About YESS

Since 2001, YESS has served 10,000+ youth and trained over 6,000 role models through programs, workshops, and professional development.

Our Mission

Building inclusive communities to support students on their road to success.

Our Vision

The YESS Institute envisions students becoming caring and productive members in their communities.

YESS over The Years

In the past 23 Years we have made an incredible impact.

  • 23+ Years

    Providing youth the SEL and leadership skills to succeed

  • 10,000+

    Students served in YESS Classrooms

  • 82,000+

    Hours of direct support delivered to students and families

YESS By The Numbers

Data shows that peer groups directly influence adolescent behavior. Therefore, we provide students with intensive support in a daily, credited class for an entire academic year.  This is how YESS students compare to their peers in the same cohort:

0 %
of YESS students demonstrate positive changes in social-emotional learning
0 %
of YESS students see an increase in earned school credits
0 %
of YESS seniors achieve post-secondary acceptance
0 %
of YESS students are on track to graduate
0 %
of Non-YESS students are on track to graduate

100%

of YESS seniors achieve post-secondary acceptance

$7.2 +

Million of financial aid earned collectively by YESS students

50+

Local, state, national and international partner

20+

On-site programs offering embedded in-school programming

“The YESS Institute is a community of staff, volunteers and board members who seek to embody the YESS equity guidelines of Care, Communication, Connection, Empowerment, and Transparency.”
Carlo Kriekels
Co-founder

Our Story

The success of the YESS model is rooted in the agency’s founding philosophy that the people
and communities served need to be valued as experts of their own lived experiences.

1992
2001
2011
2021

Meet Our Team

Meet the amazing team that makes YESS possible

Carlo Kriekels

Co-Founder & Executive Director | He/him/his

Carlo was born in Belgium and is a first-generation American Citizen. He taught leadership and emotional intelligence skills in Europe from 1995-2000. Kriekels holds law degrees from Belgium and Germany and is proficient in 5 languages. In 2001, he co-founded YESS Institute in order to bring the benefits of emotional intelligence skills to youth and role models. Today, YESS has served 10,000 students. As YESS co-founder, he trained over 5,000 youth and role models, including at MENTOR’s National DC Mentoring Symposium. He was one of the co-founders of the statewide agency Mentor Colorado. Carlo was a lead curriculum developer of the “Youth Outreach Project – Bridging the Gap: Cops and Kids Forums” to improve interactions between youth and police. He is also the author of the audio course and e-book: “The 9 Key Components of Peer Mentoring.” 

Carlo received the 2011 “Heavy Lifting Award” from the Denver Mayor’s Office for Education and Children. Kriekels accepted the 2016 My Brother’s Keeper Award from Denver Mayor Michael Hancock for work with young men of color. In 2021, he was recognized by Titan100 as one of Colorado’s top 100 CEOs for exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. The Belgian Ambassador to the United States nominated Kriekels in 2022 for the prestigious Christoffel Plantin award highlighting Belgians which elevate the prestige of Belgium abroad. Carlo lives in Denver with his wife and their Wheaten Terrier with two sons off to college. In his free-time he enjoys cycling over and across the Colorado Rockies.

Email: carlo@yessinstitute.org

Dino Abeyta

Family Advocate | he/him/his

As YESS Institute’s Family Advocate, Dino has the opportunity to help local communities resolve challenges and problem-solve life situations for YESS students and their families. 

Dino serves the communities of John F. Kennedy High School and Denver North High School. Dino is a Colorado native, born and raised in East Denver. He has over 25 years of counseling and coaching experience. He has worked on behalf of at-risk and adjudicated youth and families that come from very complex, diverse, cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds. He has worked for Denver Health, Colorado Department of Youth Corrections, and Jefferson County School District. Dino has been married to his wife Sonya for 32 years. They have 3 daughters and have 6 grandchildren. Dino coached baseball at the high school and collegiate level for 35 years.  

Email: Dino@yessinstitute.org

Dan Medina Teaching a Workshop for Westminster Public Schools Family Liaisons

Dan Medina

Program Manager Coach | He/Him/his

Daniel dropped out of Lincoln High School as a freshman, became gang-involved and ran away from home. He was married by age 18 and by 30 he had six children. He eventually turned his life around, completed his GED, started his own construction company and volunteered as a sports coach. In 1999, Lincoln High School, struggling to reduce gang activity, asked him become the school’s community / attendance liaison and a coach. Daniel searched the streets to bring the non-attending kids back to school, placed negative peer leaders in small alternative schools and increased parent involvement.

