Youth Enrichment Services

June 2023 Newsletter

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

Wednesday, June 7: Summer Track & Field Registration Closes (Boston, MA) The YES Track & Field program is open to Boston you entering Grades 1-8. The program is available on Monday and Thursday nights at Moakley Park in South Boston and Tuesday and Wednesday nights at English High in Jamaica Plain. To learn more or apply, visit yeskids.org/trackandfield.

Tuesday, June 27: Summer Track & Field Begins (Boston, MA) In this program, youth get physically active, build self-confidence, and gain new skills through running and strengthening drills. The program includes weekly practice and the opportunity to participate in city-wide Track & Field Developmental Meets throughout the summer. Over 300 Boston children will benefit from the program in Summer 2023. 

Thursday, June 29: YES Harbor Cruise (Rowes Wharf - Boston MA) Join YES aboard a cruise around Boston Harbor as we celebrate the end of summer. Enjoy a DJ, dancing, raffles, and more! Tickets are $40 and on sale now. Click here to register. Event is 21+. Hosted by the YES Young Professionals Committee.

Monday, July 10: Outdoor Adventure Begins (Boston, MA) YES's Outdoor Adventure Program gives young people the opportunity to explore the environment and develop meaningful relationships while having fun. From Boston to the Berkshires, young people (grades 3-8) will get the opportunity to experience rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, biking, and more as they explore the outdoors and build self confidence! 

Thursday, August 17: Martin Richard Mile (Moakley Park - South Boston, MA) Save the date! Run, walk, roll, or stroll with us at the 9th Annual Martin Richard Memorial One Mile Invitational to celebrate the life of YES youth, Martin Richard. This community event is open to all ages and abilities and is cohosted by YES and the Martin Richard Charitable Foundation. Registration will open in July. 

Saturday, September 23: Rodman Ride for Kids (Foxboro, MA) YES is looking for twelve (12) enthusiastic cyclists to fill our bibs for the Rodman Ride for Kids! Riders can choose a 25 or 50 mile ride that starts and ends in Foxboro, MA and travels through surrounding towns. 100% of funds raised by Team YES riders will support YES’s youth programs. Submit your application here.

Spring at YES: College Tours, Relay Races, Biking, and More!

Spring is a busy season for young people at YES with the longer and warmer days. Boston youth and teens get active in the outdoors, learn new skills, build confidence, connect with positive role models, and have fun. Some of our favorite highlights from Spring 2023 are below!

More than 120 Boston youth participated in YES's Spring Track & Field program at Moakley Park in South Boston. Youth in grades 2-8 were introduced to the basics of the sport and improved their skills by learning new techniques and drills. In addition to weekly practices, young people had the opportunity to participate in the B.A.A. Youth Relay hosted by the Boston Athletic Association during Boston Marathon weekend. Youth raced down Boylston Street and cheered on their teammates near the finish line of the iconic marathon route.

This spring, YES continued its partnership with Dorchester’s Tech Boston Academy (Grades 6-12). Throughout the month of May, students from the school participated in weekly programing and had the chance to experience canoeing, biking, rock climbing, and hiking. YES partners with Tech Boston in the fall, winter, and spring to bring their students into the outdoors and provide them opportunities to try new outdoors sports.

YES also continued to partner with the Mildred C. Hailey and Urban Edge housing developments to provide access for youth residents to be physically active and reduce barriers to participate in YES programs. YES staff and volunteers facilitated a weekly biking program that taught youth how to ride and challenged them with skill building while riding along the Southwest Corridor Park.

Throughout the school-year, teens in the YES Leadership Corps College Prep program receive one-on-one advising on the college process, including help with their college essays, support through the financial aid process, and advice on picking the right program. During April Vacation, a group of teens in the program had the opportunity to visit nearby colleges. Campus stops on the tour included Brandeis University and Harvard University. Teens were able to explore different campuses, see campus life in action, and learn about a wide variety of majors and programs.

12th Annual Black Diamond Gala Raises More Than $700,000 for YES Program

Youth Enrichment Services (YES) held their 12th Annual Black Diamond Gala on Thursday, April 20 at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel in Seaport. The event attracted over 400 supporters and raised over $700,000 for Boston youth. Funds will support YES’s outdoor sports and leadership programs: Operation SnowSports, Outdoor Adventure, Track & Field, Leadership Corps, and College Preparation programs.

At the event, YES Alumni and our emcee for the evening, Nuha Futa, reflected on how YES helped her grow and set her on a pathway to success. 18-year old YES Leadership Corps member, Tamsen, shared that after she graduates high school in June and begins her next chapter at college, "The impact YES has on me will be life-long. At YES, you always leave feeling like you want to do more, help more, give back to the place that helped you so much." Event Co-Chairs, YES Trustees Kevin Hicks and Chris Petryshin, echoed this sentiment as they shared the special meaning that YES has to them in particular how YES helps give young people new opportunities, builds their self-confidence, and creates valuable connections with mentors and positive adult role models.

