05/21/2026
Over the weekend Brent Blackwell had the honor of traveling to West Virginia to attend the very first BBQ cookoff at New Vision Village as a coach and mentor. I wanted to take a minute to tell you about this incredible organization.
Www.nvre.org is helping teens and young adults who have aged out of foster care, are coming out of troubled situations, or are trying to get a fresh start after juvenile detention. Their mission is to give these kids a real fighting chance at life through housing, mentorship, job training, and community support.
They are building a tiny home village where these young adults can have a safe place to stay while learning critical life skills like finances, cooking, responsibility, and social skills. Some of these kids never had someone teach them even the basics — things many of us take for granted, like boiling water or preparing a meal. Without support, many end up trapped in cycles of homelessness, addiction, or crime. NVRE is working to change that before it happens.
One of the coolest parts for me was being able to help teach grilling and cooking skills through BBQ. Food has a way of bringing people together, building confidence, and creating mentorship opportunities that go way beyond the grill.
It was also tough hearing the reality of the need. Their current vision includes 24 tiny homes, but they expect hundreds of kids to age out of the system every single year. The need is massive, but organizations like this are making a real difference one life at a time.
If you’d like to donate, volunteer, or simply learn more about what they’re doing, check out:
nvre.org