Charity! 🌍

Today, on September 5, the world comes together to honor the legacy of Mother Teresa and the incredible power of charity. Originally a Hungarian initiative to commemorate her passing, this day became a global holiday in 2012 thanks to the United Nations. 🌟

Let’s use this day to raise awareness, give simple acts of kindness and philanthropy, and reflect on the role that plays in building more inclusive and resilient communities. Together, we can carry forward the spirit of charity - and lift the Youth Horizons ministry that serves the children and youth in the Wichita community who need additional resources. 💙

Remember, charity isn’t just about money - every single act of kindness counts including those who choose to volunteer, mentor, or pray. We always welcome prayer! 🙏

If you are ready to drive change and embody the very spirit this day celebrates, visit us at www.youthhorizons.net and learn more about how to get involved.

Looking for a fun night out with family and friends - and do a good deed at the same time? Join us at Chicken N Pickle - Wichita on Tuesday, September 10, from
6:00 - 8:00 pm for a delicious way to give back! 🍗🏓

Enjoy your favorite meals and drinks, and Chicken N Pickle will donate 10% of all food and bar proceeds to support our mentor and foster programs. Just mention Youth Horizons when you order to make sure your meal makes a difference!

Let’s come together for good food and an even better cause. See you there! 😊

📍 Chicken N Pickle 1240 N Greenwich Rd, Wichita, KS 67206

🎨🎮 Meet Kevin, an imaginative 11-year-old who’s as creative with a paintbrush as he is with a game controller. With a friendly smile, a great sense of humor, and a heart full of sensitivity, Kevin lights up any room he's in. His love for pizza rolls is just one of the many things that make him a fun and easygoing kid.

Kevin doesn't have siblings, so he’s looking for a mentor to teach him cool things, like how to take a fish off the hook. Being a mentor to Kevin is about more than just sharing knowledge—it’s about being a friend, a guide, and someone he can count on as he navigates new experiences. The power of mentorship is in the connection it fosters, creating bonds that last a lifetime. 🎣

🤝 Learn more at: youthhorizons.net/mentoring

🍂As the leaves start to change in September, join us in celebrating the incredible milestones our mentors and protégés have achieved together.

Mentoring isn’t just about spending time with a child—it’s about creating meaningful developmental relationships that guide them toward adulthood. Studies show that youth who have a mentor are 55% more likely to enroll in college and 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities. These relationships provide the support, encouragement, and wisdom kids need to navigate life’s challenges and discover their true potential ✨

When you mentor a child, you’re not only helping them grow—you’re also growing with them. You become a trusted guide, a friend, and an anchor in their journey, fostering confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose that will carry them forward for years to come.

Thank you to all our dedicated mentors who make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. Here’s to many more anniversaries and continued growth together!
🌱💛

BIG GRATITUDE to our community churches who nurture these mentors: River Community Church Pathway Church Innovo Vineyard Church The District Church Wichita Eastminster Church South Rock Christian Church

🍂As the leaves start to change in September, join us in celebrating the incredible milestones our mentors and protégés have achieved together.

Mentoring isn't just about spending time with a child—it's about creating meaningful developmental relationships that guide them toward adulthood. Studies show that youth who have a mentor are 55% more likely to enroll in college and 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities. These relationships provide the support, encouragement, and wisdom kids need to navigate life's challenges and discover their true potential ✨

When you mentor a child, you're not only helping them grow—you’re also growing with them. You become a trusted guide, a friend, and an anchor in their journey, fostering confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose that will carry them forward for years to come.

