Our Mission, Vision, and Values

Our Mission

In partnership with nature, YES nurtures leaders who champion the wellbeing of our community.

Our Vision

For Richmond youth, adults and families to lead healthy, connected lives; motivate change in their neighborhoods; and inspire a safe, thriving community.

 We do this by

  • Cultivating leadership among Richmond youth, adults, and whole families through year-round training, strong mentorship, and profound experiences in nature.

  • Increasing access and breaking down barriers for those historically excluded from the outdoors, and collaborating at the forefront of the movement to increase equity and inclusivity in the outdoors.

  • Reclaiming our connection to the earth and embracing the proven power of nature to heal, inspire awe, and develop empowered and compassionate leaders. 

  • Creating brave spaces that foster cross-cultural relationships, build resilience in our community, and unite people in common cause.

Our Values

Inclusion

By placing an emphasis on equity, diversity, cultural relevance, and mutual respect, we create a welcoming, and collaborative environment that allows everyone to have a voice in the shared outcome.

Intentionality 

We believe deliberately incorporating best practices, informed research, and leadership development into our work is how we can create the most meaningful ultimate impact for our community.

Effective Communication

In order to create successful and innovative programs, and continuously grow as leaders, we creating channels for direct communication, both internal and external, that support transparency, vulnerability and trust.

Integrity

We stay true to our moral and ethical principles, even when no one is watching, by striving for excellence, showing initiative, taking responsibility and accountability, and putting quality into everything we do.

Holistic Approach

We create an environment inspired by nature and dedicated to enhancing our personal and communal well-being, cohesion, and effectiveness by caring for the whole person and the whole family.

Equity

We recognize disparities exist and advocate for equitable access at the organizational, local, and state levels

Diversity

Our Statement on Equity and Inclusion

YES celebrates the multiple benefits that spending time in nature offers for all human beings. We also acknowledge there are harmful narratives and generalizations regarding Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the outdoors that have largely been promoted and perpetuated by white, dominant culture in the United States. This has led to an under-representation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in many local, regional, and national parks both as park users and as professionals within their workforce. 

YES seeks to remove the barriers that impede access for youth and families of color, as well as those who identify with other non-dominant backgrounds, so they can connect to nature to access its benefits AND serve as leaders in the outdoors. Our vision, and the actions we have taken, have resulted in YES leading and contributing to the movement to increase equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) in the outdoor and environmental education fields. Our role as a leader begins inside our own organization where the YES team participates in regular training focused on the inequities created by power and privilege, delivers EID training to partner organizations, and embeds EID values into hiring, program, and fundraising practices. 

We are proud of the EID practices we have undertaken and instituted to attract, hire, cultivate, retain, and promote a workforce that is reflective of the community with whom we engage. At the same time, we commit ourselves to furthering our EID practices, with a particular focus on a set of goals and key action items identified in our strategic plan.

We appreciate individuals and communities in their full, complex, multi-dimensional, and beautiful selves, and provide space for self-expression and self-identification.