Who's Involved

The DVULI investment in urban youth workers requires the involvement and support of many others. We contract a local city coordinator in each city, we recruit mentors to match with participants, in addition, we bring on professional practitioners who facilitate our leadership training curriculum.

  • Participants Close

    DVULI training cohorts consists of 10-12 urban youth leaders from a specific city. The process of becoming a participant in the Initiative involves being nominated by a local stakeholder and receiving an application. Once applications are submitted, a select number of applicants are interviewed for the program, and those who are selected are notified by their City Coordinator. Qualifications for Participants include the following:

    • Leads a program or ministry that directly impacts youth
    • Demonstrates a willingness to share leadership with others
    • Has a strong desire to learn and has a teachable spirit
    • Is in a position to implement plans for change
    • Has been in ministry for a minimum of three years
    • Is able to participate fully as a part of his/her job
    • Is personally active in a church

  • City Coordinators View

    City Coordinator is the title given to the person responsible for the local implementation of the DeVos training. The process of becoming a City Coordinator involves being referred by local stakeholders, DeVos alumni and/or national organizations. Qualifications for City Coordinators include the following:

    • Demonstrates godliness and spiritual maturity
    • Excellent management skills, including the ability to plan, organize, manage timelines, work independently, and conduct team–building activities
    • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
    • Passionate about reaching urban youth, and unbiased towards various ministries or methods of service delivery
    • Prior experience working with urban youth
    • Known and respected by ministry practitioners and key stakeholders in the community
    • Has a track record for working in partnership with others

  • Mentors View

    Each participant in the DeVos training is required to have a mentor. Mentors are selected by the participants, with the approval of the City Coordinator. Mentors meet with participants on a monthly basis for one year. Qualifications for Mentors include the following:

    • Is a mature, committed Christian
    • Demonstrates a willingness to give honest feedback
    • Proven leadership qualities that will enable him/her to contribute to the participant’s growth
    • Willingness to attend a three-hour orientation session and to meet monthly with participant for at least one year
    • Demonstrates the application of DVULI’s core values (Accountability, Balance, Interdependence, Empowerment, Leverage) in his/her personal and professional life

  • City Liaisons View

    A City Liaison is a connector between alumni and DVULI, a source of encouragement, empowerment and guidance for as long as alumni remain connected to youth ministry.

    Their mission is to coach alumni to strengthen and replicate leaders for ministry with urban youth within their communities.

    They are also responsible for the following:

    • Alumni Relations, Support, & Coaching
    • City Visits & Alumni Gatherings
    • Supervisor Orientation
    • City Coordinator Selection
    • New City/Cohort Development
    • Graduations
    • Collaborative City Grant Management
    • Home Office Meetings & Training
    • Reunion Engagement

Testimonial

Carlos Nicasio

The core values gave me a foundation to create and build a ministry beyond anything I could’ve imagined. Accountability and balance were anchors for me in establishing healthy outcomes for both my life and ministry.

Carlos Nicasio San Diego 2008

Our Trainers

  • Trainer

    Tammy Barnett 

    Instructs
    Resource Networking
    Education
    Ph.D
    Profession
    Founder of Unwrapping Imperfection and Curator of ConnectHER Weekend Retreat
    Practitioner
    Author, Counselor, Inspirational Speaker, Workshop Facilitator, Mentor
    DVULI Affiliation
    2012 Cincinnati Participant
  • Oscar Benavides
    Trainer

    Oscar Benavides

    Instructs
    Systems Thinking
    Education
    MDiv
    Profession
    CEO Chair/Coach, Vistage World Wide
    Practitioner
    Executive Coach, Trainer, Speaker
    DVULI Affiliation
    2009 Dallas Participant/City Coordinator; 2011 Washington, DC Coach
  • Myron Bernard
    Trainer

    Myron Bernard

    Instructs
    Systems Thinking
    Education
    Masters
    Profession
    Deputy Director at Tacoma Rescue Mission
    Practitioner
    Speaker, Trainer, Non-profit leader
    DVULI Affiliation
    2011 Seattle-Tacoma Participant
  • Trainer

    Emory Berry

    Instructs
    Empowering Youth
    Education
    DMin
    Profession
    Lead Pastor/Founder of The Favor Church of Atlanta and CEO of Elevate Press
    Practitioner
    Lead Pastor, Professor, Author, Book Publishing
    DVULI Affiliation
    2009 Miami Participant
  • Bridgette Bowman
    Trainer

