Youth Empowerment for Success, YES! Sí Puede
Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Minority Health
Funding Period: 2009 - 2011
YES! Sí Se Puede promotes physical fitness, conflict resolution, sexual health, mental well-being, and academic success among Latino youth from Hamilton Middle School in North Long Beach. YES! creates collaboration between the Center, Hamilton, CSULB student and faculty resources, the CSULB Academic and 49er Athletic Summer Camps, the Fairfield Family YMCA, and Change Agents—a YMCA social enterprise. CSULB first generation college-educated Latino graduate and undergraduate students provide mentoring, after-school tutoring, and physical activities to youth. The project recruits, selects, and enrolls 34 at-risk Latino students each year. The participants attend monthly workshops at CSULB and digital media classes during the academic year and the above-listed CSULB camps during the summer. Project goals are to provide a safe and supportive, culturally and linguistically relevant environment to promote academic success; build long-term and healthy relationships with peers and adult mentors; provide skill-building activities; and facilitate the development of self-esteem and cultural appreciation.