By Jamie Burch | Director of Development
Youth Enrichment Services (YES) inspires and challenges Boston's underserved young people through a proven sports-based youth development model. Through engagement in a progressively challenging three-tiered continuum of active outdoor experiences and leadership opportunities, YES transforms children and teens into confident young people who are prepared to achieve and excel in the classroom and life. YES youth develop the skills, courage and confidence to make healthy lifestyle decisions, pursue their academic and career dreams, and to be active contributors to their community.
YES’s high-impact Junior Volunteer Leaders, Girls Outdoor Adventure Leaders, Career Exploration, and College Preparation programs (The YES Academy) engage teens physically, mentally, and socially through sports-based activities, group mentoring, leadership workshops, and service learning. Participation requires a 3-9 month commitment. Activities take place at YES, in the outdoors and the community. In Fiscal Year 2015 (ending June 30, 2015), 188 youth gained leadership skills, explored career pathways and prepared for college.
YES has been delivering on its promise to support Boston's young people since 1968 and currently serves 1,600 children and teens annually. YES targets youth ages 7 to 18 from Boston's most ethnically diverse and resource challenged neighborhoods, in particular Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan. In Fiscal Year 2015, three out of four YES Academy youth are of color: Black/ African American (29%), Latino/ Hispanic (27%), Asian/Pacific Islander (11%), and Multi-Ethnic (10%). Three out of five YES Academy youth are from low to low-moderate income households. Girls are half of YES Academy's overall participants.
YES youth consistently report having a positive experience with YES programs, staff and volunteers. The programs of the YES Academy have a demonstrable positive impact on youth, who grow in confidence, develop leadership abilities, and gain the skills needed to prepare them to succeed in school and in the workplace. Aileen, a 16-year-old student in the Career Exploration program, moved to the US from the Dominican Republic and for whom English is a second language, told YES that she often is self-conscious about her English proficiency. After learning about different interview skills and carrying out mock interviews with her peer, she shared: "I had never practiced interviewing before! I always get nervous because of my English but practicing with everyone else helps a lot!"
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