Guests also had the chance to meet special guests for the evening: State Senator Liz Miranda; State Representative Sam Montano; State Representative Christopher Worrell; Boston City Councilor President, Ed Flynn; Boston City Councilors Michael Flaherty, Julia Mejia, and Erin Murphy; Share Winter Foundation Executive Director, Constance Beverley; Olympic Gold Medal Cross-Country Skier, Jessie Diggins; and athletes from the World Cup Dreams Foundation: Drew Duffy, Julia Ford, AJ Hurt, Patrick Kenney, Brian McLaughlin, Alice Merryweather, and Nina O’Brien.  

Top sponsors of the 12th Annual Black Diamond Gala included: Adage Capital Management, Phill & Liz Gross, Share Winter Foundation, Yawkey Foundation, Great Hill Partners, Martin Richard Foundation, Ian & Anne Sanderson, Carolyn & Jason Soules, Off the Bus Communications, Kalli & Samantha Catcott, Citi, Embarc, Goodwin Proctor, Peabody Office, STAG Industrial, the Strachan Group from Morgan Stanley, Timberline Construction, VAA Project & Cost Managers, Matt & Marti Bell, David & Mia Fitzgerald, Brian Lash & Family, Mark & Wendi McKenna, Christopher & Julie Peabody, Michael & Megan Preiner, Geoff & Genny Soper, Biria & Elaina St. John, and Payson & Jane Swaffield.

Click here to view photos of the event.

YES Receives $1 Million Grant to Fund the Construction of New Headquarters in Jamaica Plain

Long-time Boston youth nonprofit organization, Youth Enrichment Services (YES) announces the receipt of a capital grant from the Yawkey Foundation to fund the building of a new headquarters in Jamaica Plain at 267 Amory Street. The Yawkey Foundation has supported YES for over 20 years with operational and capacity building grants. The projected groundbreaking is planned for 2023 with occupancy in 2025.

The YES facility will be a 16,000 square foot three-story youth development center that includes a state-of-the-art ski rental shop, activity space, classrooms, boulder climbing wall, outdoor mezzanine, and equipment storage.

Read more about the project here and watch the video below to see the new building come to life!

Congratulations 2023 Richard Williams Memorial Scholarship Recipients

The Richard Williams Memorial Scholarship was established in 2006 in memory of Richard Williams, who founded YES in 1968. While he did not achieve more than an 8th grade education, Richard realized that education was the key to unlocking dreams. The Richard Williams Memorial Scholarship continues Richard's legacy by giving Boston teens the financial support to pursue a post-secondary education. We are proud to announce the 2023 Richard Williams Memorial Scholarship recipients below. 

Michael Camargo

College: UMass Amherst

Major: Computer Engineering

Emma Lincecum

College: George Washington University

Major: Political Science

Bea Riley 

College: Bryn Mawr College

Major: Pre-Med

Amia Weekes

College: Temple University

Major: Biology

Congratulations to the YES Academy Class of 2023! We are so proud of their accomplishments at YES and in the classroom! Seniors have been involved with YES in a variety of capacities, including as Leadership Corps teens, teen staff, and many participated as YES kids when they were younger. As teens, they are positive role models to their peers and younger youth at YES. Congratulations, YES seniors! We can't wait to see what the future holds for you. 

Amia -Temple University

Beatrice - Bryn Mawr College

Christina - Harvard University

Elham - Boston University

Elisa - UMass Boston

Elizabeth - UMass Lowell

Emily - Northeastern University

Emma - George Washington University

Gabriella - Northeastern University

Hazel - Pace University

Isabel - Northeastern University

John - UMass Boston

Justin - Tufts University

Kaitlin - University of British Columbia

Katie - UMass Lowell

Kiana - Northeastern University

Laura - Cosmetology School

Lena - University of Chicago

Lily - Yale University

Mathena - UMass Amherst

Michael - UMass Amherst

Nick - Georgia Tech

Nicky - UMass Amherst

Oliver - Ithaca College

Ralph - UMass Amherst

Tamsen - The New School

YES's fiscal year ends on June 30. Make a contribution to support YES and inspire young people through outdoor experiences this summer!

Join YES at the Snowbound Expo

We’re heading to The Snowbound Expo - the home for winter and outdoor sports, Nov 3-5, 2023 at the BCEC. The expo brings together inspirational speakers such as Dan Egan, Mary Walsh, Ted Ligety and the latest gear, cutting-edge technology, apparel, and resorts all under one roof. This is the biggest community meet-up of the year and perfectly timed for snow sport lovers that are getting ready for the season ahead. Snowbound Expo is a community event for everyone and we can’t wait to see you at the show! Get your $1 Early Bird ticket at checkout using code YES. There are only 5,000 tickets available at this Early Bird price!