April 2026 | eNewsletter

Dear Friends,

The changing of the seasons snuck up on me this year. With my head full since the start of 2026 with much of the work you’ll read about below, calendar invites for cohort graduations, staff shares about summer camp enrollments, and other milestones marking late spring, have all reminded me that we keep moving forward.

Recently, I re-read Amos & Boris, a timeless children’s book from my youth that one of our facilitators at Point Reyes National Seashore Association read to our group on an overnight trip a few years back. It is a beautiful story that underscores how friendships can transcend differences, and there was a line in the book that stood out to me:

“Morning came, as it always does.”

The sentence comes after Amos, a small mouse, is shipwrecked and spends the night in the open ocean. And while we may not be mice adrift at sea, we are also facing challenges that can feel all encompassing. Each day brings unique waves of outrage and concern, but also pride in and love for our neighbors and allies, and resolve to build the world as it ought to be. 

And regardless of what each day brings, the next always comes.

Before this day and this season blow past us, too, I hope you’ll pause for a moment to celebrate a couple of big wins and organizational updates with us, and consider joining YES in the outdoors for one of these upcoming events.

In community,

Eric Aaholm, Executive Director

Conservation and protection of our local green spaces is built on information and data, and it’s something we all play in part in making possible. On Saturday April 25th, you can be a part of the largest annual census of life on earth!

For our fourth year, YES is joining forces with California Academy of Sciences to represent Richmond in the City Nature Challenge, a worldwide Bio Blitz–a frenzy of community-led science aimed not only at documenting urban wildlife for scientific research, but also at sparking the curiosity of explorers of all ages. Grab your smartphone, a buddy, and join us at Miller/Knox Shoreline on April 25th, starting at 10AM. 

A Big Win for Richmond Youth

Ten years ago, young people from our community–supported by YES and other organizations–led the movement for Richmond Kids First, a combination of ballot measures that created the Department of Children and Youth and the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth (RFCY). Since then, RFCY grants have had an immense impact in our community through the creation and strengthening of programs that provide youth safety, opportunity, and belonging.

On April 7th, YES again followed the lead of young people to make their voices heard as the City Council considered the reauthorization of these critical funds that will total $99M over the next 10 years. Over 50 community members, mostly youth, representing partner organizations such as RYSE, East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Pogo Park, the Ed Fund, and our own Richmond Outdoors Coalition, stood up to speak to council members at the meeting to share their experiences in RFCY-funded programs. 

And we saw, once again, the importance of community leadership and youth voice. After an hour of public comment, city council members unanimously voted to reauthorize Richmond Kids First! 

Parks Now Capitol Day

The very next day, a handful of members of the YES team, led by Director of Programs & Partnerships, Blanca Hernandez, and board member, Juanita Towns, headed to Sacramento to speak about the importance of neighborhood parks access. In meetings with legislators, YES staff and alumni joined others from Parks Now to appeal for increased funding for the Statewide Parks and Outdoor Equity Programs which help fund projects across the state, including YES.

They held six meetings and connected with representatives from the offices of Assembly members and Senators, advocating with both heart and determination for $100M in allocations to these programs for next year’s statewide budget. They also voiced support for changes to the distribution of Whale Tail Plate revenue to build sustainability for the California Coastal Commission’s Whaletail and the California Coastal Conservancy’s Explore to Coast grant programs, which help organizations like YES connect youth to our coasts.

“We brought the energy because we were still stoked about the Richmond Kids First win from the previous night! None of us wanted the day to end. I am so grateful for our team who joined us–they are all natural leaders, and I felt so proud to stand alongside them.” -Blanca Hernandez

In partnership with the City of Richmond, Healthy and Active Before 5, Rising Juntos, and the Trust for Public Land, YES will be continuing our years-long work of improving our neighborhood park. And we want to hear from you! 

Come out to the Nicholl Park Design Day on Saturday May 16th to have a direct impact on future changes to everything from park lighting and safety, to the skatepark, sports fields, and play structure. No registration is required. We’ll see you there!

This time of year, the East Bay landscape brightens with the vivid orange blooms of our California state flower, the California poppy. These resilient natives typically emerge after early-spring rains and thrive in dry, sunny conditions; hence, their tendency to carpet hillsides in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Poppies are also well adapted to the region’s shifting weather patterns, closing their petals at night or during cold winds to conserve energy and protect their pollen.

Beyond their beauty, poppies play an important ecological role by providing nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators, helping sustain local biodiversity. Their deep taproots also help stabilize soil to prevent erosion, especially in our fire and drought-prone landscapes. Indigenous communities in California have used parts of the plant for medicinal purposes, including mild pain relief and calming effects. While their soft petals may look delicate, California poppies are incredibly resilient and can reseed themselves year after year, returning each spring to color our hillsides and welcome us into the sunny season.