2013 Annual Report

YES!

empowers youth, in partnership with adults, to create comm

unity

cha

nge.

Looking ForwardIn 2013, YES! celebrated its five-year anniversary — a significant milestone for a nonprofit that started from humble beginnings amidst the financial downturn. A small group of passionate visionaries gathered around a fire-place in the mountains of Western North Carolina and the problem was very clear — our communities are suffering economically, creatively and civically — partly because the potential of young people, as a generation, to contribute to a better society is systematically ignored. That group of visionary leaders committed to moving forward YES!’s mission to empower youth, in partnership with adults, to create community change and we have never looked back.

Today, YES! has grown from its original founding staff of five, to a team of more than 30 full and part-time adult and youth staff. We have diversified and grown our work from a single, grant-funded state tobacco prevention program to working nationwide on multiple adolescent health issues. YES! has built a vibrant self-generating revenue stream through trainings and consulting. Our model of social change through youth empowerment has allowed us to remain sustainable in a time of economic uncertainty.

We celebrate these five years of progress, but also know that we must continue the intentional work that keeps us connected to our roots and focused on our mission. We’ve spent time reflecting on our core beliefs and asking ourselves to define the fundamental elements of our organization. We’ve agreed on these five values that guide our work:

• We believe in a world where the voices of youth are as valued and respected as the voices of adults.

• We believe that youth-adult partnerships are an important element in ensuring that those impacted by decisions are engaged in the decision-making process.

• We believe that youth empowerment that effectively changes communities requires inten-tional commitment, active support and adequate resources.

• We believe that skill development, critical awareness and opportunities will support youth on their journey to being empowered allies for organizations and systems promoting equity.

• We believe that healthy and sustainable community solutions are best achieved by including and honoring the voices of youth.

We share these values with you to illustrate the depth and scope of our commitment to youth empowerment and our belief that youth, in partnership with adults, can create community change. YES! thrives on principles that spring from our diverse backgrounds and cultures, our lived experiences, and our deeply rooted resolve to do what is just.

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Bronwyn Lucas, MPHExecutive Director

Meka Sales, MS, CHESProgram Officer, The Duke Endowment & YES! Board Chair

Quick FactsYouth Empowerment is the outcome by which youth, aschange agents, gain the skills to impact their own lives and thelives of other individuals, organizations and communities.

1,285 adults and 847 youth were exposed to the YES! Youth Empowerment Model through conferences,panels, webinars or trainings.

153 adults and 559 youth were trained on theYES! Youth Empowerment Model at YES! adultand youth leader trainings.

Gra

du

ated YES! youth staff at YES!’s 5-Year Anniversary Celebration

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YES! Youth Empowerment Model ©

For an electronic version of this report and more information about our

work and the services we provide, please visit our website at

www.YouthEmpoweredSolutions.org.

In 2013, YES! youth and adult staff helped to change 20 systems,

policies, and environments, impacting 10,656,929 people.

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There is no better way to understand

the power of young people than to hear from them.

“YES! has pushed me to

think about why things happen and

how I can make a change.” Karmen

“I’m now deeply motivated to look at

these underlying issues that affect our society and access to health care, even when they

are not obvious on the surface.”

Hannah

“My opinions matter and my seat at the

decision-making table is just as important as any adult. I feel respected and valued by YES! I continue to work at YES! to

make a difference in my community and inspire

other youth.”Amber

“YES! changed the way I feel about

how our generation will tackle the problems that we will have to face and

set me on a track to be a part of that

movement.” Tully

In 2013

100% (22 out of 22) YES! youth staff learned

new skills and took action.

91% reported having an impact through their involvement with YES!.

Spotlight on Youth: YES! Youth Are Leading the WayYES! hires high school students who learn skills, gain critical awareness

and seize opportunities to create change in their communities.

77% of YES! youth staff are youth of color, live in a rural area, or live in a low-wealth community. YES! youth staff train youth across the country to better their own

communities by changing policies, systems and environments that affect them.

YES! C

harlotte youth staff (2012-2013)

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Rachel Holtzman, YES! graduate

“YES! embodies grassroots change at its core – it is an empowering people-led movement

that builds new communities as it strengthens existing ones. It truly demonstrates that “I am who I am because of who we all are.’”

