What A Day In The Life of A CVI Worker REALLY Looks Like: A SECOND conversation with Preston Adams

This episode right here is for the ones who do the work or are thinking about stepping into it.

Last year, I sat down with my bro Preston Adams—co-founder of Fully Liberated Youth (now the City of Denver's Youth Violence Prevention program manager) to have a real conversation about what a day in the life of a CVI worker actually looks like. I want you to know the truth - not the version in a brochure. The version where you’re checking on a kid at 10PM, getting ghosted in the morning, dodging drama at a local restaurant, and still pulling up to court, school, a sentencing hearing, or a funeral. We talked about everything they don’t put in the job description: The emotional weight of the work. The trauma that comes with close to those we serve. The gas, the ghosting, the grind. And what it really takes to run an organization—not just serve in one. We also get into how to hold your own in rooms full of professionals who have titles, degrees, and power—but don’t always understand the value of lived experience. If you’re already in this field, just starting, or thinking about building something—this conversation might save you some mistakes. It’s not just insight—it’s strategy. Timestamp 0:00 - Exploring Youth Violence Prevention and Building Community Organizations 4:30 - Challenges and Rewards of Supporting At-Risk Youth in Denver 9:19 - Navigating Gang Territories and Celebrating Youth Achievements 11:38 - Advocating for Young People in Professional Settings 18:23 - Addressing Trauma for Effective Substance Misuse Treatment 20:32 - Building Relationships Through Humility and Understanding Professional Jargon 23:46 - Collaborative Efforts to Support and Liberate Young People 27:21 - The Power of Lived Experience in Advocacy 32:45 - Adventures and Challenges of Life on the Road 35:54 - Building a Nonprofit: Challenges and Strategies for Success 41:16 - Understanding Business Dynamics in Nonprofit Organizations 45:04 - Building a Movement: Balancing Compassion and Business Operations 52:06 - Navigating Nonprofit Challenges and Finding Your Passion 57:35 - Embodying Values and Expanding Impact Through Conversations Resources by Preston: Tattoos on the Heart by Father Gregory Boyle: https://amzn.to/3GjN45T