#5 Joel Lueb - Building Independence and Community
Episode 5 | 26 Minutes | Oct 1, 2024
What happens when someone combines a passion for community, a background in foster care, and entrepreneurial skills to create lasting change for emancipated youth?
On this episode of the Collective Impact Podcast, we’re talking with Joel Lueb, a print production business owner from California, about his journey from fostering 19 children to founding DSF Works, a nonprofit that mentors youth aging out of foster care through classic car restoration and media arts. Together, we’ll explore the heart behind his work, the integration of his faith with his business, and the powerful impact his community-centered approach is having on both the youth and volunteers involved.
In this Episode:
How classic cars and media arts help build community for foster youth
Integrating faith and business to create lasting impact
The transformative power of mentorship and hands-on learning
Challenges and rewards of working with emancipated youth
Creating a space where volunteers and youth alike are changed
The role of community in fostering independence for vulnerable youth
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Joel Lueb is an entrepreneur, community leader, and nonprofit founder based in Long Beach, California. Alongside his wife Doreen, Joel has fostered 19 children over eight years, ultimately adopting their youngest son, Truman. This deep involvement in the foster care system inspired him to launch DSF Works, a nonprofit that empowers emancipated foster youth by teaching skills in classic car restoration and media arts. Joel’s passion for mentoring young people, combined with his faith, has shaped his approach to building supportive communities where both youth and volunteers are transformed. In addition to his nonprofit work, Joel owns a successful print production company, Bigger Dot, serving major clients like the LA Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl. Through his work, Joel bridges the worlds of business, faith, and community service, offering hope and opportunity to those transitioning from foster care into adulthood.
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Scott:
Hey everyone, welcome to the Collective Impact Podcast. Today I’m with a great friend of mine, Joel Lueb from California. Joel, so great to have you on our program.
Joel:
Thank you. Well, I’m excited to be here, Scott. Thank you for the invite.
Joel’s Background
Scott:
So, I would love for you to tell a little bit about who you are, what you do. I mean, I could say some things about you, but I’d love for you to tell our listeners the kinds of things that they should know about you.
Joel:
Thank you. As you mentioned, I live in California. I’m married—my wife Doreen and I have four children. I also have a business that does print production, and we started a nonprofit that works with emancipated youth—those who have aged out of the foster care system. We’ve built a community that focuses on classic car restoration and media arts, including photography and videography.
Through this process, our goal is to help these youth become part of a community, develop relationships, and transition from dependent care to healthy independence. We’re based in Long Beach, and my wife and I recently celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary with our children and grandchildren, so we’re still basking in the glow of that!
Fostering and DSF Works
Scott:
That’s amazing, Joel. The things you and Doreen are doing—was this something that the two of you started together?
Joel:
Yes, it really flowed out of our experience with fostering. Through a couple in our church, we learned more about the needs within foster care. Over eight years, we fostered 19 children, and through that, we got to know our youngest son, Truman, who came to us at 12 days old. A couple of years later, we adopted him. We’re really grateful that God allowed us to walk that path and complete our family with our four children.
Scott:
Joel, I remember when you gave me that wonderful tour around Long Beach. You showed me your office, and I know you’re connected to DSF Works. Can you tell us more about what DSF Works is?
Joel:
Absolutely. DSF Works was started as a way for us to continue serving those who have aged out of foster care. It focuses on automotive restoration and media arts, but really, the main goal is using these trades to form community. We bring these youth into a space where they can work on cars and participate in media arts projects. We have many volunteers—some from the church and others from the wider community—and it’s just a lot of fun. It becomes an easy way to engage in conversations as we’re wrenching side by side.
We regularly hear from volunteers, “I don’t know who’s been more impacted, the youth or me.” The mentoring and learning process goes both ways.
The Role of Faith in Mentorship
Scott:
That’s incredible. Are the mentors typically Christians, or is it a mix?
Joel:
Many of them are Christians, but not all. Our goal is to have those with a personal relationship with Jesus be part of the community, but we also want to reflect the larger community. We open it up to everyone. It’s become a way for real, raw life to take place. Some people who volunteer don’t have any church connection, but they’re still impacted. Before each meal, we say a quick prayer, and people have even said they come just to receive that blessing. It’s a small microcosm of what the church should look like.