    Bridgette Bowman

    Instructs
    Resource Networking
    Education
    BS, JD
    Profession
    Executive Director and Founder of the Themis Project; Legal Counsel at The Law Office of Bridgett Bowman
    Practitioner
    Non-Profit Strategist, Public Speaker, Community Advocate, Mentor, Resource Developer
    DVULI Affiliation
    2013 Memphis Participant/City Coordinator
  • Liza Cagua-Koo
    Trainer

    Liza Cagua-McAllister

    Instructs
    Systems Thinking
    Education
    BA
    Profession
    Systems Consultant
    Practitioner
    Urban Ministry & Partnership Developer, Leader Coach, Systems Thinking Practitioner, Life-long Learner
    DVULI Affiliation
    2006 Boston Participant
  • Trainer

    Ron Carter

    Instructs
    Personal and Ministry Assessment, Core Values
    Education
    BS, MEd, MDiv
    Profession
    Director of Training and Resources, DeVos Urban Leadership
    Practitioner
    Bible Instructor, Public Speaker, Church Minister
    DVULI Affiliation
    1999 Birmingham Participant; Staff; Coach; Liaison
  • Marvin Daniels
    Trainer

    Marvin Daniels

    Instructs
    Organizational Planning, Leading for Life
    Education
    M.Ed., MA, Certification in Dispute Resolution
    Profession
    CEO of The Hope Center of Kansas City, MO
    Practitioner
    Public Speaker, Seminar Facilitator, Senior Leadership Trainer
    DVULI Affiliation
    2002 Chicago Participant/City Coordinator
  • Jeremy Del Rio
    Trainer

    Jeremy Del Rio

    Instructs
    Resource Networking, Core Values, Transformational Giving
    Education
    BA, JD
    Profession
    Executive Director, Thrive Collective
    Practitioner
    Professor, Consultant
    DVULI Affiliation
    2010 New York City Participant/City Coordinator
  • Kim Kossie-McKee
    Trainer

    Kim Kossie-McKee

    Instructs
    Personal & Ministry Assessment
    Education
    Double BS
    Profession
    Ministry Trainer
    Practitioner
    Sr. Pastor and Sr. Director of Community Relations
    DVULI Affiliation
    2005 Houston Participant
  • Trainer

    Isaias Mercado

    Instructs
    Personal and Ministry Assessment
    Education
    M.Div. D.MIN.
    Profession
    President - Envision Leadership Group and National Director of Training - National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP)
    Practitioner
    Executive Leadership Trainer, Coach, Speaker, & Professor
    DVULI Affiliation
    2000 Chicago Participant/City Coordinator
  • Domingo Mota
    Trainer

    Domingo Mota

    Instructs
    Community Youth Development
    Education
    AA, BA
    Profession
    West Zone Field Director, CarePortal
    Practitioner
    Pastor, Trainer/Facilitator, Coach, Mentor, Motivational Speaker
    DVULI Affiliation
    2005 Los Angeles Participant
  • Trainer

    Ericka Porter

    Instructs
    Personal and Ministry Assessment
    Education
    BS
    Profession
    Founder & CEO of Rise Up Training & Consulting
    Practitioner
    Trainer, speaker, consultant, youth agency & advocacy, leadership development
    DVULI Affiliation
    2022 Denver Participant
  • Antoine Richardson
    Trainer

    Antoine Richardson

    Instructs
    Scenario Planning
    Education
    Ph.D., Pharm.D.
    Profession
    President, Carver Baptist Bible College, Institute & Theological Seminary
    Practitioner
    Youth Pastor, Professor, Public Speaker, Counselor, Administrator
    DVULI Affiliation
    2008 Kansas City Participant
  • Virginia Ward
    Trainer

    Virginia Ward

    Instructs
    Personal and Ministry Assessment, Community Youth Development
    Education
    MA, DMin
    Profession
    Dean of Boston Campus and Executive Director of Northeast Region, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Associate Pastor, Abundant Life Church
    Practitioner
    Youth Pastor, Motivational Speaker, Youth Advocate, Certified Trainer, Worship Leader, Professor, Mentor
    DVULI Affiliation
    1998 Boston Participant/City Coordinator