Thank you to all our dedicated mentors who make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. Here's to many more anniversaries and continued growth!
🌱💛

BIG GRATITUDE to our church partners who nurture these mentors: River Community Church Pathway Church Innovo Vineyard Church The District Church Wichita Eastminster Church South Rock Christian Church

📖On the topic of childhood trainings

Early training in righteousness is a gift that shapes a child’s future. By instilling faith, integrity, and compassion, we equip them with the values needed to navigate life’s challenges. Faith anchors them in times of uncertainty, integrity guides their choices, and compassion fosters empathy for others. These principles form a strong foundation, enabling them to grow into confident, responsible adults who positively impact their communities. When we invest in this kind of guidance, we’re not just preparing children for life—we’re preparing the future for them.
✨✨✨

Youth Horizons’ resilience training on Thursday evening was well attended and well received. Thank you mentors, parents, protégés and presenters - River Community Pastor Terry Williams and Donnovan Karber, the National Field Director for Christian Association of Youth Mentoring (CAYM). The next resilience training opporunity is scheduled from 6-7:30 pm on Thursday, Sept. 26 at our downtown office. It’s a great opportunity for our mentors, parents and protégés to learn about the four pillars of a resilient life: mental, physical, social and spiritual. RSVP here: https://forms.office.com/r/WvUYDD6DQA

🎤 Say hello to Kalla, a spirited 9-year-old with a heart full of love for animals and a voice that lights up any room. Her dream? To become a singer and share her songs with the world. When she’s not belting out her favorite tunes, Kalla enjoys indulging in delicious Chinese food—her favorite! And with a love for the color purple, she’s as vibrant and joyful as the color itself.

Mentoring Kalla means helping her nurture her passions, supporting her goals, and being there as she takes the first steps toward her dreams. Mentorship isn’t just about guidance; it’s about believing in someone’s potential and helping them grow.🪴

🤝 Learn more at: youthhorizons.net/mentoring

Youth Horizons’ latest Game On! event was another fun time on Monday evening at Pathway Church, thanks to our church partner, volunteer mentors and protégés. Game On! attracted about a half dozen male matches and 21 boys from Youth Horizons’ Kinloch Price Boys Ranch, located in Valley Center. The quarterly event presented an opportunity to present a church partnership plaque to Pastor Jarred Peine. We will pass out more plaques over the next few months as we catch up with our many church partners. Thank you, all, for supporting Youth Horizons’ youth mentoring, foster care residences and many events.

Youth Horizons’ latest Game On! event was another fun time on Monday evening at Pathway Church, thanks to our church partner, volunteer mentors and protégés. Game On! attracted about a half dozen male matches and 21 boys from Youth Horizons’ Kinloch Price Boys Ranch, located in Valley Center. The quarterly event presented an opportunity to present a church partnership plaque to Pastor Jarred Peine. We will pass out more plaques over the next few months as we catch up with our many church partners. Thank you, all, for supporting Youth Horizons’ youth mentoring, foster care residences and many events.

Youth Horizons is offering resilience training for community mentors and their mentees. A mentor-mentee match can choose from two sessions, either on Thursday, Aug. 29 or Thursday, Sept. 26. The first session is filling up; first come, first served.

Please RSVP at the following link by Tuesday, Aug. 27, with your preferred training date as soon as possible: https://forms.office.com/r/WvUYDD6DQA. Both sessions are scheduled from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Youth Horizons downtown office, 125 S. Washington Ave, Suite 200.

The training is designed to help mentors develop resiliency in their mentees, so that when they bump up against stressors or traumatic events in life, they can navigate through them in healthy ways. Attendees will learn about the four pillars of resiliency - physical, social, mental, and spiritual - from Pastor Terry Williams, River Community Church; and Donnovan Karber, National Field Director for Christian Association Youth Mentoring.

• Dinner is provided.

• All mentors will receive a free copy of Pastor Terry Williams' book, "Grace & Grit, Living a Faithful Life."

• Youth Horizons merchandise will be given away at the event.

Also, attendees are invited to a training celebration dinner from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 at Youth Horizons.

We look forward to hosting you at Youth Horizons’ resilience training.

🚀 Meet Kai, a bright and curious 8-year-old mind with a passion for LEGOs and a dream to become a missionary. When he's not building his latest creation, you'll find him diving into books or exploring the wonders of science. And like any true sushi lover, Kai knows his way around a menu! His favorite color? Orange, of course—a color as vibrant as his imagination.

