Built on Second Chances: Mindy Watrous on Trauma, Foster Care, and Leading with Heart

Christy Belz welcomes her friend and fellow Colorado advocate Mindy Watrous, President and CEO of the Tennyson Center for Children, for a conversation that moves between the personal and the profound. From becoming a foster parent at 23 to leading one of Colorado's most impactful children's nonprofits, Mindy's path was never planned — it was pulled, thread by thread, by a love for kids the world too often overlooks. This is a warm, candid conversation about trauma-informed care, the courage to follow your passion, and why second chances aren't just a philosophy at Tennyson — they're the whole point.Key Takeaways One Choice That Changed Everything: Mindy traces her entire career — and her family — back to an accidental placement at a therapeutic foster care agency at age 23.What Trauma Actually Looks Like: She breaks down how trauma shows up in children — from acting out to complete withdrawal — and why something as simple as a closed door can send a child into crisis.When the Building Itself Heals: Mindy shares how Tennyson partnered with trauma-informed architectural firm Shopworks to design a space where everything — colors, textures, open doors — communicates safety.Second Chances as a Practice: She explains how Tennyson operationalizes second chances for kids and staff alike, through restorative justice and incident debriefs.The Mistake That Reshaped Her Leadership: Mindy opens up about a high-stakes error at Special Olympics, and how a board mentor's grace — and a story about a semi-truck full of outdated stationery — permanently changed the way she leads.Resources Mentioned: Crossroads Event – Journey of Rebecoming: https://visitdenver.com/event/crossroads%3A-the-journey-of-rebecoming/138692/ Connect with Mindy Watrous: Website: https://www.tennysoncenter.org/ Email: [email protected] Paths to Healing Spring Luncheon: https://e.givesmart.com/events/Mlh/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-watrous-9833195 Connect with Christy Belz: Website: https://christybelz.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christybelz/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christybelzcoach/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristyBelzCoach/