Struggling to Find a Way: Why Tough Love is Destroying At Risk Youth with Preston Adams
Preston Adams, a lifelong Aurora, Colorado native with nearly two decades of experience in youth violence prevention, has worked across classrooms, gyms, detention settings, and community based programs supporting gang and system involved young people. Now leading the Youth Violence Prevention program for the City and County of Denver, Preston brings a rare perspective shaped by both frontline work and navigating the limits of the justice system itself.
In this episode of the Super Daddy Club, Preston and Lendo examine the realities facing young people caught in cycles of incarceration, immigration stress, trauma, and structural neglect. They break down why “tough love” and scare based approaches like "Scared Straight" consistently fail, and how dehumanization within the juvenile justice system often deepens harm rather than preventing it. The conversation moves beyond trauma informed language toward healing centered care, emphasizing the importance of time, developmental understanding, and sustained community support.
Together, they explore how real accountability paired with compassion, relationship based mentorship, indigenous healing practices, and community rooted solutions offer a more effective path forward. One that addresses the root causes of harm, preserves dignity, and creates the conditions for lasting change.
In this episode of the Super Daddy Club, Preston and Lendo examine the realities facing young people caught in cycles of incarceration, immigration stress, trauma, and structural neglect. They break down why “tough love” and scare based approaches like "Scared Straight" consistently fail, and how dehumanization within the juvenile justice system often deepens harm rather than preventing it. The conversation moves beyond trauma informed language toward healing centered care, emphasizing the importance of time, developmental understanding, and sustained community support.
Together, they explore how real accountability paired with compassion, relationship based mentorship, indigenous healing practices, and community rooted solutions offer a more effective path forward. One that addresses the root causes of harm, preserves dignity, and creates the conditions for lasting change.