YESS Institute

What does mentorship actually look like in practice? At YESS Institute, it looks like Real Conversations and Real Support. 🤝

Our peer mentoring model isn't just about tutoring; it’s about connection. By pairing older students with younger peers, we create a space where:

- Experiences are shared to navigate school life.
- Challenges are tackled with a supportive community.
- Confidence is built through consistent, weekly dialogue.

These connections are the foundation of student success and resilient communities. 💛

Learn more about YESS: https://yessinstitute.org/

For 25 years, YESS Institute has been growing and evolving alongside the students we serve. Today, we’re proud to introduce our newly redesigned website 🌐

Our new website reflects our journey, our impact, and where we’re headed next.

Thank you for being part of our story 🩵

Check out the new website: https://yessinstitute.org/

Youth don’t just participate, they thrive. ✨

When vision is backed by commitment, young people grow beyond expectations. They develop confidence, resilience, empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility to give back.

Thriving goes far beyond academic achievement. It’s about supporting social-emotional needs, creating meaningful opportunities, and empowering youth to see themselves as leaders in their communities.

Let’s continue investing in programs that help young people flourish, in school, in life, and in the world around them. 💛

Learn more about YESS: https://yessinstitute.org/

Education goes beyond academics.

It’s not just about math, grades, or getting to the next level.
It’s about who you become in the process.

At YESS, students often grow into leaders. With early support for identity, confidence, and leadership, many go on to take on leadership roles in their communities and careers.

YESS doesn’t just prepare students for exams.
It helps shape the kind of person they choose to be.

We don’t just graduate students. We grow leaders. 💛

Learn more about YESS: https://yessinstitute.org/

When students are supported early, they gain more than academic direction. They build confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of responsibility to uplift the next generation.

Peer mentoring creates more than success stories.
It creates leaders who multiply impact, from mentee, to mentor, to university student.

This is what peer mentoring creates. 💛

Learn more at: https://yessinstitute.org

Where are they now? Meet Sam. 💙

Sam Nuñez grew up on the west side of Denver in the Lincoln Park / La Alma Park neighborhood, surrounded by challenges that made him want something different for his life. When he entered the YESS classroom at Greenlee Elementary, he noticed something that stuck with him: the college mentors didn’t look or act like the people he saw every day in his neighborhood. That difference sparked curiosity—and possibility. 🌱

One of Sam’s biggest takeaways from YESS was simple, but powerful:

“I learned to always stay calm in bad situations.”

That lesson stayed with him well beyond the classroom. After graduating, Sam joined the U.S. Army, and today he is a Manager at Dollar Tree, where he leads young adults with patience, understanding, and empathy. He credits YESS with helping him become a strong, grounded leader. 💪

Stories like Sam’s remind us why mentoring and social-emotional learning matter—because the skills students build today last a lifetime. 🙏

YESS is celebrating 25 years! 🎉 What began with an inspiring motorcycle journey across South America became a proven model in Colorado classrooms: peer mentoring + social-emotional learning (SEL) that builds focus, belonging, leadership, and real-world readiness.

With partners, educators, and our community by our side, we’ve supported 10,000+ students across the Denver metro and beyond. Week after week, students practice the skills that change everything: self-awareness and regulation, clear communication, conflict resolution, goal setting, and healthy tech habits. Leading to stronger engagement, better relationships, and momentum toward graduation and post-secondary pathways. 🚀

Want to learn more about our journey? Visit: https://yessinstitute.org/about/

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Because of your incredible generosity on Colorado Gives Day, YESS students, families, and classrooms will begin the new year with stronger support, deeper connection, and more opportunities than ever before. ❤️✨

Thank you for believing in our mission—and in our students. 💛

⏳ There are only a few hours left to make your Colorado Gives Day impact! ⏳

👉 ColoradoGives.org/YESSInstitute

Today, YOU have the power to change the lives of thousands of students across Colorado. Every gift fuels mentorship, social-emotional learning, and the support young people need to stay on track and thrive. 🌟📚

If you’ve been planning to give… now is the moment.
Your donation tonight can be the reason a student finds their confidence, discovers their voice, or believes they can reach graduation. 💛

🚨 TODAY IS COLORADO GIVES DAY! 🚨
This is the moment, Colorado! 💙💛

Your gift today fuels mentorship, belonging, and academic success for students who need it most. Every donation — big or small — helps us build stronger communities, stronger schools, and stronger futures. 🌟📚

By supporting YESS, you are:
✨ Empowering youth with life-changing mentorship
✨ Strengthening social-emotional skills
✨ Helping students stay on track and thrive
✨ Investing in the next generation of leaders

💛 Give today: ColoradoGives.org/YESSInstitute

⏰ Colorado Gives Day is TOMORROW!
We’re just one day away from Colorado’s biggest day of giving — and your support can power life-changing mentorship for students across our community. 💙🙌

When you invest in YESS, you’re investing in:
🌟 Future leaders
📚 Stronger academic outcomes
🤝 Social-emotional growth
💬 A supportive space where every student is seen and heard

Your gift helps us reach more youth with the guidance, connection, and encouragement they deserve. And you don't have to wait — early giving is already open!

✨ Make your impact today:
👉 ColoradoGives.org/YESSInstitute

Let’s show Colorado’s students that their future is worth investing in. 💛🌱