His hands-on model combined with the street-credibility earned as a result of his background has helped him connect with and help turn around many “lost kids”. In 2006, the YESS Institute piloted its peer-mentoring model at Lincoln HS with Dan Medina serving as the School Liaison for the program.

Email: Dan@yessinstitute.org

Desiree Medina

Program Manager | She/Her

Desiree, a former YESS student, has been devoted to the YESS mission for over 10 years. She holds the unique distinction of being the only YESS team member to have progressed through every stage of the YESS program—beginning as a mentee in 9th grade, then becoming a mentor, advancing to mentor leader, and now serving as YESS’ Program Coordinator at Lincoln High School. Desiree is deeply committed to her role, working with youth from Lincoln High School and their families, and making a significant impact across numerous Denver communities. She has led several successful YESS initiatives, including coordinating vital resources for families in need. Working alongside her father, Dan Medina, who is the Lincoln High School Program Director, Desiree continues to support her community from within, all while being a dedicated mother of two.

Email: Desiree@yessinstitute.org

Ximena Quintana

Post-Secondary Success Navigator | she/her/ella

Ximena was born in Santiago, Chile, but raised in Denver Colorado. She is a mother to 2 amazing boys Juanito (14) and Mateo (12). She has 3 crazy (but lovable!) dogs. She loves being outdoors, especially in the summer! Hiking is her favorite outdoor activity. Ximena has worked in education for over 20 years. Her experience working with students was inspired by the lack of support she experienced herself in high school. She has worked with students through numerous pathways, including: teaching, admissions, and mentoring students with career and college planning. Her aim is to positively impact youth and help them see their post-secondary opportunities as they continue to grow and learn after high school. Ximena is committed to YESS’ mission because of the impact and connections she makes with students.

Email: Ximena@yessinstitute.org

Photo of Program Manager Julian Banks

Julian Banks

Program Manager | He/Him/His

Julian’s motivation for joining the YESS program stems from a deep desire to make a positive impact on the lives of young individuals. His goal is to empower these youths to believe in their potential and achieve what they might have considered unattainable, ultimately nurturing them into the future leaders of tomorrow.

With over a decade of experience in various educational roles within multiple school districts, Julian brings a wealth of expertise to his work. He has served as a restorative justice coordinator and held the position of Lead Campus monitor, demonstrating his commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment for students.

Throughout his career, Julian has dedicated himself to working with young people, and his passion for this mission continues to drive his efforts in the YESS program.

Email: Julian@yessinstitute.org

Cheyenne Bueno

Program Manager | she/her/hers

As a Graduate of Denver North High School, Cheyenne has found her home with YESS Institute; it has given her the opportunity to support youth in North Denver and make a difference to students who truly need someone to support them far beyond their academics. As a North High graduate, she has had the opportunity to come back and support her alma mater community. Thinking back, she can identify one adult who truly helped her get through some of her hardest days as a youth; Vince Trujillo, her former teacher – and current co-worker – at YESS. Cheyenne’s hope is to truly impact the youth in her classroom the same way Vince impacted her. In her classroom, students have the opportunity to feel safe, loved, and seen; while also learning and implementing Healthy Relationships, Responsible Decision Making, Social Awareness, Self Awareness, and Self-Management skills.

Email: Cheyenne@yessinstitute.org

Gabriella Lopez (Gabby)

Program Manager | she/her/ella

Gabriella is passionate about working with youth and making positive impacts on their lives; she finds it incredibly rewarding to see students grow and succeed, knowing that she played a part in their journey. 

Her extensive experience working with at-risk youth in the DYS juvenile system has given her insight into the real-life challenges youth face in Colorado, as well as the impacts of those challenges. Gabriella was inspired to pursue this career field because of a supportive teacher who made her feel safe and valued when she was younger. That relationship drives her commitment to creating similar environments for YESS students today.

Gabriella is currently attending school to become a social worker, with plans to begin the Social Work program at Metro State. Her favorite extracurriculars include hiking and playing softball. She also coaches middle school athletics whenever she has the chance. 

Email: Gabriella@yessinstitute.org

Board Of Directors

Tom Doherty

Gabe Trujillo

Kevin Seggelke

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