YESS INSTITUTE
Transforming the lives of At risk youth
So that they become caring and productive members of their community
YESS INSTITUTE
Transforming Students intoCaring & Productive Community Members
Help us raise $50,000 by May 1st
Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to two $25,000 grants from the Anschutz Foundation and a generous philantropist
This $100,000 supports a daily class for 100 students. Thank you for supporting the success of YESS students
Welcome to yess
YESS is the way
We believe the YESS model is one of the strongest investments a community can make in young people. It builds school belonging, strengthens connections, empowers peer leaders, and equips students with the emotional intelligence skills they need to navigate challenges—not just in middle and high school, but throughout their lives. YESS develops leaders from the inside out, creating school cultures where students feel seen, supported, and capable of success.
And yet, every year, 1.2 million students nationwide drop out of school—1,500 in Denver Public Schools alone. Behind every number is a young person who didn’t feel connected, confident, or supported enough to stay on their path.
Since 2001, YESS Institute has been working to change that. As a Denver-based educational nonprofit, we walk alongside students on their Road to Success, providing the mentoring, SEL skill-building, and relational support that help them stay engaged, graduate, and step into their futures with confidence.
Impact
There is a smarter way to end the dropout crisis
Every year, our nation loses the potential, creativity, and future contributions of more than one million young people who leave school before graduating.
More than 1.2 million students drop out of school each year, costing the nation an estimated $300 billion in lost lifetime earnings, reduced tax revenue, and increased public assistance and criminal justice expenses. Many of these students report feeling invisible, unsupported, or too far behind to recover.
Our solutions are working.
YESS equips students with emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and relationship skills that strengthen belonging, resilience, and engagement—key protective factors proven to keep young people connected to school and on track to graduate.
The results are measurable. YESS students show improved academic performance, reduced suspensions, and increased classroom return rates, demonstrating that when young people feel connected and capable, they stay in school and succeed.
Our 3 pillars
Your donation is a powerful catalyst
For 25 years, YESS has walked alongside Metro Denver students, partnering with 31 schools to help more than 11,000 young people discover their Road to Success. These are students who learned to lead, to connect, and to believe in their own potential—students who are now contributing to their families, schools, and communities in powerful ways.
When you support the YESS Institute, you become part of a proven solution that gives young people what every child deserves: the chance to thrive in school, build a meaningful future, and step into adulthood with confidence and hope.
Testimonials
What our students are saying
Former Student
Meet Sam
Sam grew up on the west side of Denver in the Lincoln Park / La Alma Park neighborhood and attended Greenlee Elementary. Surrounded by gang activity, he knew early on that he wanted a different future.
When Sam, as a 6th grader in 2006, entered the YESS classroom, something stood out immediately. The college mentors didn’t act like people from his neighborhood. That difference sparked his curiosity and opened his eyes to possibilities beyond what he had seen growing up.
One lesson stayed with him above all others: “I learned to always stay calm in bad situations.”
Sam is one of 11.000 students that we helped build social and emotional intelligence skills
He graduated high school. After graduating, Sam joined the Army and continued to rely on the skills he learned in the YESS classroom.
Today, he works as a manager at Dollar Tree, where he helps guide young adults who are still finding their path.
For Sam, the lessons from YESS didn’t end in the classroom—they shaped the leader he has become.
Meet our founder
Carlo Kriekels founded YESS Institute in 2001 with the vision to teach youth the emotional intelligence the skills to be successful in school, life, and career.
Originally from Belgium, graduated from law school and fluent in five languages, Carlo spent years teaching EQ leadership across Europe before bringing his vision to Denver.
His work has been recognized such as by the Denver Mayor’s Office, My Brother’s Keeper, Titan100, and MENTOR.
The YESS Philosophy
At YESS, we believe that all students want to succeed.
We believe that everyone wants to belong, be connected, be accepted.
We believe in the tremendous power of positive peer relationships
We provide choice by teaching students a new path, perspective to navigate life’s challenges.
Our solutions are built upon the lessons we learned from listening to the communities we serve and supported by research-based evidence.
See YESS in action
The best way to understand the impact of YESS is to experience it firsthand.
We invite educators, partners, and supporters to visit one of our classrooms and see students leading, mentoring, and learning together.
Come witness how YESS builds confidence, connection, and leadership in real time.