Darby Voeks is the Area Director at Crosstown Young Life, an organization dedicated to mentoring and supporting middle and high school youth in the Richfield, South Minneapolis, and Northeast Minneapolis areas. Under his leadership, Crosstown Young Life serves over 1,500 youth, partnering with multiple local churches and impacting countless young lives through mentorship, retreats, and community support initiatives. Beyond his work in youth development, Darby is passionate about leadership training, is an avid surfer and marathon runner, and is committed to helping people reach their fullest potential.

Real change doesn't always come from big stages or distant places. Sometimes it starts with ordinary people showing up consistently, right where they live. What would happen if generosity and mentorship became the heartbeat of our own neighborhoods?

For Darby Voeks, the answer is clear: transformation happens when adults choose to invest deeply and personally in young people before they're written off. Drawing from his experience walking alongside middle and high school students, he explains that mentorship isn't about fixing kids, but about being present long enough for trust to take root. When communities commit to that kind of local generosity, it doesn't just change individual lives; it reshapes the future of the community itself.

In this episode of the Align & Abide podcast, Dr. Kim Tran is joined by Darby Voeks, Area Director at Crosstown Young Life, to discuss mobilizing local generosity and mentorship to empower youth. They explore why investing in your own backyard matters, how consistent mentors can change a young person's trajectory, and the role businesses and churches play in sustaining youth-focused work. Darby also shares advice on practical ways anyone can start supporting and mentoring youth today.