YES is proud to welcome longtime community member and veterans' advocate Dedan Jijaga to the YES Board. Dedan joined the board this past summer along with three other members who comprise our eight-person team. Currently, Dedan is the head coach of the Richmond Grinders track team which creates opportunities for inner city youth and is affiliated with Tommie Smith Youth Movement and 100 Black Men of the Bay Area. As a coach and mentor, Dedan became acquainted with YES when several of his athletes went on the camping excursions with the YES Summer Camp program. He reported they were blown away by the experience and he is quick to identify the important role that enrichment, athletics, and caring adults play in the lives of young people and their path to college and career. Emonii, one of Dedan's young athletes, was so inspired by her summer experience, that she asked us to share her poem with you (see below).

Most recently Dedan attended Family Camp with YES this past September with his family and just joined YES' Board and Staff Development Committee. As part of his involvement, he is looking forward to working more closely with YES C2C youth and alumni who are pursuing a path to college.   

YES is looking for dynamic individuals to grow its diverse board this fall. Should you or anyone you know be interested, please email Executive Director Eric Aaholm at [email protected] or Board Chair Brooke Harris @ [email protected]. 

2014 Summer Camp Reflections by YES camper, Emonii, 

and her nine cabinmates. CYO is a long-time camp partner with YES.

CYO keeps us calm

If it wasn't for this sacred place

Every day we'd be lost

But you wonder what activities we do

We do fun activities every day

Even when it rains

Capture the flag

Brings out our wild side

Soul foods give us peace

And at meals we say please

The counselors show us love

And give us hugs

When you're walking down a path

Watch out for bugs

We're sad to leave

But we know we'll be back

CYO keeps our lives on track.