The Mentors Care Podcast Mentors Care

Dena Petty sits down with with Norma Belcher, founder of the Manna House in Midlothian, Texas. Norma's spirit of love for others is inexhaustible and contagious. She shares how she joined the Mentors Care movement for several years as a mentor in Midlothian schools. This episode demonstrates how compassion for those less fortunate is the seedbed of action that has radically changed lives across Ellis County.

Manna House is a community outreach organization created in 1992 as a result of a student-led Problem Solvers project from Midlothian ISD to serve the needs of Midlothian residents. From that beginning, local churches backed the idea and the current Manna House was born.

Visit Manna House online!

Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
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Dena Petty comes full circle when she interviews her own personal mentor and one of Mentors Care’s founding supporters more than 11 years ago. Her conversation with Lead Pastor Bruce Prindle of First Baptist Church of Midlothian reveals the wisdom and advice he gave to Dena that launched Mentors Care on the right trajectory to success. 

This episode is a reminder of the impact we have in people's lives as we listen more than talk and release kindness more than judgment.  

Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
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Host Dena Petty sits down a leadership guru from Guatemala!

Now a transplanted Texan, Carolina Donis-Lockwood is an international conference speaker, attorney, and counseling psychologist with almost two decades of experience in cultural transformation through values.

She currently runs global operations for the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation and has been part of the Country Transformation Initiative (CTI) since its inception in her home country eight years ago.

Prior to coming to work with Maxwell, she co-founded Guatemala Próspera, a non-profit organization that has trained over 1 million people in leadership values and principles since its inception 16 years ago. Carolina has also expanded social development projects in Guatemala. 
Carolina graduated with honors from the Law Faculty of Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala and obtained additional post-graduate legal studies at Universidad de Salamanca (Spain) and Cambridge University (UK). 
She holds certificates in Negotiation and Mediation from Harvard; Innovation, Leadership, and Positive Psychology from Berkeley; and Cultural Studies in Paris-Sorbonne. She earned an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Universidad Del Valle in Guatemala. Carolina has hosted several Spanish-language radio and television programs in Latin America.
Carolina lives in Dallas with her husband David.


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Host Dena Petty sits down with one of Mentors Care's most visible volunteers--Vernell Dooley. He's the Chief of Police in Glenn Heights and serves as a mentor at nearby Red Oak High School.

Dooley admits that while some weeks in law enforcement are strenuous and difficult, they always seem to brighten up after he invests that one hour a week with his assigned student at Red Oak High School. 

His conversation reminds other mentors that staying "others-focused" is a key way to combat being consumed with one's own personal schedule, job demands and a never-ending "to-do" list.

Dooley began his law enforcement career with the Denton PD in September 2005. During his tenure in the tip of north central Texas, Dooley served in various functions including Patrol Sergeant, Director of Training, and the Interim Assistant to the City Manager. 
As Director of Training for the Denton Public Safety Training Center, Dooley was responsible for the division’s overall management, operations and curriculum development. He enhanced the professionalism of the training center and increased the quality and quantity of training delivered to the north Texas area. 
In July 2017, Dooley joined the Glenn Heights Police Department as the Deputy Chief of Police. Just over two years later in October 2019, Dooley was appointed to the position of Chief of Police.
Dooley is a graduate of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration Basic School of Police Supervision and served as the class president. Dooley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Texas and a Master’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Dooley is married, a father of two boys and one girl, and resides in Midlothian.
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
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Fore!...Mentors Care just wrapped up its Inaugural Charity Golf Tournament at Mira Vista Country Club (Ft. Worth). It was a huge success as dozens of supporters, volunteers and coordinators and mentors joined together on the golf links to raise funds for the expanding needs of Mentors Care.

Host Dena Petty was busy running the tournament so she sent one of her faithful lieutenants--Sean Byers--out on the golf course with a microphone to capture some brief interviews from the golfers and supporters. Sean is the Mentors Care Coordinator at Red Oak HS and he aced his job as an on-the-spot reporter!

A special thank you to Thornton Steel for being the fundraiser's primary sponsor.
https://www.thorntonsteel.com/
Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
Support the show

Leisha Crowe is a long time mentor of Mentors Care.  She is a graduate of Midlothian High School and owns her own Remax Real Estate Company.  She shares the importance of giving back to the community.
Leisha found out about Mentors Care through a friend.  The young student she mentored was going through rebellion and being in and out of trouble.  She found as a mentor it is best to love them where they are and not judge.  She shares the importance of offering a listening ear and being that encouraging voice to tell them you can do this and I believe in you.  

Mentors Care is a non-profit organization that implements a proven method of mentoring students at risk of not graduating high school. Its volunteers are trained to encourage ACTION, HOPE, and a FUTURE for every student who participates in Mentors Care.
For more information about how to support Mentors Care or how to become part of the Mentors Care family, contact us at info@mentors.care or visit https://mentors.care
Support the show