Dear friends,
When we started YES! in the spring of 1990, we didn’t know that we would reach hundreds of thousands of people with a call to action for a better world, or play a part in mobilizing our generation for positive change. What we knew was that that people and our planet were in a crisis, that many youth were losing hope, and that we had to do what we could to turn things around.
YES! was born out of a prayer. A prayer to be of service in a world enshrouded in pain. A prayer to help young people see their power and believe in themselves. A prayer that somehow, in some way, we might be part of the great work that is so needed in these troubled yet fertile times.
In our first 20 years, YES! spoke in person to more than 675,000 students in schools nationwide. We facilitated hundreds of day-long youth empowerment workshops. And we organized and facilitated 100+ week-long gatherings in seven countries, reaching young leaders from 65+ nations.
by Nga Trinh-Halperin, Development Manager
You are invited to our Open House on Saturday, May 1, from 12-3 p.m. It will be a time for us to share food, build on friendships (and make new ones) and envision together a stronger Santa Cruz community.
The event will feature a potluck BBQ lunch, with YES! providing vegetarian burgers and hot dogs, and beverages. We ask that you bring a vegetarian appetizer, side dish or dessert if you can. You can also bring your own item to barbeque; we just request that it is meat-free.
This party at our “home office” will be casual and fun with a focus on mixing and socializing. Friends, family and children are welcome! If we decide to do a program (depending on the mood), it will be at 1:30 p.m.
You can rsvp by easily registering online by clicking here. YES! is located at 240 Harkleroad Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95062 in a residential area of the Live Oak neighborhood.
Dear Friends,
We have dived right into 2010 with several significant organizational gatherings around our Program Committee, Staff Development Retreat, and Board/Staff Strategic Planning. It’s been an important time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, take stock of where we are at, and vision into the new year and beyond. So far we seem to be weathering a challenging fundraising environment with care and fortitude. Our extended community (that means you!) has been very present with us during our recent conversations and in all of our work, so thank you for being alongside in this journey.
As you will read in the next few blog entries, there is YES! action happening at every level with many different partners all over the world. This is only a glimpse of our work still so we invite you to visit our newly formatted website, yesworld.org, to learn more. Our Jam alumni database has been fully integrated there as well so you can easily access information about Jammers and their work. Please let us know what you think about our new look and content after you visit!
In this fast-paced world, activists and changemakers often seek to be out of reaction mode, and to move from a deeper, more grounded place. YES! helps to make that happen for thousands of young leaders and now we have the opportunity for a community-wide experience. We invite you to join in creating a brighter future through internal, interpersonal and systemic transformation, by being part of our Do-It-Yourself "Sit For Change". It's a day for you to practice self-awareness (designed around 108 minutes) while supporting the work of YES! and our program partner, Center for Transformative Change, CXC.
All proceeds raised by YES! will be divided with CXC which shares our commitment to personal growth, meaningful collaboration, and making a difference. The DIY "Sit for Change" is a beautiful manifestation of these commitments we hold. We hope you will register today; whether it be a party of one or in concert with more folks, you get to choose. Whatever shape or form, sitting, yoga or walking meditation or other contemplative activity, get your friends and family to (participate and/or) sponsor your experience!
Want a more simple way to be engaged in YES!
Dear Friends,
May you all be thriving and stepping into your life in a way that feels right and good. There has been a sweet and steady (and sometimes, intense) hum of activity and movement here at YES!. Thank you for your partnership and we hope this blog gives you a sense of how your support sends positive ripples into the world.
My head is still spinning from a few weeks of meeting! The wonderful rush of our loving partners of the Global Collaborative gracing our Santa Cruz home. The sweet and productive 4 day program committee meeting fulfilling the promise of the Community Summit of 2007, bringing together the stakeholders in setting YES!’s programmatic priorities. A full day board meeting with 2 newly energized members adding new threads to the rich tapestry of our collaboration. Framing, energizing, bringing love and spirit into the conversation and holding space and awareness to allow everyone in, including myself, has left me fulfilled, exhausted and ready to immerse myself in our next chapter.
The Santa Cruz Anarchist Convergence is a four-day anarchist event for building community and sharing radical ideas. From May 7 - 11, 2009, it featured a bookfair, over 40 workshops, speakers, and discussions, as well as music, games, a FreeSkool Conference, and a square dance! Over 500 guests traveled from all over the US and Canada to gather in the small town of Santa Cruz, CA, at the SubRosa Infoshop, which served as home base for Convergence activities. All housing and food needs were provided for participants, consistent with the organizing collective's intention of friendly hospitality.
