Changing Futures: How a Community Driven, Personalized Approach is Transforming Lives

FEATURING Gary Ivory

Episode Description

In the first episode of Season Four, Executive Director John Tuell speaks with Gary Ivory, President and CEO at Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) about its transformative role in youth justice over the past 50 years. Together, they explore YAP’s primary goals, its evolution since its inception, and the personalized services it offers to youth and families. Through individualized treatment, YAP helps youth stay out of the justice system, with a focus on reducing recidivism by tailoring services to each individual’s needs. They also discuss the critical factors that contribute to YAP’s success, including collaboration with local communities and key stakeholders like probation, child welfare, and education systems. The episode highlights inspiring success stories, showcasing how the program has made a lasting impact on reducing recidivism rates. Join us to learn how YAP is making a difference and shaping the future of youth justice.
SEASON FOUR: Episode One | RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2025

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About the Guest

Gary Ivory

President & CEO | Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP)

Gary Ivory has been President of YAP since 2021 and became President and CEO in June 2023.  YAP currently operates programs in 35 states and internationally. YAP is a 501c3 organization dedicated to developing community-based alternatives for high-risk and high-need young people and their families so that they rely less on out-of-home care. YAP has an annual operating budget in excess of $110 million annually and operates programs and partnerships globally in Ireland, Australia, Sierra Leone, Africa and Guatemala. In addition to providing direct services, YAP operates the Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education which provides over 50 scholarships annually for young people and their caregivers to attend vocational or post-secondary education.

Gary began his employment with YAP in 1992.  He started with YAP in Trenton, New Jersey as Program Director of the Mercer County Advocate Program from 1992-1993. In 1993, he moved back to his home state of Texas to become the director of the Tarrant County Advocate Program. He was then promoted to regional director for Texas in 1995. In this position, he helped to develop a truce between warring crip and blood gang members and helped to organize the “Tour of the South” campaign against violence.

In 1996 he was selected as one of ten national leaders to be awarded the Children and Family Fellowship at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. After the fellowship, he managed national initiatives during his tenure as the Director of the Community Assets Division at the Enterprise Foundation located in Columbia, MD. He held this position from 1997-1999. He helped facilitate the first Bi-Partisan Congressional Retreat with members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996.

In 1999, he returned to Youth Advocate Programs as Southwest President. He expanded YAP programs to six states in the Southwest and nationally. In 2016, he was named President of the Thomas Jeffers Endowment Fund for Continuing Education. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Austin College and his Master’s of Divinity Degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and has completed course work at Princeton University. He was awarded a fellowship at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders, Center for Social Innovation in 2006 and has completed certifications at the Harvard University Negotiation Project (2004), the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education “Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations in 2017 and the Wharton Aresty Institute of Executive Education “Corporate Governance-Maximize Your Effectiveness in the Boardroom” in 2023.