How Leaders Think with Kenny Lange How Dena Petty Thinks About Building Nonprofits for Lasting Impact
Sep 10, 2025
Dena Petty, Founder and Director of Mentors Care, shares her inspiring journey of creating a nonprofit that transforms the lives of at-risk high school students. She discusses the critical role of mentorship in empowering youth and emphasizes the need for community engagement to tackle social challenges. Dena also offers insights into establishing sustainable nonprofit practices and overcoming leadership paralysis. Her upcoming book, 'Collateral Hope,' reflects her life experiences and the essence of her mission to inspire change.
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Relationship First Unlocks Learning
- Many high-school students lack foundational beliefs and relationships that enable success.
- Dena Petty says relationship-first mentoring helps students trust, learn, and adopt healthier behaviors.
How Mentors Care Began
- Dena began Mentors Care after a principal asked her to start a mentoring program in 2009 when volunteering at a high school.
- She focused on teens because few programs serve older adolescents during decision-making years.
Structure Volunteers For Success
- Be intentional and structured when recruiting volunteers for high-risk teens; provide training and clear, simple roles.
- Ask mentors to be a friend and back them with full-time coordinators, curriculum, and systems.