Rachel HoltzmanYES! Youth Staff 2008-2010

Beyond High School: Building Public Health LeadersYES! is building a leadership pipeline for public health. In fact, 71% of YES! graduated youth pursue a career in public health or social science.

Rachel’s Story

Because of my experience with YES!, I feel that I am a valuable partner to the adults in the room, rather than a bother or a poorly-informed participant. YES! has helped me feel empowered in that I understand whatever experience I lack due to my age, I can make up for in the quality of my thoughts.

I’m currently a senior working towards my bachelor of science in public health degree with a focus on health policy and management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

YES! was my introduction, as well as my catalyst for growth, into the field of public health. My work with YES! was crucial in the

development of my interests in public health, especially related to access to care for communities of color and

other historically underserved and disenfranchised communities.

From my experiences with YES!, I feel confident working alongside new communities of allies who want to move toward building healthier communi-ties – a comfort in myself that is critical as I apply for the Peace Corps. I am honestly SO grateful for all that I have learned and done, and everyone

who has helped mentor and teach me within my time at YES!.

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Spotlight on Organizational ChangeYES! works with adults and organizations to help support youth-adult partnerships and advocacy efforts.

YES! youth spearheaded a lunchroom redesign at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C. to make the healthy option the easy option for students. YES! staff also created the YES! School Lunchroom Redesign Toolkit, a guide for youth who are interested in redesigning their school lunchrooms.

YES! worked with the Wake County School Health Advisory Council to change their bylaws to include youth membership.

The Montefiore Medical Center School Health Program in Bronx, N.Y. contracted with YES! to develop a school-based health center

(SBHC) youth advisory council for youth to become advocates for SBHCs and other health access issues in their communities.

“Wow! That was such a powerful session. I’m amazed by how you were able to capture all that we shared and walk us through to a final action plan. Not to mention

the great hands-on experience of

conducting sessions that we will use with the students.

We are ready.”

Grace Walfall, MBACommunity Health Director

Montefiore School Health Program

96%

of training

participants

learn a new skill

YES!

you

th tra

ining with Montefi ore School Health Program

Youth enjoy easier access to healthy f

ood

7

64%

of training

participants

report taking action

Youth enjoy easier access to healthy f

ood

Spotlight on Community ChangeYES! staff work on local policy, system and environmental change, and then train other teams of youth and adults to replicate the work in their own communities.

YES! partnered with five Circle K stores in Raleigh, N.C. to reduce underage drinking by placing stickers on flavored alcoholic beverages called “alcopops” that remind adults not to purchase the products for youth and help distinguish the drinks as alcoholic beverages. 38,500 people impacted

YES! worked to ensure that the North Carolina School Health Centers Program funding was maintained at its current level. This affects all of the patients that use the state-funded school health centers.

YES! worked to block NC HB693, which would have required minors to get

notarized consent for reproductive and mental health care services. The bill was ultimately with-drawn from the NCGA session. 757,848 people impacted

YES! trained groups in all 10 North Carolina regions that received state tobacco prevention funding. As a result, NC SB703, which would have

limited local regulation of outdoor smoking, was stopped. This work impacted 9.752 million people (the population of North Carolina).

Sally Herndon, MPH N.C. Department of Health and Human Services

Head, Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch

YES! youth placing stickers on alcopops

“As a native North Carolinian, I am so very proud of Youth Empowered Solutions. For the past six years, YES! has been leading a movement of young people

that have had a major role in changing our state’s social norms around tobacco use. I salute YES! for giving young

people a voice and skills to make a difference in the health of North Carolinians.”

SparkAction SparkOpportunityChallenge Adult Ally Award

June 2012

Meka SalesYES! Board Chair

David JollyVice Chair

Lee StorrowSecretary

Thomas CornwellTreasurer

Sage Dunston

Roxanne Elliott

Heather Gates

Saleem Hussaini

Rebecca Reeve

Anne Thornhill

Nancy Zablud

YES! board members

Presentations, Awards and Recognition

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Foundation Partners

Clinton Global InitiativeNew York, N.Y.