Becoming Kai’s mentor means more than just sharing in his interests; it’s about guiding him on his journey, supporting his dreams, and helping him build a strong foundation for the future. The impact of mentoring is profound—it’s a chance to shape a life and, in turn, be shaped by the experience.

🤝 Learn more at: youthhorizons.net/mentoring

"The kids are back to school and we all survived the summer"... said every parent everywhere! 😁🥳 We feel no different with our group of 28 boys and young men in our foster care at Kinloch Price Boys Ranch (KPBR).

THANK YOU SO MUCH 🙏🙏 not only to our staff who manage elevated challenges during the summertime - but to our donors and volunteer champions who help us create a summer experience as close as possible to any other kid's summer break.

That's a wrap on summer!

Thankful this morning to host at the Eastminster Church Fall Launch Sunday, which included several local nonprofits providing information during the “grow group + ministry fair.” Eastminster partners with Youth Horizons in a mentoring/Lunch Buddies program at Washington Elementary School. The program matches volunteer mentors with students over the lunch hour. The shared activities include reading, enjoying a meal, playing on the playground and more. We are grateful for the partnership, which is now in its fourth year.

Exciting news! 🎉 Youth Horizons is set to be an official exhibitor at the Wichita Business Expo! This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our commitment to empowering youth and making a positive impact in the community.

The Expo is the perfect platform for networking, gaining visibility, and demonstrating support for local businesses. We're thrilled to connect with fellow innovators and contribute to the community's development. See you there!

Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce

Reflecting on the cherished connections from our childhood can be a powerful reminder of the impact we can have on the lives of today's youth. 🌟

By becoming a source of support and inspiration, we can make a significant difference. Let's commit to being the mentors, guides, and friends that the next generation needs. Together, we can build a brighter future for them.

Find the last set of questions in the 4 S's interview questions here:
youthhorizons.net/the-4-ss-interview-supports-questions

🎉 Happy News! 🎉

We are honored to announce that we’ve been awarded a grant from the Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation to provide Resiliency Training for our dedicated staff of 60 in 2024! This transformative training focuses on four key areas: Physical Resiliency, Mental Resiliency, Social Resiliency, and Spiritual Resiliency.

Why is this important? The majority of our staff members work with some of the most vulnerable kids and teens in the foster care system, many of whom have experienced deep trauma. This training is vital in equipping our staff with the tools they need to stay strong, balanced, and resilient as they support these young people on their healing journeys. 💪

With this training, we plan to continue to provide the compassionate, trauma-informed care that is essential for helping these kids and teens rebuild their lives. We are deeply grateful to the Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation for their support in helping us prioritize the well-being of both our staff and the youth we serve.

We send out our ♥️s to you!

🤩Interested in finding out what mentoring is all about - or know someone who does? Join us on Thursday, August 22, from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at our downtown office, 125 S. Washington, Suite 200. Dinner is provided!

This is a great opportunity for those interested in learning how to mentor with Youth Horizons.

Please RSVP with Carrie Crow at (316) 262-8293 or [email protected] to help us plan accordingly.

In a world where the pace of change is relentless, our children are facing unprecedented challenges. The pressures of social media, academic demands, and the race for excellence in extracurriculars are creating a generation under stress. 📚💻

But it's not all doom and gloom. By opening up conversations, sharing our own experiences, and actively listening, we can help our kids navigate these struggles. Let's create safe spaces for them to express themselves, learn resilience, and find joy in the simple things. 🛁🎨

Find questions here: youthhorizons.net/the-4-ss-interview-struggles-questions

Vision boards are more than just a collage of images and words; they're a canvas of dreams, aspirations, and milestones. 🌟 At Wren House, our girls have embraced this timeless tradition, crafting their own vision boards with passion and creativity.

As worship music filled the air, they shared stories, sang from their hearts, and celebrated their individuality and collective journey. It's moments like these that remind us of the power of unity and the importance of nurturing the dreams of our youth.

Here's to the inspiring girls of Wren House! 🎶💖