Today we’d like to introduce you to Jawaan Ballard.
Jawaan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was once a Young Life kid in our own area. I went to Westbury High School, and a Young Life leader introduced himself to me. Young Life had a huge impact on my life and is a major part of where I am today. Having the opportunity to give back and work for Young Life was a no-brainer for me.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running a non-profit has its challenges, and it isn’t always a smooth road. Anytime that fundraising is your number one source of income and you are relying on volunteers, you’re going to come across challenges. Not to mention when you are working with hundreds of diverse teenagers who face unique challenges every day! One day’s challenge may be motivating our volunteer leaders to find more time to go to the schools (among their full-time jobs and busy lives), while another day’s challenge is brainstorming alongside our board members who else we can invite to partner with us financially, and then the next day’s challenge is a teenager telling me he doesn’t find life worth living anymore. In our diverse community in Southwest Houston, we spend time with teenagers who have everything they could ever want at their fingertips, and we know teenagers who don’t know where the next meal will come from. Every day looks different, every challenge is unique, and it is a privilege to be a part of it all.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Young Life Houston Southwest – what should we know?
Every day, teenagers walk the halls of their schools searching for life in all the wrong places, settling for less than they are worth and buying into lies that this world sells to them. In 1956, some adults in Southwest Houston recognized a need in our community, and Young Life was started at Bellaire and Lamar High Schools. 60 years later, the vision and mission of Young Life and the need are still the same- the need for adults to step into the lives of teenagers and tell them that they matter. I am convinced our community has never looked the same.
Today, over 60 Young Life Houston Southwest volunteer leaders are chasing after teenagers at Bellaire, Episcopal, Lamar, St. John’s, and Westbury Christian, as well as serving with YoungLives, our ministry for teen moms. Young Life leaders show up at football games, lacrosse practices, debate tournaments, band performances, school plays, award ceremonies, hospitals, funerals, proms, living rooms, restaurants, and any other place where teenagers are present to offer them friendship and to let them know that someone is in their corner. We take them as they are, place no expectations on them, and seek to understand their world.
It’s not hard to pick up what kids are saying. They want to be respected and feel safe. They want to live life abundantly — and that means having massive doses of fun, but it also means discovering who they are and what they were made for. So, in Young Life we invite kids into respectful relationships and into fun and adventure- through Young Life Club, Campaigners, and our Summer Camp trips.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think one of the key parts of Young Life is consistency. Our Young Life volunteer leaders go to where kids are, and they show up over and over again. We give kids the first word. We go into their lives with open ears and listen. We know that kids don’t care what we know until they know how much we care. We call that earning the right to be heard. And it all starts with consistency– showing up on the sidelines and being their biggest fans.
Contact Info:
- Address: Young Life Houston Southwest
1931 Lexington, Houston, TX 77098 - Website: www.ylhoustonsw.com
- Phone: 832-519-1836
- Email: ylhoustonsw@gmail.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/ylhoustonsw
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