The YES Adaptation Guide is now available to assist organizations and communities in making decisions about selecting, implementing and adapting the Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) program. The Guide is designed for individuals who are responsible for choosing, supervising and carrying out youth … [Read more...]
YES Program Creates a Rap for a Packard Grant on Empathy
The YES leader and participants at Rancho Cielo, serving high risk youth and young adults, made this video about YES, featuring the students and their community project. The video is part of a grant application to the David and Lucile Packard Fund for their Building Vibrant Communities Fund, … [Read more...]
Youth Promote Peace in Portland
Youth participating the STRYVE YES program in Portland are making headlines. Their activities have included organizing a rally in response to recent violence, and painting a street mural. Next on the list is to build and distribute library boxes to neighborhoods to increase literacy. Here's some of … [Read more...]
YES Youth Organize Peaceful Protest in Salinas, CA
Last week, the community of Salinas, CA experienced two back to back police-involved shootings and there was a great deal of emotion in the community. On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, residents came out to protest the third officer-involved shooting of the year. Just down the street, middle school … [Read more...]
Connecting Youth with Policy Makers
Youth cannot vote, but their voices need to be heard. Youth are disproportionately affected by poverty and violence, yet they are largely absent from discussions of policies to address these problems. In Flint, Michigan, however, one policy maker sought the opinions of his young constituents and … [Read more...]
Video Series
Youth Empowerment Solutions is pleased to announce a new series of short videos capturing the core elements of the YES program. The six videos were filmed over several months from 2012-2013 at several YES programs in Flint and Genesee County. Each short 1-2 minute segment focuses on a core element … [Read more...]
Rosa Parks Peace Park
The Rosa Parks Peace Park was created by participants in the Youth Empowerment Solutions for Peaceful Communities Project in 2006, 2007 and 2008 over the course of three summers. YES youth, assisted by neighborhood advocates, cleared two heavily overgrown vacant lots, planted gardens, installed … [Read more...]
Rap Song
In 2007, the YES for Peaceful Communities youth wrote and recorded a rap song, entitled: "We are the YES". The idea to do a rap song as a project was generated in 2008 during the “Hip-hop for social change” unit of the curriculum. The youth really liked the idea of creating music for their final … [Read more...]
Tulip Garden
The Tulip Garden was a mini-project completed in the fall of 2007. At the start of a YES meeting, the students expressed concern that no one was taking care of the raised beds in front of their school. After discussion, the group decided to adopt the raised bed. The youth decided that they would … [Read more...]
Hands for Peace Mural
The Hands for Peace mural was created by participants in the Youth Empowerment Solutions for Peaceful Communities at Holmes Middle School in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, the students wanted to get the word out about YES. After getting the owners’ permission, the participants whitewashed the wall of a … [Read more...]
