A Year of Gratitude
2011 was our 10th Anniversary
Some Highlights:
- Awarded 3-year Tony Grampsas Youth Services grant by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Developed 2011-14 Business and Strategic plan with Richard Male & Ass.
- Awarded "Heavy Lifting Award" by Mayor's Office for Education and Children in Denver
- Put succession plan in place
- Documented YESS emotional intelligence curriculum and peer mentoring materials
- Start of product development to expand YESS expertise to larger audience
- Delivered keynote address at El Paso, TX conference: "Utilizing Mentoring: In the Therapeutic and Treatment Process."
- YESS Mentoring programs are integrated during school day as a class
It takes a village! Thank you to the YESS board for its leadership, the community for its support and to the people who make it happen. In our YESS village, we'd like to highlight one person:
A special acknowledgment to
Lincoln HS Daniel Medina
Since 2006, Dan's expertise, dedication and passion has been the driving force behind the successful impact of the YESS Mentoring programs. Thank you, Dan!
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Stories of Success
North High School
One of the mentor leaders at North has taken on the responsibility of finding kids in the hall who are not in class and walking them to where they need to be. Over the last few weeks the 10th grade mentees have really responded well to her. They have started improving. Their overall school attendance was brought up from a 62% from the first 9 week of school to an 80% the second 9 weeks after joining.
Lincoln High School
The most amazing aspects of the program are the peer mentors, who are providing a positive role model for these kids. They are leaving no stones unturned to make them come to school. For instance, one of the current 9th grade mentees had a bad grade in his first period, as he could never wake up early to make it to class. His mentor gifted him an alarm clock and told him, "Every morning when this alarm clock rings, remember I am counting on you and believe that you can wake up and make it on time." Indeed, a very touching moment to witness the extent our mentors go to help the mentees to succeed.
West High School
One Mentor/Mentee pair always arrives to meetings together and I've watched the peer mentor walk his Mentee to class afterwards. This mentor has said, "Ms., he never went to class after lunch. Now he does." Two mentees love attending YESS so much, they haven't missed a meeting and even tried to attend the Mentor Training!
At this point, the energy and enthusiasm of the peer mentors is just what the mentees need to see as they contemplate investing in YESS and, in turn, themselves!
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10th Anniversary Event
The YESS Institute celebrated ten years of dedicated service: + 3,300 adults and youth trained; close to 1,200 middle and high school students participated in the 24 YESS peer mentoring programs in the Denver area.
Hosted at the beautiful home of Glenn and Jeanne Tubb, over 50 guests, supporters, former employees and mentors gathered on this wintery Colorado evening. There was a glorious display of food and drink for guests to enjoy while chatting with friends and several former YESS employees who attended to support the evening.
Co-Founder Carlo Kriekels welcomed the guests and expressed how thankful he was for all of the support YESS has received over the past 10 years. Board member Portia Prescott spoke about the exciting future plans of the Institute.
See pictures!
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DONATE HERE
Thank you for your support in 2011
Hot off the Press
The
YESS Institute's 10th Anniversary Report capturing a decade of impact
Email us with your mailing address for a copy.
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Seasons to Share
Please view the Season's to Share YESS video to learn more about our efforts with at risk youth in the Denver area.
We are proud to be a part of the Denver Post Season to Share Campaign for the first time this year. |
The YESS Institute welcomes
new staff:
Sarah Clark – Program Specialist at North High School Sarah is from Denver, CO. Sarah received a B.A in Communications from the University of Denver.
After college she joined the Colorado Mentors on the Move AmeriCorps Program where she worked to reduce the educational and basic needs barriers for homeless students and families. She provided them with mentoring, tutoring, and assisted parents with resource information. Before joining the YESS Institute, Sarah worked for Adams County School District 50 Homeless Service Program for seven years. She worked with at-risk families and youth to remove the educational barriers that prevent them from having a successful school experience. She worked with families and youth providing them with comprehensive support services to break the cycle of poverty.
AmeriCorps Member Sampada Joshee – Program Specialist at Lincoln High School
Sampada Joshee was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal. She moved to the United States in 2004, during her senior year of high school. She completed her undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009 and has a Masters in biomedical studies from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. This year, she wanted to do something completely different. In her words, "she wanted to serve rather than work". As she has faced many of challenges to get where she is today, Sampada is very passionate about helping youth overcome obstacles to reach their full potential. Sampada is very excited to serve the youth and help them acquire emotional intelligence to become the best versions of themselves.
Emily Webster – Program Specialist at West High School
Emily has joined the YESS Institute from Tampa, Florida. She has been a counselor at a therapeutic wilderness program for adjudicated youth, a life skills teacher and advisor at a program for at-risk adolescent girls, and a counselor at an out of school time program for low income youth. Emily is passionate about building relationships with youth and their support systems and facilitating fun and productive growth opportunities.
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