September 2012

Southern Obesity SummitCharlotte, N.C.October 2012

N.C. Center for NonprofitsNonprofit Sector Stewardship Award

September 2012

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation

Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust

The Beehive Collective

John Rex Endowment

Enterprise Holdings Foundation

Board of Directors

Social Venture PartnersSEED20 Class of 2013

February 2013

Indy Week Citizen AwardDurham, N.C.January 2013

Youth Empowerment White PaperJune 2013

National Convention on School-Based Health Care

Washington, D.C., June 2013

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Custom Service PartnersCenter for Environmental Farming Systems

Coastal Horizons Center

El Pueblo, Inc.

First Health of the Carolinas

Georgia Health Departments: Southeast District, Richmond County

North Carolina Health Departments: Albemarle Regional, Appalachian District,

Buncombe County, Dare County, Durham County, Gaston County,

Guilford County, Mecklenburg County, Pitt County, Robeson County,

Wake County

Healthy Start Foundation

Legacy for Youth Leadership Institute

Montefiore Health System

North Carolina Coalition Initiative

N.C. Division of Public Health

North Carolina Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative – UNC Greensboro

N.C. Rural Economic Development Center

Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA

United Way of Forsyth County

UNC-CH for National Conference on Tobacco or Health

Individuals Who Gave $100 or More

Alice Ammerman, Eric Banks, Evgeny Biblin, Colette Bounet, Cherita Bryant, Bill Butcher,

Morgan Collini, Charles Dairaghi, Daniel Dairaghi, Jeanne Dairaghi, Marcelline Dairaghi,

Sage Dunston, Stephanie Edwards, Roxanne Elliott, Ingrid Friesen, Heather Gates,

Deborah Gibbs, Jennifer Gierisch, Diane and Bob Glenn, Susan Hartley, Eunice Heilig,

Sherry Heuser, Aidil Hill, Andrew Hill, Saleem Hussaini, Susan Jernigan, Grimball Jewelers,

David Jolly, Christopher Jones, Christine Laucher, Emily Lockhart, Jennifer Lord,

Mary Beth Loucks-Sorrell, Bronwyn Lucas, Elizabeth Maldonado, Diana Manee, Otto Marlow,

Michael and Elisabeth McCord, Brad McNamee, Debbi Meisner, Meg Molloy, Anne Mulkern,

Melva Okun, Shawn Purvis, Terry Quinn, Parrish Ravelli, Keedra Sales, Meka Sales,

Michael Sales, Stephen Schewel, Tami Schweikert, Sheryl Scott, Renu Shah, Steve Shore,

Pam Silberman, Robin Smith, Felicia Snipes-Dixon, Alan Spears, Betty Spears, Katie Spears,

Mike and Janice Spears, Lee Storrow, Robin Temple, Annie Thornhill, Jeremy Thornhill,

Wes Turner, Dane Vertefeuille, Julian Wachs, Margaret Watkins, Lynda Wayne, Justin Young

Donor SpotlightMargaret Watkins

When Margaret Watkins retired from a dedicated career in the field of public health, she wanted to

continue her commitment to healthy community change. A longtime supporter and partner of YES!, Margaret asked her family to contribute to YES! in lieu of retirement gifts.

And so the YES! SUCCESS Scholarship Fund was created.

The scholarship fund is an opportunity to make a difference for young adults to be actively involved in YES! and to train the

leaders of tomorrow. Previous youth advocates who have been on staff at YES! are now in key public health positions — creating

a healthier future for many North Carolinians.

“I will enjoy my retirement knowing my gift will help you train youth advocates

as new public leaders.”Margaret Watkins10

Expenses: $1,003,838

1.9% Individual Contributions

0.7% Corporate and In-Kind Donations

0.3% Awards

0.4% Other

55.9% Grant Income

40.8% Custom Service Revenue

4.3% Management and General

86.2% Programs and Services

9.5% Fundraising

YES! Return on Investment by Impact

For every $1 invested, 11 people are impacted by a changed policy or system.

Average number of people impacted per change: 532,846

$0.11

Average cost per person impacted

11

Revenue: $1,077,245

4418 Louisburg Road, Suite 131Raleigh, NC, 27616

Stay Connected919-878-8777

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