The Power of Stories 

Phoenix, AZ – March 11, 2026 

The following remarks were delivered by Karen Johnson, President and CEO of New Pathways for Youth, during our most recent Stories of Transformation Breakfast on March 5, 2026, where she spoke about our mission, the strength of our community, and the lasting impact of mentorship.
We invite you to read her words and take a moment to reflect on the power of showing up for the next generation.

Stories are what make us human. They connect us to each other. We have all felt that moment—when someone you care about tells you something true about themself—something profound, maybe unexpected, likely deeply personal, and always brave—and suddenly you see that person in a whole new way. That is the magic of stories. 

And sometimes the stories of the challenges our youth face are difficult to hear. It’s the phone call late at night from a teen who is thinking about hurting themself. It’s feeling the pain of a child who has lost their sibling to gun violence. It’s seeing bruises on arms and wondering what or who caused them. It’s driving around the neighborhood trying to find where they spent the night. It’s worrying that they went to bed hungry, or woke up afraid. It’s unanswered text messages and the fear of what that may mean. It’s the disappointment of another failed test or another lost job. It’s knowing that you are the person they will call when they need help. All of those stories make our work hard—and they also make our work necessary. 

People are made of different histories, different fears, different ways of moving through the world. A story does not make that difference disappear. But it builds a bridge across it — fragile, hand-made, surprisingly strong. And on that bridge, for the length of a story, two people stand together, looking at the same thing, thinking the same thought: yes, I know, I understand, I see you, you are not alone. That is the connection that builds empathy, that fosters understanding. That is what these stories made possible this morning. 

At New Pathways for Youth, stories are core to our culture, to our program, and to every one of our youth and mentors. We know that when you really hear someone’s story—when you meet them where they are, with curiosity, with kindness, and with empathy—that is the beginning of healing. It is the start of transformation—of going beyond what happened to you and toward who you want to become.  

Because of New Pathways, we also have so many great stories to share. It’s the phone call saying he finally earned his high school diploma. That was my mentee, Xavier. It’s the text message saying she is so excited to be accepted into spring break camp. That was my mentee, Lilly. It’s the new friends who are made. It’s the rebuilding of the relationship with a parent. It’s getting your driver’s license. It’s writing your first resume. It’s joining student council. It’s your first job. It’s a college scholarship. It’s imagining a future filled with joy and opportunity. 

That is what we do at New Pathways for Youth. That is why our work matters. 

To tell a personal story honestly is an act of courage. Every person who has stood before an audience and said something real has done something brave.  

So, to our storytellers, Jhonathan, Jeremiah, and Sarah—thank you for being brave. To their mentors, Rhesha, Allen, and Rori—thank you for standing beside them—today and always.  

Your stories—your bravery—connected with every one of us in the room this morning. For that, we are grateful. 

And to all of you here this morning, thank you for being part of our breakfast. My invitation now is for you to be truly part of our work. To help us create more opportunities for more young people to discover their own story. To write a new chapter—alongside a mentor and with the support of our curriculum and our team. Your donation this morning makes transformation possible.  

This year is a challenging environment for nonprofits. Giving is down. Budgets are tight. Funding priorities are shifting. The economy is uncertain. At the same time, the need in the communities we serve are greater than ever.  

We need your help. So please give generously.  

Because you believe, like we do, that every young person deserves the chance for their story to be filled with hope and possibility. 

Thank you all for joining us this morning. Thank you for hearing the stories of our youth. Thank you for your gift that supports our mission. You make change possible.