December eNews: Happy Holidays from YES: Sharing our 2020 gratitude

Dear Friends,

As we look back on a turbulent 2020 marked by racial injustice, the pandemic, and social and political unrest, we feel fortunate to be in a position to reflect on the opportunities and lessons learned over the past year. The relationship-building value that YES has held dear since our inception was more crucial than ever to keep our community connected to resources, to nature, and to one another. We are grateful to our expert staff who pivoted quickly and intentionally to create nature day outings, launch a Resilience Fund for families, and envision new programs to foster connectivity and leadership. And we give thanks to our philanthropic community and donors whose gracious support and trust allowed us to direct resources where the need was greatest.

As we close out the year to take time to rest and be with loved ones, we look ahead with optimism to 2021 when widespread vaccine distribution will allow us to gather as a group again. We hope to be in that space with you soon – hopefully by next summer. In the meantime, we are excited to introduce you to a YES alumna, celebrate our outstanding staff, and share some new projects with you. We would also like to thank everyone who helped us reach and surpass our Giving Tuesday goal and, if you haven’t already done so, invite you to make a year-end donation to YES.

Sending warm and safe holiday wishes,

Eric Aaholm, Executive Director

Turning to Nature: A YES Alumna Shares Her Story

Seven years ago, YES completed the first of our policy, systems, and environmental change projects with a group of ten YES Youth Engagement Team (YET) teen leaders. Over the course of an academic year, our teen leaders who had participated in YES programs as campers came together weekly to learn and conduct research about an issue in the community and advocate for change. They also incorporated nutrition and physical activities practices into their own lives, and promoted these practices with their peers, and across the larger community in Richmond.

One of those youth, Gillian, or “Leaf” as she was referred to at camp, became a YET leader and participated in several outings and Family Camps with YES. Her desire to support her peers, her thirst for adventure, and her infectious smile and optimism were characteristics that defined her time with YES. Reflecting on her time in the program, Gillian states, “YES provided me with one my first experiences of healing in the community. They were able to bring health awareness to myself and others about what we put in our bodies as far as nutrition as well as what surroundings we immersed ourselves in. They gave me my first tools to be a leader to help analyze, develop, and execute a plan to make a positive impact on my community’s health."

Upon graduating from Pinole Valley High, Gillian began her college career at Cal State Bakersfield. Five years later in May 2020, she graduated with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry with a focus in Food Science, in part due to the learning and experience she had through the learning and research she did with YES. Click here to keep reading Gillian’s story, how she coped with COVID-19 by turning to the outdoors, and her dreams for what lies ahead.

Congratulations Vencel - Forever a Trailblazer!

Congratulations to Vencel Alfred, YES's C2C Fellows Coordinator, who received the 2020 Truth to Power Trailblazer Award! He was recognized during Youth Outside’s The S’More the Merrier celebration on December 15th, a beautiful and lively virtual campfire and storytelling gathering that included music, s’mores, and inspiring speeches. More than 100 of our outdoor/environmental peers and partners listened to the words of Emily Taylor, who was recognized as the 2020 Outdoor Equity Champion, and Jason Morris from the Pisces Foundation who received the 2020 Community Partner Advocate Award. Vencel delivered a powerful speech about his work and the importance of providing equitable, and inclusive access and culturally responsive programs for BIPOC in the outdoors. Click here to read Vencel’s speech.

“I’ve told teens in our Camp to Community leadership development program that it could very well be one of ‘you’ mountain biking, rock climbing on the cover of that National Park magazine.” - Vencel Alfred, 2020 Truth to Power Trailblazer Award Winner

New Year, New Projects

We are excited to introduce two new programs in 2021 that build on our Leadership Pathways model. YES's New Young Adult Program will launch in January 2021 and serves as a bridge between our Youth & Adult Leadership Pathways.

Geared towards YES alumni, young adults ages 19-26 who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) will learn and conduct research on the historic and current impact that substance use and the war on drugs have in their communities. Participants will be empowered to choose healthy strategies instead of substance use and will raise awareness on the issue working alongside community partners, which includes enacting a policy change to reduce access [to marijuana] for youth under 21. Throughout the program, young adults will receive job skills training and pathways to employment in YES programs as outdoor educators and trip leaders.

The other program, scheduled to kick-off in March 2021, is the Richmond Roots Rite of Passage program. In partnership with Gaia Passages, a total of eight, BIPOC girl-identified and gender-expansive youth ages 11 - 12 will engage in day outings, camping, and backpacking trips that will include activities such as hiking, fire making, making herbal medicine, and other ancient earth arts.

The program will include social-emotional learning and incorporate youth development and trauma-informed best practices. Participants will gain a strong sense of identity as they explore topics related to race, class, and gender. They will grow their social skills, learn about their natural surroundings, and gain skills in self-reliance, leadership, community engagement, and teamwork.

Thank You for Making a Difference

The outpouring of support and generosity we saw on Giving Tuesday was incredible. On just one day, December 1, a total of 85 donors gave $30,050! We are so grateful for the support of YES's programs that promote self discovery and leadership through connection to the outdoors.

Our fundraising goal for our year end campaign is $60,000. With additional donations that have come in, we're two-thirds of the way there. Will you help us reach our goal with a donation today?

We're proud to share the pivots we've made to address this year's unique needs. From wellness calls, to virtual leadership programming, to Family Nature Day Outings, to our YES Resilience Fund, our response is designed to support families in brand new ways. You can learn more about our efforts by checking out our digital 2019/2020 Annual Report here.

Thank you for being part of the YES community!