About YESS
Hear it from our students
Our Progams in action
Real change happens in the classroom.
Every day, YESS students step into leadership roles, support their peers, and build the confidence to shape their own future. Through peer mentoring and social-emotional learning, classrooms become communities where students learn to lead, connect, and grow.
Because when students believe in themselves, everything changes.
About Us
Transforming youth into community leaders
Since 2001, YESS has served 11,000+ youth and trained over 6,000 role models through programs, workshops, and professional development.
Mission
Building inclusive communities to support students on their road to success.
Vision
The YESS Institute envisions students becoming caring and productive members in their communities.
Our Impact
The impact we have made in our community
Every day, YESS brings peer mentoring and social-emotional learning into 16 classrooms so students build the skills that change everything: self-awareness, focus, communication, and leadership.
Help us make an impact on the lives of thousands of students
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.
“To see kids discover their potential is what inspires me.”
The YESS Team
Meet Our Team
Carlo Kriekels
About Carlo
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 11,000 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 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
About Dino
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 families of YESS classroom communities. He 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
About Dan
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”. Daniel shares his expertise of three decades in his book “The Medina Method”.
Email: coach.medina.63@gmail.com
Desiree Medina
About Desiree
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 Manager at JF Kennedy High School. Desiree is deeply committed to her role, working with youth from South-west 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. Desiree continues to support her community from within, all while being a dedicated mother of two.
Email: Desiree@yessinstitute.org
Kevin Arroyo
About Kevin
Kevin D. Arroyo is a dedicated school leader who champions equity, restorative practices, and student success. With degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder and Villanova University, Kevin has advanced inclusive school culture and strengthened community partnerships. Beyond his professional work, he is a proud father of three who enjoys coaching, golf, chess, IT, hunting, fishing, and drawing inspiration from Shakespeare and the arts.
Email: Kevin@yessinstitute.org
Cheyenne Bueno
About Cheyenne
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. Cheyenne’s hope is to truly impact the youth in her classroom the same way her role models 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)
About Gabby
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
The YESS Board
Meet Our Board of Directors
Tom Doherty
Robert Seggelke
Joel Contreras