The Power of Community and Internships
Scott:
I love the way you’re doing this, Joel. Sometimes, you can overload things with so many Christians that it feels disconnected. But you’ve created a space where everyone rubs off on each other in a really positive way.
Joel:
Thanks, Scott. That’s definitely the goal—to create an environment of liveliness where people experience beauty and life. We also have a full-time internship program for these youth. Even though we don’t have an open garage all the time, people stop in regularly because they’re excited about being part of the community. We’re trying to normalize healthy relationships that these youth may not have experienced. The foster care system often leaves them without consistent adults in their lives, and we’re working to fill that gap.
Joel’s Journey: Childhood and Faith
Scott:
There’s so much about you that I admire—the entrepreneur in you, the creative side, and the energy you have. What shaped you into the Joel Lueb I’m talking to today?
Joel:
A lot of that comes from my upbringing. My parents moved to the Netherlands when I was six years old because they felt called by God. They didn’t have a job lined up—they just sold everything, bought one-way tickets, and moved to be part of the local community there. My parents were focused on not bringing their own version of ministry but integrating with the local church and community. Growing up in that context definitely shaped me into who I am today.
Scott:
How long were you in the Netherlands?
Joel:
I was there from age six to 18. After I moved back to the U.S., my parents stayed another 12-15 years. I had an interesting experience, not feeling fully American but also not feeling fully Dutch. At 18, I set out to explore more of my roots and figure out who I was.
Joel’s Faith Journey
Scott:
In the old days, we would’ve called you an MK—missionary kid—but today, it’s TCK, third culture kid. It sounds like you had a good experience.
Joel:
It really was. I love people and languages, and I integrated well. But my parents were always open to letting me explore who I was. They gave me the freedom to spread my wings, and that was key to my good experience.
Scott:
Let’s talk about your Jesus journey. How did you come to faith and grow into the person you are today?
Joel:
I don’t have a radical conversion story, but I think there’s beauty in long, consistent exposure to seeing God at work. My parents lived by faith, and as a family, we talked a lot about trusting God for provision. Seeing that played out in real life helped my faith become my own, though it wasn’t always a straight path. The teenage years brought challenges, but I found that the foundation I needed was in a relationship with Jesus.
Integrating Faith and Work
Scott:
How do you integrate your faith with your entrepreneurial work and what you’re doing with foster kids?
Joel:
A big part of that came from a challenge in our church in Long Beach—how is our faith being lived out in the community? A couple actively involved in foster care presented a biblical case for the church’s involvement. That resonated with us, and we decided as a family to foster, bringing children into our home as a way of loving others and living out our faith.
Over the course of eight years, we fostered 19 children. It was a stretching process, but it was also beautiful. One of the children, who came to us at 12 days old, became our son, Truman.
Connecting with One Collective
Scott:
I’ve met Truman—a great kid. One thing I love about what you’re doing is challenging the small “C” church to leave the building and engage with the community. How did you connect with One Collective?
Joel:
We heard about One Collective through a couple we were supporting. They were looking for a more integrated approach to ministry, and One Collective provided that. They’ve been doing amazing work in Vietnam, and we’ve been privileged to walk alongside them.
The Future and Impact of DSF Works
Scott:
Thank you for supporting that couple. I interviewed Michelle on the Lasting Change Podcast, and what they’re doing in Vietnam is truly unique. It’s great that you’re part of that journey with us, Joel.
Joel:
It’s a privilege. We’ve seen God working in amazing ways. DSF Works continues to provide meaningful work and training to neurodiverse youth, and the community response has been incredibly positive. We’re seeing perceptions change about what these young people are capable of, and it’s a powerful testimony of God’s provision.
Closing Remarks
Scott:
Joel, thank you so much for being part of our podcast today. It’s been great having you here.
Joel:
You’re welcome. It’s been a privilege and a lot of fun.
Scott:
And to those listening, thank you for joining us on the Collective Impact Podcast. I hope today’s episode has inspired and empowered you to create meaningful change in your own sphere of influence. If you want to dive deeper into the ideas discussed today, head over to onecollective.org/podcast for links to resources, past episodes, and ways to connect with our community. Until next time, thanks a lot!
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Episode 25 of the Lasting Change Podcast
Mentioned in the conversation, linking to Episode 25 of Lasting Change Podcast, where Joel talks about the Vietnam-based couple doing impactful work with neurodiverse youth. This helps create a bridge between stories and offers additional context.
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