Stronger Together: UYWI, DVULI, and the Power of Fuel Networks

By Tommy Nixon, CEO, UYWI 

DVULI is grateful to partner with UYWI. In the effort to expand UYWI’s influence, message, and reach, this contribution on sustaining youth leaders is for the inspiration of DVULI alumni and the urban leadership community. Enjoy!

A Partnership Rooted in a Shared Mission 

For nearly two decades, the Urban Youth Workers Institute (UYWI) and the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative (DVULI) have been running parallel paths with a shared heartbeat: equipping leaders to transform the lives of urban youth. Both organizations understood that the challenges faced by young people in the city required more than good intentions—they required leaders who were trained, resourced, and supported to remain in ministry for the long haul. 

Over time, it became clear that their greatest impact would not come by working alone but by locking arms in deeper partnership. That conviction led to the creation of Fuel Networks, a bold initiative designed to strengthen leaders in cities across the nation by surrounding them with community, training, and opportunities for collaboration. 

The vision behind Fuel Networks is simple yet profound: If you want to see youth transformed, you must first invest in the leaders who guide them. Too often, youth pastors and community leaders labor in isolation, carrying heavy burdens without the encouragement or resources they need. Burnout becomes common, and leaders who once felt called to ministry quietly step away. Fuel Networks confronts this reality by creating spaces where leaders can come together, pray together, learn from one another, and take collective action for the good of their city. 

The Three Pillars of Fuel Networks 

Gather & Connect

The first pillar focuses on building intentional rhythms of relationship. Leaders gather regularly—whether over a monthly lunch, through collaborative workshops, or by sharing curriculum like the Alpha Youth Series. These consistent points of connection break down isolation and create a culture of encouragement and accountability. 

Carry & Care

The second pillar ensures that leaders do not carry the weight of ministry alone. Fuel Networks creates spaces for prayer, encouragement, and emotional support, helping leaders sustain both their personal faith and their ministry impact. This pillar reminds youth pastors and ministry workers that they are seen, valued, and strengthened by one another. 

Create & Collaborate

The third pillar pushes networks beyond connection into action. Leaders are encouraged to dream, innovate, and collaborate on projects that no single ministry could accomplish alone. Whether it’s a citywide prayer walk, shared evangelistic efforts, or new opportunities in schools, collaboration expands the kingdom’s reach and amplifies impact across entire communities. 

 

Stories of Impact in Long Beach 

In Long Beach, the heart of these three pillars is coming alive through the leadership of local pastors and youth workers who are building something bigger than themselves. 

Amie Schmidgall, the Long Beach Fuel Networks Leader, has emphasized collaboration over competition from day one. Having lived and served in the city for over a decade, Amie has seen the unique challenges young people face and the heavy load carried by those who serve them. She rallied leaders together for a citywide prayer walk across every middle and high school in Long Beach, visibly modeling unity and intercession. “By being united,” Amie shared, “we can use our collective resources to bring transformation to schools, families, and neighborhoods.” Her leadership reflects the spirit of gathering, connecting, and building trust among leaders who once ministered in isolation. 

Johanna Turner, serving as both a youth pastor and a Fuel Networks Coordinator, knows how lonely ministry can feel. By creating spaces for leaders to meet, share, and pray together, Johanna has helped transform isolation into community. One highlight was the Alpha Youth Series, where multiple ministries partnered for an eight-week discipleship journey. Students wrestled with faith questions in safe spaces while leaders grew stronger in the process of working side by side. For Johanna, the most powerful tool has not been a program but the act of building an intentional community. 

Manny Gallegos Jr., who also serves as Fuel Networks Coordinator, brings a story of redemption and resilience into the network. After years of personal struggles, Manny responded to God’s call and is now a youth pastor who sees the Fuel Networks as both a blessing and a bridge. Through the relationships he has built, Manny has been invited into schools he once had no access to. Watching their pastor step into their world, his students feel deeply valued and loved. Manny’s journey reflects the “carry and care” pillar—he has been strengthened by community and, in turn, is pouring that strength back into the next generation. 

Together, Amie, Johanna, and Manny embody what Fuel Networks is designed to do: gather leaders, help them care for one another, and empower them to collaborate in ways that transform their city. 

A National Movement

What’s happening in Long Beach is just one glimpse of a much bigger story. Fuel Networks is also thriving in Cleveland, Columbus, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Newark, Queens, and Washington, DC. Each city is experiencing its own version of leaders uniting, sharing resources, and stepping into spaces where God is already at work. 

By training, resourcing, and sustaining urban leaders, UYWI is ensuring that the next generation is not only being reached but also transformed. Long Beach is a powerful example, but it is just a portion of the work unfolding across the nation in other cities, all moving toward the same vision: healthy leaders, healthy ministries, and healthy communities fueled by Christ and one another.